Download The Solar System

The Solar System
Each galaxy is made up of thousands of solar systems – collections of celestial objects that revolve around one or more suns. It is estimated that our solar system is 5 billion years old.
It is theorized that a solar system evolves as a collection of gas and dust that combined forming a sun due to gravitational attraction. Once this “new sun” forms, masses of gas/
dust around the sun form celestial bodies (planets) revolving around the sun.
Components of the Solar System
ASTEROID: Irregular, solid mass that revolves around the Sun. MOON: Spherical object that revolves around a planet or asteroid. PLANET: Spherical objects that revolve around the Sun METEOROID: Very Iny solid masses that revolve around the Sun. If these masses enter Earth’s atmosphere they are known as METEORS. METEORITES are the remnants of a meteor found on the Earth’s surface COMET: Small, solid masses of dust/ice that have an orbit around the Sun. Characteristics of Planets
RT = Pg. 15 The distance between a planet and the Sun has an effect on the other characteristics a planet might exhibit.
What patterns can you make between the planets in the Solar System using this chart?
RT = Pg. 15 Terrestrial Planets
Terrestrial Planets:
During the formation of the Solar System, the terrestrial planets were impacted by the high temperatures and pressure from the Sun. Less dense elements were pushed out of the inner solar system.
MERCURY VENUS EARTH MARS Jovian Planets
Jovian Planets:
JUPITER During the formation of the Solar System, the Jovian planets were not impacted by the high temperatures and pressure from the Sun. These planets are made up of the less dense elements that were pushed out of the inner solar system.
SATURN URANUS NEPTUNE Planetary Motions
Rotation
Revolution
Orbital Shape
A planet’s revolution around the sun is not in the form of a perfect circle, but rather an oval shape. This shape is known as an ellipse.
Each planet’s “elliptical orbit” is not the same. Eccentricity is a measure of the shape of an orbit around another celestial object.
Orbits that are “very eccentric” tend to be flat and oval. Orbits that are “less eccentric” tend to be more circular.
Eccentricity
Eccentricity
RT = Pg. 1 Eccentricity: e = d L d = distance between foci orbit f1 = the sun the planet revolves around. f1 f2 L = length of the major axis f2 = an area in space along the major axis between the sun and the orbit. Eccentricity
RT = Pg. 1 Determine the eccentricity of Planet “X”?
Eccentricity: e = d L Eccentricity: d = distance between foci e = orbit Planet “X” f1 f2 L = length of the major axis Orbital Velocity
GravitaIonal force between Sun and planet The revolution of one celestial object around another (Ex: planet around a sun) is a balance between the forces of inertia and gravity.
Inertia is the property in which matter remains in a state or rest or motion, unless an opposing force acts upon it. Gravity is the attractive force between any two objects in the universe.
Pathway of inerIa The orbital velocity of a celestial body is in dynamic equilibrium – between inertia and gravity.
Orbital Velocity
In perihelion...
In aphelion... Due to the eccentricity of orbits in the Solar System, the orbital velocity of a celestial body will change during its revolution. Orbital Velocity
The further a planet is from the Sun in the Solar System…
The weaker its gravitational attraction with the Sun…
The slower its orbital velocity…
The longer its period of revolution…
Ex: Compare the orbital velocities of Venus and Mars.
Mars is further from the Sun than Venus.
Mars has a period of revolution that is 687 days. Venus has a period of revolution that is 224.7 days.