Download accel solar system computer

SOLAR SYSTEM COMPUTER LAB
Name:
Date:
All website links are available on our class website under “Solar System and Earth formation” so you
don’t have to type them in.
Go to http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/ If it asks you to register, just
choose “register later.”
Click on the sun in the image. When the Sun comes up click on “Sun stats”
1. How much of the Solar System’s mass is in the Sun?
Does this fit in with what we
learned about the Nebular theory? Explain
2. How hot is the Sun?
Click on Mercury in the image. Then click on “Mercury stats” Click on the features on the planet and
read the section below the rotating planet.
3. Why is Mercury so full of craters? Do any of its craters support the Nebular Theory?
4. Why does it have such extreme temperatures?
5. What has happened to the size of Mercury over time and why?
Click on Size comparison. Then click on each planet to see a size comparison.
6. Approximately how many times bigger than Mercury is the Earth?
Which planet is
largest?
Which is smallest (Pluto is no longer a planet)?
Return to the Mercury stats page. From the diagram click on Venus. Then click on “Venus stats” Click
on the features on the planet and read the section below the rotating planet.
1. Venus is hotter than Mercury. Why is that the case?
2. List two ways its rotation is weird.
3. If you were on Venus, how many sunrises would you see over a Venus year based on the time for its
rotation and revolution?
4. Why doesn’t it have many craters?
5. Why doesn’t it have a magnetic field?
Click on Size comparison. Then click on each planet to see a size comparison.
6. How do Venus and Earth compare in size?
Return to Venus stats. From the diagram click on Mars. Then click on “Mars stats” Click on the features
on the planet and read the section below the rotating planet.
7. How is Mars tectonics different from plate tectonics on Earth?
8. Why can’t Mars have liquid water now?
9. What are some geological features on Mars?
10. Notice its temperature difference. Based on what you saw about Mercury and Venus, what does this
suggest about its atmosphere?(thick or thin?)
11. Given the thickness of its atmosphere, would it have a lot of protection from impacts?
Click on Size comparison. Then click on each planet to see a size comparison.
12. How do Mars and Earth compare in size?
Go to http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery-indexEvents.html
These are pictures taken of Mars from the rover Curiosity. Underneath the image you can choose which
pictures to look at. Look at pictures 41-60.
13. Describe how the surface of Mars looks in these images. (Is it Flat? Rocky? Sandy? etc).
Go to http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/ Click on “outer Solar System”
and select “Jupiter”Click on “Jupiter stats”
14. If you were to journey to the center of Jupiter what would you encounter?
15. What is the Great Red Spot and how long have we been watching it?
Check to see you weight on Jupiter by clicking on the box on the right side of the picture
Click on moons.
16. How many moons does Jupiter have?
Earth has 1 moon and Mars has 2
moons, why do you think Jupiter has so many moons? Does this fit in with the Nebular theory?
17. What is the composition of Jupiter’s atmosphere? How does this compare to our Sun?
Click on Size comparison. How does Earth compare in size to its Great Red Spot?
Go back to Jupiter Stats. Click on Saturn on the diagram. Click on “Saturn Stats”
18. How fast are its wind speeds?
19. What is Saturn made of?
Is this expected given the theory about
how the Solar System formed?
20. What are the rings made of?
Click on “Uranus”and click on “Uranus Stats”
21. Why is it blue?
22. Why might Uranus rotate on its side?
23. Based on it rotation and revolution, what do you think seasons would be like on Uranus (hint: look at
this image here if you are stuck:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/uranus/uranusseasons.shtml
Click on Neptune and click on “Neptune stats”
24. If you were to journey to the center of Neptune, what would you encounter?
25. What is the weather like on Neptune in terms of winds and storms?
26. Has it always had rings?
27. Why is it blue?
28. Write down two questions you have about any of the planets. What do you wonder about them? Go to http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/elibrary/resource/1922/birth-of-the-solar-system
29. Why are the inner planets different from the outer?
Open Google Earth. Select the icon along the top that looks like Saturn and choose “Mars”
Rotate around Mars.
1. How does the Southern Hemisphere appear vs. the Northern? Which has more craters?
On the left side under layers find “rovers” click on the arrow next to this to see a list of all rover
missions. Choose Curiosity. Click on the blue info.
2. What evidence of water has Curiosity found so far? List three of the features
Do a search for Hellas Planitia and go to this feature. Click on the green hikers to read about it.
3. What is this feature?
Do a search for Vastitas Borealis and go to this feature.
4. What is this feature hypothesized to be?
5. Why are we so interested to find evidence of liquid water on Mars?