Download Fundamental Concepts and Skills

Unit 5: Astronomy
Fundamental Concepts and Skills
Gravity in the Solar System
-Gravity is a force that keeps the planets in motion around the sun.
-Gravity acts everywhere in the universe.
-The larger and closer the objects the more gravitational pull.
-What is the difference between mass and weight?
 On a planet with less mass you would have less weight.
Solar System
-The solar system consists of the sun, moon, Earth and other planets; and their moons, meteors, asteroids,
and comets.
-Each body in space has a unique characteristics and features.
- The distance between planets and sizes of the planets varies greatly.
Outer Planets
- Known as the “Gas Giants.” / They also have rings.
Asteroid Belt- An area between the inner and outer planets consisting of rocky
objects orbiting the sun. It is an asteroid because it is too small (less than 448
mi. in diameter) to be considered a planet.
Inner Planets
-The 4 inner planets are relatively smaller and rocky. Their iron cores
allow for magnetic properties.
Dwarf planets – orbit the sun and have enough mass to keep a round shape.
Dwarf planets are generally smaller than Mercury. Pluto status as a planet was changed to a dwarf planet.
Planetary MovementPlanets revolve around a sun, the moons revolve around planets. A planet rotates on its axis.
Light Year- The distance light travels through space in one year: 5.88 trillion miles!
Space Exploration
With the development of new technology over the last half-century, our knowledge of the solar system has
increased substantially.
NASARobert GoddardSputnik
Yuri GagarinMercury Space Program
Alan ShepardJohn Glenn
Valentina Tereshkova
Apollo
Apollo 11 Landing on
the MoonNeil Armstrong and
Buzz Aldrin
Sally Ride
The Space Shuttle-
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Created the first American Rockets
The first artificial satellite placed into earth’s orbit creating the Space Race
The first human in space, a cosmonaut from the USSR( now known as Russia).
America’s first manned missions to space.
The first American launched into space. Part of the Mercury Program.
The first American to orbit the earth. He later became a U.S. Senator and went
back into space aboard the Space Shuttle, becoming the first senior citizen in
space!
The first Woman in space, a Russian cosmonaut.
The program designed to land people onto the moon.
July 1969, the first successful landing of humans on the moon using the Saturn V
rocket and Lunar Module.
The first humans on the moon aboard Apollo 11. “That’s one small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind.”
The first American woman in space, riding in the space shuttle.
The first reusable and most complex rocket to ever exist. All of the Space Shuttles
have been retired. Our funding for manned space travel has been transitioned from
government funded to private industry funded.
Mercer Middle Model
Loudoun County Public Schools
Aldie, VA
SOL’S & Reading
6.8c – Role of
gravity
Core Lab: Gravity
ws#5 -Understanding
Gravity
Sol 6.8a – The sun,
moon, Earth other
planets and their
moons, meteors,
asteroids, and
comets.
- ws#4 - Solar
System Theme Park
Project
-ws#6- The planets
are moving.
Sol 6.8b – Relative
size and distance
between the planets.
Sol 6.8i The history
and technology of
space exploration.
-ws#4- Space
Exploration Overview
-Integrated into the
Solar System Theme
Park.
Mercer Middle Model
Loudoun County Public Schools
Aldie, VA