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Science 8
Unit 2
Astronomy
Name: ______________________________
Date: ______________ Period: __________
Sec 13.3 The Outer Solar System has Four Giant Planets
Structure of the Gas Giants
1. Why are these planets called ‘gas giants?’ _________________________________________________
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2.
The four outer gas planets are: ____________________, ____________________,
____________________, and ____________________.
3.
The one outer dwarf planet that is not a gas giant is ____________________.
4.
The two main differences between Pluto and the gas giants are:
5.
a.
_____________________________________________________________
b.
_____________________________________________________________
Why doesn’t the gas on a gas giant escape into space, as it has on Mercury?
______________________________________________________________________________________
6.
The other object in our solar system that has a composition similar to that of the gas giants is
_________________________________.
7.
None of the gas giants has a solid surface, but all have a solid core. TRUE or FALSE
8.
Why don’t astronomers know much about the cores of the gas giants?
____________________________________________________________________
9.
As you near the center of a gas giant, what happens to the temperature? ___________________________
JUPITER
10. Jupiter’s atmosphere is made up mainly of hydrogen and helium. TRUE or FALSE
11. What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter? ____________________________________
12. Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about Jupiter.
a.
Jupiter’s atmosphere contains many colorful bands of chemical clouds.
b.
Jupiter’s atmosphere is extremely thin.
c.
Jupiter has windstorms that can last for many years.
d.
Jupiter is the most massive planet in our solar system.
13. Ice crystals made of frozen ammonia form the high white clouds. TRUE or FALSE
14. A giant storm called _____________________________________ has lasted for over 100 years.
15. Why does Jupiter have very strong winds? ___________________________________________________
SATURN
16. What are Saturn’s rings made of? __________________________________________________________
17. Saturn’s rings circle the planet at its ______________________________.
18. Saturn is the only planet with rings.
TRUE or FALSE
19. Saturn has seasons. TRUE or FALSE
20. If you could find a pool big enough, Saturn would float in the water. TRUE or FALSE
URANUS
21. Why does Uranus look blue? ______________________________________________
22. Uranus’ diameter is about ________________times larger than Earth’s.
23. How is the rotation of Uranus unlike that of most other planets? __________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
24. What made astronomer William Herschel famous in 1781?
______________________________________________________________________________________
NEPTUNE
25. Circle the letter of the sentence that explains how the Great Dark Spot is like the Great Red Spot.
a. Both formed from volcanoes.
b. Both formed on rings
c. Both were probably storms.
d. Neither lasted long.
26. Neptune’s atmosphere is blue and nearly featureless. TRUE or FALSE
27. What gases make up most of the masses of both Uranus and Neptune? _____________________________
28. What are the white patches often seen on Neptune? _____________________________________________