Download Planets Worksheet

Name: ________________________
Planets Worksheet
Introduction
Your task as a Space Investigator is to find out information about planets in our Solar
System. Use the websites on the Information page, your own sites or the textbook to
find the following facts.
Our Solar System
1. What does the word ‘Solar’ mean? ____________________________________________
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2. Why do we call it the Solar System? ____________________________________________
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3. How many planets are in the Solar System? ___________________
4. Label the parts of our Solar System.
1. ___________________
2. ____________________
3. ________________________
4. ___________________
5. ____________________ 6. ________________________
7. ___________________
8. ____________________ 9. ________________________
10. ___________________ 11. ____________________
5. The planets can be divided into the inner planets and the outer planets. What
divides them?
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The Inner Planets
1. Complete the data table, on the next page, for each of the inner planets.
2. What are the inner planets sometimes called? __________________________________
3. Which space probe has taken photos of Mercury? In what year? ________________
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4. Why do you think it is hard for astronomers on Earth to learn about Mercury?
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5. What is unusual about Venus’ rotation? ________________________________________
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6. Why is the surface of Venus so hot? ____________________________________________
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7. What are Earth’s 3 main layers? ________________________________________________
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8. Why does Mars have seasons? _________________________________________________
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9. Where does water exist on Mars? What form is it (ice, liquid or gas)? _____________
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The Outer Planets
1. Complete the data table, on the next page, for each of the outer planets.
2. What are the outer planets (except for Pluto) sometimes called?
___________________________________________________________________
3. Use page 71 to describe the atmospheres and the cores of the outer planets.
Summarise your findings below:
Atmospheres
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Cores
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4. Why do the gas planets have large atmospheres? ______________________________
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5. What is the most prominent feature in Jupiter’s atmosphere called? What is it?
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6. What are the names of the four largest moons of Jupiter? What are they known
as?
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7. What are Saturn’s rings made out of? __________________________________________
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8. What is Saturn’s largest moon called? _______________________________________
9. What is unusual about the way that Uranus rotates? What causes this? ___________
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10. Scientists predicted that Neptune existed before they ever saw it. What evidence
led them to believe Neptune existed?
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11. What is Neptune’s largest moon called? _______________________________________
12. How is Pluto different from the gas planets? ____________________________________
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13. What is Pluto’s moon called? __________________________________________________
14. Do you think Pluto is a planet? Why or why not? ________________________________
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Conclusion
Congratulations!! You are now an expert on the planets of our Solar System. You
should now be equipped to go on to Task 2 on the Planets Process Page.
Good Luck!
The Planets Data Table
Characteristics
Size
Mass (kg)
Inner Planets
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Outer Planets
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Diameter (km)
Average distance from
Sun
Km
AU
Period of
Period of
Rotation
Revolution
(Earth days) (Earth years)
Number of
moons
Number of
Rings