Unit 4: Astronomy Chapter 14: The Solar System

1. Unit 4: AstronomyChapter 14: The Solar System Big Idea: The solar system includes the sun, the planets & their moons, & smaller objects such as comets, asteroids, & meteoroids

2. 6 Sections • Observing the Solar System • The Sun • The Inner Planets • The Outer Planets • Comets, Asteroids, & Meteors • Is There Life Beyond Earth? Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

3. Sec 1: Observing the Solar System KEY CONCEPTS • In a geocentric system, Earth is at the center. In a heliocentric system, Earth & the other planets revolve around the sun • Galileo’s discoveries supported the heliocentric model. Kepler developed 3 laws that describe the motions of the planets Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

4. Sec 1: Observing the Solar System • The solar system consists of the sun, the planets & their moons, & a series of smaller objects that revolve around the sun Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

5. Geocentric Heliocentric Ellipse Moon Astronomical unit Sec 1: Key Terms Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

6. Sec 2: The Sun KEY CONCEPTS • The sun produces energy through fusion • The sun’s interior consists of the: 1) core 2) radiation zone 3) convection zone • The sun’s atmosphere consists of the: 1) photosphere 2) chromosphere 3) corona Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

7. Sec 2: The Sun (cont’d) • Features on or just above the sun’s surface include: 1) sunspots 2) prominences 3) solar flares Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

8. Nuclear fusion Core Radiation zone Convection zone Photosphere Chromosphere Corona Solar wind Sunspot Prominence Solar flare Sec 2: Key Terms Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

9. Sec 3: The Inner Planets KEY CONCEPTS • The 4 inner planets are small & dense • Earth is unique in our solar system in having liquid water at its surface • Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet • Venus’s internal structure is similar to Earth’s • Liquid water flowed on Mars in the distant past Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

10. Terrestrial planets Greenhouse effect Sec 3: Key Terms Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

11. Sec 4: The Outer Planets KEY CONCEPTS • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune are much larger & more massive than Earth, & they do not have solid surfaces • Jupiter is the largest & most massive planet in the solar system • Saturn has spectacular rings Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

12. Sec 4: The Outer Planets (cont’d) • Uranus’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees from the vertical • Neptune is a cold, blue planet. Its atmosphere contains visible clouds • Pluto has a solid surface & is much smaller & denser than the other outer planets Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

13. Gas giant Ring Sec 4: Key Terms Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

14. Sec 5: Comets, Asteroids, & Meteors • Comets are loose collections of ice, dust, & small rocky particles whose orbits are usually very long, narrow ellipses • Most asteroids revolve around the sun between the orbits of Mars & Jupiter • Meteoroids come from comets or asteroids Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

15. Comet Coma Nucleus Kuiper belt Oort cloud Asteroid Asteroid belt Meteoroid Meteor Meteorite Sec 5: Key Terms Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

16. Sec 6: Is There Life Beyond Earth? • Earth has liquid water & a suitable temperature range & atmosphere for life • Scientists hypothesize that Mars may have once had the conditions for life to exist • If there is liquid water on Europa, there might also be life Mrs. Lee - Ch 14

17. Extraterrestrial life Sec 6: Key Terms Mrs. Lee - Ch 14