Download Speed of Planets Google Document File

Berumen-7th Grade Science
Unit: Our Solar System Concept: The Formation of Our Solar System
Lesson: The Speed of the Planets
NAME:____________________________ DATE:____________________ PERIOD:_____
Objective:
-Gather Data (use appropriate format to record data) & Graph
-Interpret Data (Identify and interpret patterns, relationships and trends in data)
-Evaluate Evidence (Drawing and supporting a conclusion by reporting trends and patters in data)
-Communication in science- Report results by answering questions.
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Bell Work/Introductory Questions:
1. What force holds the planets in their orbits?
2. How does the force of the sun’s gravity on Mercury compare with that on Mars?
3. What is the shape of the planet’s orbits?
4. How does the shape of a planet’s orbit affect its distance from the sun throughout its orbit?
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PLANETARY SPEED AS A FUNCTION OF DISTANCE FROM THE SUN
PLANET
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
AVERAGE DISTANCE FROM
THE SUN (AU)
0.4
0.7
1.0
1.5
5.2
9.5
19.2
30.1
AVERAGE SPEED
(KM/SEC)
48.1
34.9
29.8
24.1
13.0
9.7
6.8
5.4
Conclusion/Discussion Questions:
1. What general rule relates the distance of a planet from the Sun to that planet’s speed in its orbit?
2. The dwarf planet Ceres orbits the Sun at an average distance of 2.8AU .Plot the point that would
represent Ceres on the graph. What is the average speed of Ceres?
3. The dwarf planet Pluto orbits at an average distance from the Sun of 39.5 AU. Extrapolating from your
graph, what is Pluto’s average orbital speed?
Berumen-7th Grade Science
Unit: Our Solar System Concept: The Formation of Our Solar System
Lesson: The Speed of the Planets
4. Why do you think that the planets that are closer to the sun have to travel at higher speeds than the
more distance planets?
5. The Earth is closest to the Sun in January and farthest from the Sun in July. During which month is
Earth moving fastest in its orbit? When is it moving slowest? Explain your answer.
6. Comets have very long, elliptical orbits that bring them very close to the Sun and carry them out to
very great distances. How does the speed of a comet change as it orbits the Sun?
Berumen-7th Grade Science
Unit: Our Solar System Concept: The Formation of Our Solar System
Lesson: The Speed of the Planets