Components of the Solar System

Earth’s Star! The sun provides the energy that supports life on Earth. The Sun’s Effect on Earth. Energy from the sun heats Earth’s water and land. Plants use the Sun’s energy to make food. Some areas of the Earth’s surface are heated by the Sun’s energy more than others. The Sun’s energy powers the water cycle.

Vocabulary planet- a large body made of rock or gas that moves around a star. orbit- the path that Earth and 8 other planets make as they move around the sun. Solar System- is made up of the nine planets, the Sun and other smaller bodies that orbit around the sun. gravity- is the force that pulls bodies or objects towards other bodies or objects.

Essential Questions Alike: Different: What is the sun? The sun is a star, and it is the closest star to planet Earth. How are the inner and outer planets alike/different? Alike: 1. They are all planets. They are all in our Solar System. They all orbit the Sun. Different: 1. Some are made of rock and others gas. 2. Some are close to sun and others are further away. 3. Some have moons and others do not. 4. Some have rings and others do not. 5. Have different temperatures. 6. Different sizes.

Essential Questions What is the relative order of the planets from the Sun in our Solar System? Mercury–Venus-Earth-Mars-Jupiter-Saturn-Uranus- Neptune-Pluto How are comets, asteroids, and meteoroids alike and different? asteroids- a small, rocky, object that revolves around the sun. comets- an object in space made of ice, dust and gases. meteoroids- a piece of rock, or metal that has entered the Earth’s atmosphere.

Background Knowledge Why is the Earth the only planet that can support living things? It is only planet that has water. The sun is a medium sized star that is the only star in our solar system. Currently our solar system consists of one star, 8 planets, more than 3 dwarf planets and numerous asteroids and comets.

Fill in chart: classify planets as inner or outer! Inner Planets (rocky planets) Outer Planets (gas giants) Mercury Jupiter Venus Saturn Earth Uranus Mars Neptune

Lets look up vocabulary! Sun- a star that is a hot ball of gas. elliptical- a circular or sphere shape or movement. axis- an imaginary line through the center of an object. revolve- to orbit around rotation- the turning of a planet on its axis.

Vocabulary! asteroids- a small, rocky object that revolves around the sun. meteors- a piece of rock or metal that has entered the Earth’s atmosphere comets- an object in space made of ice, dust, and gases. Asteroid Belt- a region between the inner and outer planets where thousands of asteroids are found orbiting around the sun.

Questions to know! Jupiter is the largest planet and has a red spot. The second largest planet is Saturn and it is known for its rings around it.

Questions to know! The asteroid belt is between the inner and outer planets. Both the inner planets and asteroids are rocky and dense.