Planetary Systems Unit

Planetary Systems Unit

Part 3:

The Solar System

Key Learning:

Objects in our Solar System orbit the Sun, have distinctive physical characteristics, and move in orderly and predictable motions.

Unit Essential Question: How do the objects in our

Solar System interact with each other?


Part 3: The Solar System

Concept: The Earth Moon and Sun

System

Lesson Essential Questions:

1. How do we write our galactic address?

2. How do scale models help us represent our Solar System?

3. How is life in space different from

Earth?

4. Why is Earth the only planet known to contain life in our Solar System?

Vocabulary:

Galactic Address

Gravity factor

Weight

Habitable

You will be able to answer these questions by the end of Part 2

You should already know what these words mean. You will be able to use them in your responses and discussions throughout the unit



Homework Assignment #6

In the Planetary Systems Readings and Assignments…

Read pages 12 and do the assignment on page 12



Warm Up #1: If you were a bird flying over Talley Middle School, what would it look like when you looked down? Draw what you would see…



Galactic Address



Powers of 10



Complete Summary #1:

Here are three lists of astronomical objects. Choose the list that shows the objects nearest to Earth first and the objects furthest from

Earth last. a. Stars, the dwarf planet Pluto, galaxies b. Stars, galaxies, the dwarf planet Pluto c. The dwarf planet Pluto, stars, galaxies

Suppose you were to look at the solar system from a location well outside the orbit of Pluto. Most of what you would see in your picture would be… a. The planet Jupiter b. The planet Saturn c. Comets d. Empty space





Read pages 13 and do the assignment on page 13



Warm Up #2: Suppose you were standing on the surface of Venus and could see through its thick clouds…..

A. How would the Earth look?

a. a disk with visible features (clouds and continents) b. a disk that the eye could make out, but too small to see visible features like clouds and continents c. pale blue dot

B. What would be the configuration of the Earth and Moon?

a. right next to each other in the sky b. far apart from each other in the sky



Planet Walk




If it takes you one minute to walk 100 meters, how long would it take you to walk from Earth to Mars?





Read pages 14-15 and do the assignment on page 15

Life In Space





Warm Up #3: What planet are you most interested in learning about and why?



How Much You Weigh at Different Locations?

How much you weigh depends on the force of gravity at your location. The table below shows what the force of gravity would be at different locations in our Solar System based on a value of 1 on the Earth’s surface.

For example, if you weighed 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh 17 pounds on the Moon. 100 pounds (your Earth weight) multiplied by 0.17 (the gravity factor for the moon) = 17 pounds.

Remember, your mass does not change at different locations. Your mass remains the same; it is your weight that changes due to the force of gravity on the different planets.



Your Weight on Earth (or pick a weight) 195 pounds

Location

Gravity Factor at surface

My weight at this location

Sun

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Moon

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Dwarf planet Pluto

(where Earth=1)

27.9

0.37

0.88

1.00

0.17

0.38

2.64

1.15

1.15

1.12

0.04

5440.5 pounds

7.8 pounds



Jump, Jump, Jump Around

Problem: How does the Mass of a Planet affect how high you can jump?

Manipulated Variable: (1 point) __________________________

Responding Variable: (1 point) __________________________

Hypothesis: (1 point)

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Jump Trial #1 Trial #2 Trial #3 Average

Jump

Height (cm)

From Table 1!



Location Mass of the

Solar System object 10 23 kg

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Dwarf Planet

Pluto

3.3

48.7

59.8

6.42

19000

5690

868

1020

0.129

Sun 19,900,000

Average Height of Your Jump on Earth (cm)

Conversion for the Height of

Jump

Jump Height on the location

(cm)

X 2.65

X 1.10

X 1

X 2.64

X .039

X 0.94

X 1.10

X 0.88

X 13.2

X 0.04




If you were to visit any one of the planets (even Dwarf planet Pluto), which would it be and why?

Planetary Systems Unit - Brandywine School District

Part 3:

Homework Assignment #6

Read pages 12 and do the assignment on page 12

Galactic Address

Powers of 10

Homework Assignment #7

Read pages 13 and do the assignment on page 13

Planet Walk

Homework Assignment #8

Read pages 14-15 and do the assignment on page 15

Life In Space

How Much You Weigh at Different Locations?

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Planetary Systems Unit - Brandywine School District