Download A Relative Model of the Solar System: Preparation

A Relative Model of the Solar System: Preparation
The solar system includes the Sun, the nine Classical Planets, their moons, as well as
newly discovered dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids which orbit the sun.
In this lab activity we will make a walking model of the Solar System.
1. Using page 542-543 of the textbook, write the order of the planets from the sun and
their distances in scientific notation from the sun in kilometers.
The SUN is an average size star that the planets revolve around.
1. First from the Sun is__________________it is __________km from the Sun.
2. Second from the Sun is _______________it is ___________km from the Sun.
3. Third from the Sun is ________________it is ___________km from the Sun.
4. Fourth from the Sun is_______________ it is ___________km from the Sun.
5. Fifth from the Sun is _________________it is ___________km from the Sun.
6. Sixth from the Sun is _________________it is __________km from the Sun.
7. Seventh from the Sun is_______________it is __________km from the Sun.
8. Eighth from the Sun is ________________it is __________km from the Sun.
9. Ninth from the Sun is _______________ it is ___________km from the Sun.
2. Comets orbit at varying distances from the Sun. But most comets orbits extend far
beyond Pluto. Look on page 573 and write a description of a comet below:
3. Look on page 574 for a description of asteroids. Asteroids are large chunks of rock
that are found mainly orbiting between what two planets.
How many asteroids have scientists found? What happened 65 million years ago on
Earth? What is a meteoroid? What is a meteor? Where do meteoroids come from and
what are they made of?
4. Besides natural objects orbiting the Sun in the Solar System, what other artificial
objects are orbiting the Sun? Look on page 578 for the answer.
5. The distance from the earth to the Sun is a special UNIT. Look on page 543 to find
the name of this unit. How far is it in km?
6. Convert the distances of the Planets from the Sun in AU's (look again on page 542543) to miles by multiplying each planetary distance by 9.3 x 107.
Mercury =
Earth =
Jupiter =
Uranus =
Pluto =
Venus =
Mars =
Saturn=
Neptune =
7. The Sun is not a planet, but is a star. What makes up the Sun's mass and how does it
produce energy? How did scientists used to think the Sun produced energy? (page 546)