Unit 4: AstronomyChapter 14: The Solar System

Big Idea: The solar system includes the sun, the planets & their moons, &

smaller objects such as comets, asteroids, & meteoroids

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6 Sections

1. Observing the Solar System

2. The Sun

3. The Inner Planets

4. The Outer Planets

5. Comets, Asteroids, & Meteors

6. Is There Life Beyond Earth?

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Sec 1: Observing the Solar System

KEY CONCEPTS• In a geocentric system, Earth is at the

center. In a heliocentric system, Earth & the other planets revolve around the sun

• Galileo’s discoveries supported the heliocentric model. Kepler developed 3 laws that describe the motions of the planets

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Sec 1: Observing the Solar System

• The solar system consists of the sun, the planets & their moons, & a series of smaller objects that revolve around the sun

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Sec 1: Key Terms

• Geocentric• Heliocentric• Ellipse• Moon• Astronomical unit

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Sec 2: The Sun

KEY CONCEPTS• The sun produces energy through fusion• The sun’s interior consists of the:

1) core2) radiation zone3) convection zone

• The sun’s atmosphere consists of the:1) photosphere2) chromosphere3) corona

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Sec 2: The Sun (cont’d)

• Features on or just above the sun’s surface include:

1) sunspots

2) prominences

3) solar flares

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Sec 2: Key Terms

• Nuclear fusion• Core• Radiation zone• Convection zone• Photosphere

• Chromosphere• Corona• Solar wind• Sunspot• Prominence• Solar flare

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Sec 3: The Inner Planets

KEY CONCEPTS• The 4 inner planets are small & dense• Earth is unique in our solar system in having

liquid water at its surface• Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet• Venus’s internal structure is similar to Earth’s• Liquid water flowed on Mars in the distant past

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Sec 3: Key Terms

• Terrestrial planets• Greenhouse effect

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Sec 4: The Outer Planets

KEY CONCEPTS

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune are much larger & more massive than Earth, & they do not have solid surfaces

• Jupiter is the largest & most massive planet in the solar system

• Saturn has spectacular rings

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Sec 4: The Outer Planets (cont’d)

• Uranus’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees from the vertical

• Neptune is a cold, blue planet. Its atmosphere contains visible clouds

• Pluto has a solid surface & is much smaller & denser than the other outer planets

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Sec 4: Key Terms

• Gas giant• Ring

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Sec 5: Comets, Asteroids, & Meteors

• Comets are loose collections of ice, dust, & small rocky particles whose orbits are usually very long, narrow ellipses

• Most asteroids revolve around the sun between the orbits of Mars & Jupiter

• Meteoroids come from comets or asteroids

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Sec 5: Key Terms

• Comet• Coma• Nucleus• Kuiper belt• Oort cloud

• Asteroid• Asteroid belt• Meteoroid• Meteor• Meteorite

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Sec 6: Is There Life Beyond Earth?

• Earth has liquid water & a suitable temperature range & atmosphere for life

• Scientists hypothesize that Mars may have once had the conditions for life to exist

• If there is liquid water on Europa, there might also be life

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Sec 6: Key Terms

• Extraterrestrial life