Describe and Compare the Components of the Solar System

Objectives

·  Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.

·  Using references, compare the physical properties of the planets (e.g., size, solid or gaseous).

Solar System Data Worksheet, the Next

Match the planet with the description. (Some options may be used more than once.)

_____1. Planet facts: its day lasts 9 hours and 50 minutes; gas giant.
_____2. Planet facts: Rocky world, has two moons, is red, has a very thin, carbon dioxide atmosphere.
_____3. This planet has 27 moons; its diameter is between 30,000 and 34,000 miles; it has methane in its atmosphere.
_____4. The difference between this planet’s low and high temperature is around 1,000o F.
_____5. This is the coldest planet in the Solar System.
_____6. This planet has the shortest day.
_____7. The weather report for this planet would read very hot and cloudy every day.
_____8. If you were 12 years old on Earth, you would be only 1 year old on this planet.
_____9. If you were 12 years old on Earth, you would be only 6 years old on this planet.
_____10. This planet was discovered in 1846. In 2011, it completed its first “year” since its discover. / A. Mercury
B. Venus
C. Earth
D. Mars
E. Jupiter
F. Saturn
G. Uranus
H. Neptune

Use the Planet Facts section of your Solar System Data Sheet to complete this part of the assignment. Match the planet with the description. (Some options may be used more than once.)

_____11. This planet has the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons.
_____12. Galileo discovered four of this planet’s moons.
_____13. This planet has a moon called the “Death Star” moon.
_____14. This planet has some of the most powerful winds in the Solar System.
_____15. The atmospheric pressure on this planet is 92 times stronger than Earth’s.
_____16. This planet’s moon, Europa, might have an ocean under its frozen surface.
_____17. Its moons are captured asteroids.
_____18. This planet’s moon, Miranda, looks like it was broken up in a collision but was pulled back together later.
_____19. Its moon, Triton, has active nitrogen geysers and cliffs over twelve miles high.
_____20. This is the only planet that does not rotate counterclockwise. / A. Mercury
B. Venus
C. Earth
D. Mars
E. Jupiter
F. Saturn
G. Uranus
H. Neptune

Solar System Data Worksheet, the Next – Key

E 1. Planet facts: its day lasts 9 hours and 50 minutes; gas giant.

D 2. Planet facts: Rocky world, has two moons, is red, has a very thin, carbon dioxide atmosphere.

G 3. This planet has 27 moons; its diameter is between 30,000 and 34,000 miles; it has methane in its atmosphere.

A 4. The difference between this planet’s low and high temperature is around 1,000o F.

H 5. This is the coldest planet in the Solar System.

F 6. This planet has the shortest day.

B 7. The weather report for this planet would read very hot and cloudy every day.

E 8. If you were 12 years old on Earth, you would be only 1 year old on this planet.

D 9. If you were 12 years old on Earth, you would be only 6 years old on this planet.

H 10. This planet was discovered in 1846. In 2011, it completed its first “year” since its discover.

D 11. This planet has the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons.

E 12. Galileo discovered four of this planet’s moons.

F 13. This planet has a moon called the “Death Star” moon.

H 14. This planet has some of the most powerful winds in the Solar System.

B 15. The atmospheric pressure on this planet is 92 times stronger than Earth’s.

E 16. This planet’s moon, Europa, might have an ocean under its frozen surface.

D 17. Its moons are captured asteroids.

G 18. This planet’s moon, Miranda, looks like it was broken up in a collision but was pulled back together later.

H 19. Its moon, Triton, has active nitrogen geysers and cliffs over twelve miles high.

B 20. This is the only planet that does not rotate counterclockwise.

Solar System Data Worksheet, the Next – Scoring Guide

1. E (8 choices)
2. D (8 choices)
3. G (8 choices)
4. A (8 choices)
5. H (8 choices)
6. F (8 choices)
7. B (8 choices)
8. E (8 choices)
9. D (8 choices)
10. H (8 choices)
11. D (8 choices)
12. E (8 choices)
13. F (8 choices)
14. H (8 choices)
15. B (8 choices)
16. E (8 choices)
17. D (8 choices)
18. G (8 choices)
19. H (8 choices)
20. B (8 choices) / Scoring Guide
18-20 – 3
15-17 – 2.5
11-14 – 2
7-10 – 1.5
5-6 – 1
1-4 – .5
0 – 0