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The Solar System

Guide For Reading. What are the main characteristics of the inner planets?. The four inner planets are called the ________ planets. . terrestrial planets. This name comes from the latin word

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The Solar System

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    1. The Solar System Section 3: The Inner Planets

    2. Guide For Reading What are the main characteristics of the inner planets?

    3. The four inner planets are called the ________ planets. terrestrial planets

    4. This name comes from the latin word “_____” meaning ______. “terra” Earth

    5. The names of these planets are _____, _____, ____, & ______. Mercury Venus Earth Mars

    6. Guide For Reading: What are the main characteristics of the inner planets? The four inner planets are small and have rocky surfaces Mercury, Venus, Earth, & Mars are known as the terrestrial planets

    7. Earth

    8. What three gases primarily make up Earth’s atmosphere? Oxygen Nitrogen Carbon dioxide

    9. Earth is made up of ______ % water. 70

    10. Figure 11 Interpreting Diagrams:What are Earth’s three main layers? Crust Mantle Core (Inner & Outer)

    11. How do scientists use Earth to learn about other planets? (Give an example) Scientists use what they know about Earth to make inferences about the other planets Example: When astronomers find volcanoes on other planets, they infer that these planets have once had hot material inside them

    12. Planet Facts (Earth) 70% covered with water Oxygen makes up 20% of Earth’s atmospheric gas Suitable for life Has 1 moon

    13. Mercury

    14. Mercury’s interior is mainly made up of dense metals, ________ and _______. iron nickel

    15. Why can’t people on Earth get a good view of Mercury? Because Mercury is so close to the sun, people on Earth can not get a good view of it

    16. The space probe named _______ was launched in _______ and only photographed _______ of Mercury’s surface. Mariner 10 1974 Half

    17. What did this space probe discover about the surface of Mercury? The Mariner 10 found that Mercury has many flat plains and many craters on its surface

    18. Mercury has an extremely _________ atmosphere. Thin

    19. Why is Mercury considered to be a planet of extremes? Mercury has the greatest temperature range in the solar system During the day, the side facing the sun reaches temperatures of 450°C Because Mercury has almost no atmosphere, at night all the heat escapes into space and the temperature drops to -170 °C

    20. Checkpoint: Why is it difficult for astronomers to learn about Mercury? Mercury is so close to the sun that it is difficult for astronomers on Earth to get a good view of it.

    21. Planet Facts (Mercury) Greatest temperature range Extremely thin atmosphere So close to the sun that it is difficult for astronomers to get a good view 59 Earth days to rotate (1 rotation = 59 Earth rotations) ¼ Earth years to revolve (1 Earth revolution = 4 Mercury revolutions)

    22. Venus

    23. Venus is often called the ______ _____ because it rises before the sun. “Morning Star”

    24. Why is Venus often referred to as Earth’s twin? Venus id often referred to as Earth’s twin because they are similar in: Size Density Internal structure

    25. Why is Venus’ day longer than its year? Venus’ day is longer than its year because it takes 8 months to rotate (day), and 7.5 months to revolve (year)

    26. Retrograde Rotation The spinning motion of a planet from east to west, opposite to the direction of rotation of most planets and moons

    27. Describe the hypothesis astronomers use to explain Venus’ retrograde rotation. Venus was struck by a very large object billions of years ago This collision cause the direction of its rotation to change

    28. Venus’ ______ atmosphere prevents Venus from ever having a sunny day. Thick (cloudy)

    29. Why can you not breath on Venus? Venus’ atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide

    30. Greenhouse Effect The trapping of heat by a planets’ atmosphere

    31. Checkpoint: Why is the surface of Venus so hot? The surface of Venus is so hot because carbon dioxide traps heat inside the atmosphere. This is called the greenhouse effect

    32. Planet Facts (Venus) Day is longer than a year (rotates at a slower rate than it revolves) Retrograde rotation (Rotates east to west – opposite the other planets) Atmosphere is so thick it causes the greenhouse effect

    33. Mars

    34. Why is Mars called the “Red” planet? When Mars is viewed in the sky, it has a slightly reddish tinge

    35. The atmosphere of Mars is mostly _________. carbon dioxide

    36. Mars has a _______ _______ at its North Pole. polar ice cap

    37. The ice cap on Mars’ north pole is not water, but rather ______. Carbon dioxide

    38. Why does Mars have seasons? How do they vary? Mars has seasons because of the slightly tilted axis (like Earth)

    39. What geological feature that is found on Earth can be also found on the surface of Mars? Volcanoes Olympus Mons (shield volcano) is the largest volcano in the solar system 17 miles tall & 320 miles across

    40. Mars has two small moons, ________ and ________ that are covered with craters. Phobos Deimos

    41. Planet Facts (Mars) Called the “red planet” because of its dust color Frozen ice caps with a layer of frozen carbon dioxide Has two moons

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