Download planetary puzzlers - Stemmers Run Middle

Student Resource Sheet ESS - 9
PLANETARY PUZZLERS!?!
on
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To pass the time between stops, your team decides to make up some riddles about the
planets in our solar system. Someone asks, “What’s green and blue, and has an
average diameter of 12,756 kilometers?” Sure, everyone got that one. Another
member asks: “What orbits the sun once every 687 days, and has the largest
volcanoes in our solar system?” Okay, that’s a little harder. “Just one more,” someone else says.
“What’s about the same size as Earth, shows evidence of volcanic activity, but is so hot you
wouldn’t be able to live?” While you might not have known all of the answers, you realize that you
will need to know the characteristics of the different planets in order to complete your book or
presentation. In this investigation, you will learn more about the characteristics of the inner planets in
order to answer each riddle, and gather additional information from your book or presentation.
Objective
When you have completed this investigation, you should be able to analyze characteristics of the planets
in order to describe how surface features provide evidence of geologic activity.
Activity 1: Predicting the Answers!
1.
Review Chart 1, “Planet Riddles,” to reread the riddles presented in the introduction.
2.
Predict the name of the planet which will answer each of the riddles. Record your predictions in the
spaces provided.
Chart 1
Planet Riddles
Riddle
Which planet is green and blue, and has an average diameter of
12,756 kilometers?
Which planet orbits the sun once every 687 days, and has the
largest volcanoes in our solar system?
Which planet is about the same size as Earth, shows evidence
of volcanic activity, but is so hot you wouldn’t be able to live?
Predicted Planet
Activity 2: Finding the Answers
3.
Review Chart 2, “The Terrestrial Planets,” to identify the characteristics of the planets you will be
researching.
4.
Utilize resources in order to identify characteristics of the four inner planets.
5.
Complete Chart 2 using information from the resources. Which columns might you need to double
check to make sure that the information is accurate and up to date.
I will need to double-check ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________
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6.
Student Resource Sheet ESS - 9
Review the predictions you made in Activity 1. Determine the accuracy of your predictions. Use
information from the investigation to support your response.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Analysis
1.
Complete the graphic organizer to compare the four terrestrial planets.
Similarities among
ALL terrestrial planets
All made of rock and
metals.
Have major geologic
features.
Unique Characteristics for each terrestrial planet
Mercury:____________________________________
Venus: _____________________________________
Earth: ______________________________________
Mars: ______________________________________
2.
Write a riddle for the planet Mercury. Your riddle must include details about the geologic activity
that is occurring on Mercury, and how Mercury is a part of a larger system. (3 clues)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What planet am I?
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Student Resource Sheet ESS - 9
CHART 2: THE TERRESTRIAL PLANETS
Planet
Avg.
distance
from sun
(millions of
km)
Diameter
(km)
Period of
Rate of
Revolution
Rotation
(Earth time) (Earth Time)
Number
of
Satellites
(moons)
Surface
Temp.
(C)
Dominant
Geologic Features
Atmospheric
(i.e., water, volcanoes,
Gases
crustal deformations, etc.)
Craters
Mercury
57.9
4,878
0.24 years
59 days
0
(88 days)
Venus
108.2
12,104
- 170ºC to
450ºC
- 274ºF to
842ºF
0.62 years
243 days
0
(224 days)
(retrograde..
460ºC
860ºF
12,756
1 Year
atmosphere
Dense Metals (Iron/Nickel)
(sodium)
Carbon
Dioxide
Nitrogen
24 hours
1
(365.2 days)
- 89ºC to
57.7ºC
Nitrogen
- 128.2ºF
to 135.9ºF
Oxygen
Avg (14ºC)
(57.2 ºF)
Mars
227.9
6,794
1.9 years
(687 days)
2
1.03 days
Phobos
Diemos
- 140ºC to
20ºC
Carbon
Dioxide
Nitrogen
- 220ºF to
68ºF
Argon
Giant Volcano: Maat Mons
Many volcanos and broad
plains formed by lava flows
volcanos, deserts, oceans,
plains, mountains, plateaus,
lakes, canyons, valleys, ice
caps
only planet with water in
all 3 states (solid liquid,
gas)
 Active volcanoes;
surface covered with
lava
 deep canyons possibly
formed by fault zones
 Iron rich soil (red)
 Polar ice caps
Olympus Mons
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Student Resource Sheet ESS - 9
ESS - 65
149.6
Flat Plains
(Greenhouse
Effect)
backwards)
Earth
Almost no