A8 Appendix A My Big Ideas Projects

Our Solar System

Our solar system consists of four inner planets, four outer planets, dwarf planets such as Pluto, several moons, and many asteroids and comets.

Essential Question How do the characteristics of a planet infl uence whether or not it can sustain life?

Getting Started1

Science ProjectA.4

Sample: The average temperatures of the eight planets in our solar system are shown in the graph.

The average temperature tends to drop as the distance between the Sun and the planet increases.

An exception to this rule is Venus. It has a higher average temperature than Mercury, even though Mercury is closer to the Sun.

Deg

rees

Cel

siu

s

Mercu

ry

Ven

us

Earth

Mars

Jup

iter

Saturn

Uran

us

Nep

tun

e

300

200

100

0

100

200

300

400 Temperaturesof the Planets

WaterBoils

WaterFreezes

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Section A.4 Science Project A9

Things to Include22 ● Compare the masses of

the planets.

● Compare the gravitational forces of the planets.

● How long is a “day” on each planet? Why?

● How long is a “year” on each planet? Why?

● Which planets or moons have humans explored?

● Which planets or moons could support human life? Explain your reasoning.

Things to Remember33 ● Add your own drawings or photographs

to your report. You can download photographs of the solar system and space travel at NASA.gov.

● Organize your report in a folder, and think of a title for your report.

Mars Rover

Hubble Image of Space

Hubble Spacecraft

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