Our Solar System 6 th grade
Earth’s movement is constant! Earth’s orbit – Sun is at the center – Orbit: movement of an object around another ex: Earth orbits the Sun. – Elliptical: oval shaped – Revolution: 1 full orbit of Earth around Sun. Takes 365+ days [1 year]
Orbital Movement
Day vs. Night Earth spins on axis – Axis: imaginary line that runs thru center of planet from geographic N to S pole Tilted Rotation: one full spin of Earth on its axis. Takes 24 hours [1 day] – Causes day and night; depends on which hemisphere is facing Sun
Seasons Seasons: changes in weather and amount of daylight Different for which hemisphere you live in Due to Earth’s orbit, rotation and axis
Seasons seasons/ seasons/
Our Marvelous Moon
Our Moon Our closest neighbor- 384,000 km Much smaller than Earth No atmosphere Revolution around Earth = 29.5 days
The Moon and Tides G5g G5g pGfo pGfo Gtg Gtg
Tides Low and high tides – Approximately 6.5 hours each Tidal forces (gravity caused by Moon and Sun) – Distance!! Sun causes super low and super high tides – Neap tides: right angle – Spring tides (full or new Moon) Solar eclipse: E M S Lunar eclipse: S E M
Phases of the Moon Reflecting light from Sun Synchronous rotation or tidal locking ySo ySo As moon orbits Earth, parts are shaded- PHASES Phases created by changing angles (positions) of Earth, Moon and Sun
Lunar Phases New Moon – Moon orbiting between Earth and Sun – Side facing Sun is turned away from Earth – hardly visible
Crescent Moon WAXING – appearing WANING – disappearing, goes away Sliver of Moon
Quarter Moon ½ of the visible surface is lit WAXING – first 1/4 WANING- 3/4
Gibbous Moon Larger than 1/2 WAXING WANING
Full Moon 2 weeks from the New Moon Earth is between Moon and Sun BRIGHT Blue Moon – 2 full Moons in a month; every 2- 3 years
Lunar Eclipse When the moon passes directly into Earth’s shadow S E M Moon turns a reddish color due to sunlight reflected from Earth’s atmosphere Causes super high/low tides
Solar Eclipse Only occurs at time of New Moon; March 9, 2016 E M S Causes super high/low tides There are actually two types of shadows: the umbra is that part of the shadow where all sunlight is blocked out. The umbra takes the shape of a dark, slender cone. It is surrounded by the penumbra, a lighter, funnel-shaped shadow from which sunlight is partially obscured.
Moon Rock!!
The Planets
Travel in elliptical orbits around Sun Rocky (Terrestial) Planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars Gas (Gas Giants/ Jovian)Planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Planets and Dwarf Planets Formal definition (IAU General Assembly –Prague, 2006): –Planet: A natural celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to assume hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round shape) (c) has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit (d) is not a satellite (moon) –Dwarf Planet: A natural celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to assume hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round shape) (c) has notcleared the neighborhood around its orbit (d) is not a satellite (moon) –Small Solar System Bodies: All other objects (except natural satellites) orbiting the sun
Planets and Dwarf Planets of the Solar System
The Inner Rocky Planets Mercury – HOT, Metal core, rocky crust, no moons, 1 day=59 E days Venus – Same size as E, no moons, toxic, 1 day=243 E days
The Inner Rocky Planets Earth (E) – Atmosphere (Nitrogen and Oxygen), 75% covered in water Mars – Crust, mantle, core (like E), 2 moons, tallest mnt., 1 day=24.4 E hours – Liquid water!!
Our Future Vacation Spot?
The Outer Gas Planets Jupiter – Largest, no solid surface, 60+ moons – 1 day = 10 Earth hours Saturn – Mostly Hydrogen, rings of ice, 60+ moons, – 1 day = 10 Earth hours
The Outer Gas Planets Uranus – Blue/green, rocky core/ ice mantle, gas atmosphere, 27 moons, axis towards Sun – 1 day = 17 Earth hours Neptune – Mostly H and He, 13 moons – 1 day = 16 Earth hours
Planet Rock!! Kqo&list=PL9BD00C64CF61BF40&index=2 Kqo&list=PL9BD00C64CF61BF40&index=2 TR6_I TR6_I