Download Station 1 - Fall River Public Schools

Station 1: Read the passage and answer the
questions on your sheet.
How Did the Solar System Form and What Force Was Involved?
The most widely accepted theory about the formation of the solar system is the nebular theory. This theory
states that the solar system formed approximately five billion years ago when a gigantic cloud of gas and dust
began to collapse. The collapse of the solar nebula, as this cloud is called, was caused by the force of gravity
pulling particles within the nebula toward one another. Once the particles were in close range, intense pressure
caused them to merge. The sun’s great mass was formed from the matter at the center of the collapsing clouds,
and planets and other bodies formed from matter that was farther away.
1. What is the force responsible for the formation of the solar system?
2. Why did these particles merge together?
3. What was the first thing in our solar system to form (not in the article)?
4. Why did the sun form at the center of the solar system?
Station 2:
Why Do the Eight Planets in Our Solar System Have Different Sizes and Compositions?
Most of the material in the solar nebula became part of the sun. Some material was left over and continued to
revolve around the new sun. The heavier material was closer to the sun. This material collapsed and formed the
four inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The inner planets are relatively small and rocky. Farther
from the sun, lighter materials were revolving around the sun. The lighter material was mostly hydrogen and
helium gas. The gases came together to form the outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The outer
planets are also called gas giants because they have no solid surfaces and are very large.
1. Why are the outer planets so different from the inner planets?
2. What are the outer planets mostly made of?
Flashcards:
Outer planets:
Inner planets:
Station 3: Create a new pneumonic device for the
planets. Here is the order from the sun - out:
My sample pneumonic device is: My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets. Get
it? Now, you try!
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Station 4: Materials (flashlight, foam ball, bigger ball)
Look at the picture then try to demonstrate a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse. Draw a
diagram of each.
1. Lunar eclipses are much more common than a solar eclipse. Why is that?
2. Why aren’t there eclipses every month?
Diagram:
Solar Eclipse
Lunar Eclipse
**Station 5: Use the simulation to fill in the diagram
below.
http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.html
Then, draw a moon phases flashcard.
Lunar Phases:
Station 6: Read the passage and answer the
questions.
The sun shines because it is producing energy. Why does the moon shine? The moon is
reflecting light from the sun. Even at night, we can see some of the light from the sun!
Why Does the Moon Have Different Phases?
The changes in the appearance of the moon are called moon phases, and each is determined
by the moon’s position in relationship to Earth and the sun. The moon appears to shine
because its highly reflective surface, known as regolith, bounces the sun’s light back to Earth.
Of course, sunlight only reaches the half of the moon’s surface that is facing the sun. As the
moon moves around Earth, different portions of the moon’s sunlit surface are visible to us.
How Long Does It take the Moon to Complete One Phase Cycle?
The moon orbits Earth in about 28 days, which is the basis of our calendar month. Because the
position of the moon changes constantly, the moon's appearance changes daily so that at
times you see the entire moon and at other times you do not see it at all.
1. How does the moon shine at night?
2. When we see the phases of the moon, why do they change as the moon revolves around
the Earth?
3. How long is the lunar orbit?
**Station 7: (discovery ed simulation “the inconsistent moon”) Complete the
lunar phase challenge then answer questions. Make
sure to reset it before you leave this station.
1. Why is there not a lunar eclipse during every full moon?
2. Create a way to remember the phases of the moon:
*Station 8: (discovery ed video) Watch the discovery ed video,
“the moon’s influence on Earth”. Don’t write
anything, just relax!
Station 9: Read the passage and answer questions.
How Long Does It take the Moon to Complete One Phase Cycle?
The moon orbits Earth in about 28 days, which is the basis of our calendar month. Because the
position of the moon changes constantly, the moon's appearance changes daily so that at times
you see the entire moon and at other times you do not see it at all.
How Do the Relative Locations of the Sun, Moon, and Earth Affect the Tides?
The position of the sun, Earth, and the moon relative to each other affects the size of tides.
Spring tides occur as the Earth, the sun, and the moon are aligned. During a spring tide, the
gravitational attraction of the sun is combined with the gravitational attraction of the moon,
causing high tides to be higher and low tides to be lower than normal. Neap tides occur when
the moon, Earth, and the sun form a right angle. The gravitational attraction of the sun
counteracts the effects of the moon’s gravitational attraction. This causes tidal variation to be
less extreme, making neap tides less intense than spring tides.
