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Patterns in the Solar System
Name:___________________Hour:_____
Learning Target: I will recognize patterns within our solar system by analyzing a data table.
Although composed of many diverse objects, the solar system exhibits various degrees of order and
several regular patterns. To simplify the investigation of planetary sizes, masses, etc., the planets can be
arranged into two distinct groups, with the members each displaying similar attributes. This exercise
examines the physical properties and motions of the planets with the goal of summarizing these
characteristics in a few general, easily remembered statements. The tables below provide some essential
useful data regarding each of the planets:
Planet
Terrestrial
Jovian
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Period of Diameter Relative Mass
Rotation
(km)
(Earth = 1)
(Revolution)
59 days
4,854
.05
244 days
12,112
.82
23h56m04s 12,751
1.00
24h37m23s
6,788
.108
9h50m
143,000
317.87
10h14m
121,000
95.14
17h14m
16h03m
47,000
46,529
Average
Density
(g/cm3)
5.4
5.2
5.5
3.9
1.3
.7
14.56
17.21
1.2
1.7
# of known Period of
moons
Revolution
(satellites)
(Year)
0
88 days
0
224.7 days
1
365.25 days
2
687 days
66
11.86 yrs
62
29.46 yrs
27
13
84 yrs
165 yrs
Comparing the Terrestrial and Jovian Planets
Terrestrial planets are the first 4 planets. Their surfaces are solid and they are referred to as the
“rocky” planets. Jovian planets are the outer 4 planets. Their surfaces are gas and often have frozen
cores and are referred to as the “gas giants.”
The physical characteristics such as diameter, density, and mass of the terrestrial planets are very
similar and can be summarized in a few statements. Likewise, the characteristics exhibited by the
Jovian planets as a group can also be generalized.
To gain an understanding of the similarities of the planets within each of the two groups and the
contrasts between the two groups, complete the following sections using the planetary data presented in
the tables on page 1.
1. Describe the composition (make up) of the Jovian planets (read the paragraphs above!)
Size of the Planets—The similarities in the diameters of the planets within each of the two groups
and the contrast between the groups are perhaps the most obvious patterns in the solar system.
2. Which is the largest (NOT mass) terrestrial planet?
a. What is this planet’s diameter?____________________
3. Which is the smallest (NOT mass) Jovian planet?
a. What is this planet’s diameter? ____________________
4. Write a general statement that compares the sizes (diameter) of the terrestrial planets to those of
the Jovian planets.
Mass and Density of the Planets—Mass is a measure of the quantity of matter an object contains.
In the tables on page 1, the masses of the planets are given in relation to the mass of the Earth. For
example, the mass of Mercury is given as .056, which means that it consists of only a small fraction of
the quantity of matter that Earth contains. On the other hand, the Jovian planets all contain several times
more matter than Earth. Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance. As a reference, the density
of water is approximately one gram per cubic centimeter.
5. Complete the following statements by looking in the MASS column:
a. The planet _______________ is the most massive planet in the solar system. It is
___________ times more massive than Earth.
b. The least massive planet is _______________, which contains only _______________ as
much mass as Earth.
6. The gravitational attraction of a planet is directly related to its mass. Which planet exerts the
greatest pull of gravity? Explain how you know this.
7. Write a general statement comparing the MASSES (NOT diameters) of the terrestrial planets to
the masses of the Jovian planets.
Rotation and Revolution of the Planets—Rotation is the turning of a planet about its axis that is
responsible for day and night. When the solar system is viewed from above the Northern Hemisphere of
Earth, the planets, with the exception of Venus, rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Venus exhibits a
very slow clockwise rotation. The time that it takes for a planet to complete one 360 degree rotation on
its axis is called the period of rotation. The units used to measure a planet’s period of rotation are Earth
hours and/or days. Revolution is the motion of a planet around the Sun. The time it takes a planet to
complete one revolution about the Sun is the length of its year, called the period of revolution.
8.
9.
If you could live on Venus or Jupiter, approximately how long would you have to wait between
sunrises?
a.
On Venus, a sunrise would occur every __________ Earth days.
b.
On Jupiter, a sunrise would occur every _________ hours and _________ minutes.
Write a statement comparing the periods of rotation of the terrestrial planets to those of the
Jovian planets.
10. Compare the planets’ periods of rotation to their periods of revolution and then complete the
following statement using either the word “long” or the word “short” to fill in each blank.
The terrestrial planets all have ____________ days and ____________ years, while
the Jovian planets all have ____________ days and ____________ years.
11. Explain the relation between a planet’s period of rotation and period of revolution that would
cause one side of a planet to face the Sun throughout its year (extra credit).
Diameter vs. Density—To visually compare the diameters and densities of the planets, use the data
from page 1 to complete the diameter vs. density graph according to the directions following.
Diameter (km)
Density vs. Diameter Graph
160
160
140
140,000
140
120
120,000
120
100,000
100
100
80,00080
80
60,00060
60
40,00040
40
20,00020
20
0 0
0
1
1.0
2
2.0
3
3.0
4
4.0
5
5.0
1
Density (g/cm3)
12. Make a SCATTER PLOT graph above using the following rules:
A.) Plot a point on the diameter vs. density graph for each planet where its
diameter intersects its density. Use the data from the diameter column and density
column on the first page.
B.) Label each point with the planet’s name.
C.) Use one colored pencil for the terrestrial and a different colored pencil for the
Jovian planets.
D.) Don’t forget to make a key!
13. What general relation exists between a planet’s size (diameter) and its density?
14. The average density of Earth is about 5.5 g/cm3. Considering that the densities of surface rocks
are much less than the average, what does this suggest about the density of the Earth’s interior?
(extra credit)
15. Which of the planets has a density less than water and therefore would “float” (water has a
density of 1 g/cm3)?
16. Write a general statement comparing the densities of the terrestrial planets to the Jovian planets.
17. Why are the densities of the terrestrial and Jovian planets so different?
Number of Moons of the Planets
18. Write a brief statement comparing the number of known moons of the terrestrial planets to the
number orbiting the Jovian planets.
19. What is the general relation between the number of moons a planet has compared to its mass?