NAME: ______________________________
Date: _________________
Class: 6-2-____
Earth Science Chapter 16 – The Solar System
Key Terms:
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geocentric: model of the universe, in which the Earth is in the center of revolving planets
heliocentric: model of the universe, in which the Sun is in the center of revolving planets
ellipse: an oval shape, which may be elongated or nearly circular
terrestrial planets: name often given to the four inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars)
greenhouse effect: process by which heat is trapped in the atmosphere by water vapor, carbon dioxide,
methane, and other gases that form a “blanket” around Earth
gas giant: name often given to the four outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune)
comet: loose collection of ice, dust, and small rocky particles, typically with a long narrow orbit of the sun
coma: fuzzy outer layer of a comet
nucleus: central core of an atom that contains protons and neutrons; solid inner core of a comet
asteroid: rocky objects revolving around the sun that are too small and numerous to be considered planets
meteoroid: chunk of rock or dust in space
meteor: streak of light in the sky made by the burning of a meteoroid in Earth’s atmosphere (shooting star)
meteorite: a meteoroid that passes through the atmosphere and hits the Earth’s surface
Essential Questions:
Section 1
1. How did Copernicus contribute to our knowledge of the solar system? He was able to work out an
arrangement of the known planets and how they move around the sun.
2. How did Galileo contribute to our knowledge of the solar system? He used the newly invented telescope
to make discoveries that supported the heliocentric model.
3. How did Kepler contribute to our knowledge of the solar system? He found that the orbit of each planet
was an ellipse.
4. What makes up our solar system? The solar system is made up of the sun, planets and their moons, and
several kinds of smaller objects that revolve around the sun.
Section 3
5. What are the four inner (terrestrial) planets? The four inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
6. What two main gases make up Earth’s atmosphere? Oxygen and nitrogen make up the Earth’s
atmosphere.
7. How is Earth unique in our solar system? It has liquid water at its surface.
8. What is the smallest (terrestrial) planet in the solar system? Mercury is the smallest planet.
9. Because Mercury has no atmosphere and a heavily cratered surface, what other heavenly body is its
surface similar to? The moon is similar to Mercury.
10. What planet is called “Earth’s Twin?” Venus is called Earth’s twin.
11. In what two ways is Venus similar to Earth? Venus’s density and internal structure are similar to Earth.
12. What are Venus’s clouds made of? The clouds are mostly made of droplets of sulfuric acid.
13. Why is Venus the hottest planet, even though it is not the closest to the sun? Venus is the hottest planet
because carbon dioxide retains the heat so well in the atmosphere (greenhouse effect).
14. Which planet is called “the red planet?” Mars has a slightly reddish color due to the breakdown of ironrich rocks that creates a rusty dust.
15. Olympus Mons is tha largest volcano in the solar system and located on what planet? It is located on
Mars.
16. Aside fom Earth, which inner planet once had liquid water on its surface? Mars once had liqiud water on
its surface.
NAME: ______________________________
Date: _________________
Class: 6-2-____
Section 4
17. What are the four outer planets and how do they differ from the inner planets? The four outer planets
are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They differ the inner planets in size (larger) and make up (no solid
surface).
18. What keeps the gas giants’ gases from escaping? Gravity keeps the gases from escaping.
19. All the gas giants have many what? They all have many moons.
20. What is the largest and most massive planet? Jupiter is the largest and most massive planet.
21. What is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot? It is a storm that is larger than Earth.
22. What is Saturn known for? It is known for its spectacular rings.
23. What is different about Uranus from the other planets? Uranus rotates from top to bottom instead of side
to side.
24. What other planet does Neptune look like? Neptune looks like Uranus, due to its similar size and color.
25. How was Neptune discovered? It was discovered as a result of a mathematical prediction.
Section 5
26. What are the three main parts of a comet? The three main parts of a comet are the coma, nucleus, and
tail.
27. What direction do comets’ tails point? The comets’ tails usually point away from the sun.
28. Where are most asteroids found? Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt, located revolving between
Mars and Jupiter.
29. How do scientists think asteroids formed? They hypothesize that asteroids are leftover pieces of what did
not come together to form a planet.
30. Where do meteoroids come from? They come from asteroids or comets.
31. What is the difference in meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites?
meteoroid: a chunk of rock found in space
meteor: a chunk of rock found burning in the Earth’s atmosphere
meteroite: a chunk of space rock the made it through the atmosphere and hits the surface
32. What is another name for meteors? It is also called a shooting star.