1. How long is the lunar orbit?
2. What is a spring tide?
3. What is a neap tide?
4. What is responsible for the tides?
Note: don’t start at this station
Station 10: Draw a diagram of a spring tide and a
neap tide.
Station 11: Read about the 4 inner planets and fill in
the most important characteristics.
What Are the Defining Characteristics of Mercury?
Mercury is the smallest planet. It has no moons. As the closest planet to the sun, Mercury also
has the shortest period of revolution. Mercury completes its orbit in 88 Earth days. Mercury is
so close to the sun that solar winds have blown most of its atmosphere away. Frozen water
may exist in the parts that are shadowed from the sun.
What Are the Defining Characteristics of Venus?
Venus is the second planet from the sun. It is similar in size to Earth. Venus does not have a
moon. Unlike Mercury, it has a very thick atmosphere that traps heat from the sun. Venus is
very hot. Water occurs only as a gas in its atmosphere. Venus takes about 225 Earth days to
revolve around the sun.
What Are the Defining Characteristics of Earth?
Earth is the third planet from the sun. Earth is the only planet with an atmosphere capable of
sustaining life (has oxygen). Earth’s atmosphere maintains a temperature range that enables
water to exist in all three states—solid, gas, and liquid.
What Are the Defining Characteristics of Mars?
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. It is about half the size of Earth. Mars is farther from
the sun, and its atmosphere is much thinner than Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, water exists
as a solid frozen in the Martian icecaps. Mars has two small moons. Because it is farther from
the sun than Earth, Mars takes almost 687 days to orbit the sun.
Mercury:
Venus:
Earth:
Mars:
Station 12: Read the passages about the 4 outer
planets and then record the important information.
What Are the Characteristics of Jupiter?
The first planet after Mars is Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Jupiter has at least 50
confirmed moons. Europa is a moon of Jupiter. Below an icy and cracked crust, the moon may have an ocean of
liquid water. Scientists are interested in the moon because the liquid water might mean that life exists in
Europa’s oceans. Two other moons of Jupiter are also thought to contain water.
What Are the Characteristics of Saturn?
Saturn is the second outer planet and the second-largest planet in the solar system. Saturn is famous for its rings.
The rings are made of dust and ice that revolve around the planet. In addition to rings, Saturn has more than 53
moons.
What Are the Characteristics of Uranus?
Uranus contains many other complex chemical compounds in addition to hydrogen and helium. However,
Uranus is so far away from the sun that these compounds are frozen. Uranus has 27 moons. A unique feature of
Uranus is that it rotates on its side relative to Earth.
What Are the Characteristics of Neptune?
Neptune has a similar composition to Uranus. Both planets have more ice than Jupiter and Saturn. Neptune has
13 moons. Neptune has active weather patterns and strong winds. Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun
and is very cold.
Jupiter:
Saturn:
Uranus:
Neptune:
Station 13: Read the passage and answer questions.
Getting to Know: Types of Galaxies
Our solar system is in a cluster of stars called the Milky Way galaxy. A galaxy is a
concentration of many stars in one region of space held together by gravity. Using
powerful telescopes, scientists have discovered that there are billions of galaxies in
the universe!
What Makes Up a Galaxy?
A galaxy is a collection of stars, gases, dust, planets, and other astronomical
bodies. There are billions of galaxies in the universe, each of which contains
billions of stars. If you look at a distant galaxy, the stars appear very close
together, but this appearance is deceiving. In fact, the stars in a galaxy are
extremely far apart. The next nearest star to Earth, besides the sun, is Proxima
Centauri. Light travels 9,460,000,000,000 kilometers in one year, or 300,000
kilometers per second. Even if you traveled at the speed of light, it would take you
4.3 years to reach Proxima Centauri.
What Makes Up the Universe?
The universe contains billions of galaxies, more than any person can count. Most
of the galaxies in the universe are spread far apart. Several galaxies can be seen
from Earth, but they tend to look like stars in the night sky. The billions of stars in
each galaxy are so far away that their light shines as one. One example is the
Andromeda galaxy. It is one of the Milky Way’s closest neighbors, at a distance of
2.5 million light years away. This means that the light you see when you look at
Andromeda left the galaxy 2.5 million years ago.
1. What is our solar system made of and what is its name?
2. What are galaxies made of and how many are there?
3. How far away are the stars from one another?
Station 14: Use the words to create a diagram
representing the size of the object to one another.
The smallest object goes in the middle, the largest in the outer most ring. Words to use:
planet, universe, galaxy, solar system
Describe how you knew how to fill this out. Then, work on your flash cards.