CHAPTER
Name
Date
Class
WORKSHEET
The Planets
14
Solar System
Directions: Answer the following questions on the lines provided.
1. Name the two models of the solar system and explain the difference between them.
Historical vs present (see pg. 71) _____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. State what scientists hypothesize regarding the formation of the Sun and the planets.
(see pg. 72–73) _____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: In the chart below, list the discoveries about the solar system made by each scientist.
3. Copernicus
Heliocentric Model or
Proved the Heliocentic Model and
4. Galileo
5. Kepler
6. Einstein
2013 Book J Astronomy
Time/Space Continuium, how stars are powered by fusion
and the fight with gravity, how gravity bends light
Glencoe McGraw-Hill
3-1
CHAPTER 3 The Planets continued pg. 2
Section 2
The Inner Planets
Directions: Write the names of the inner planets as headings in the chart in the order of their position from the Sun.
Then fill in the chart using information from your textbook.
Planet 1.
5.
Size and
composition
Planet 2.
Atmosphere
6.
7.
8.
10.
11.
12.
Temperatures
14.
greenhouse
effect
temp of
17.
18.
Surface
features
21.
none
25.
2013 Book J Astronomy
thin layers of
CO2, some
dense clouds of
___________
& sulfuric acid
13.
Space
probes
Planet 4.
small, solid
& rocky
9.
Moons
(number/
names)
Planet 3.
Mariner 10
22.
nitrogen & argon
15.
allows H2O to
16.
exist in all states
–50°to 40°C
19.
20.
oceans,
land masses,
polar ice caps
volcanoes,
reddish-yellow rocks,
rifts, craters,
_____________
_____________
23.
24.
27.
28.
none
26.
Mariner 2
Venera 7
Magellan
Glencoe McGraw-Hill
none
Mariner 9
Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Pathfinder
&
3-1
CHAPTER 3 The Planets continued pg. 3
Section 3
The Outer Planets
Directions: Write the names of the inner planets as headings in the chart in the order of their position from the Sun.
Then fill in the chart using information from your textbook.
Planet 5.
Planet 6.
Planet 7.
Planet 8.
Planet 9.
Not a
planet in
2006
1.
Size and
composition
Large and
gaseous
6.
Atmosphere
11.
Below the
Atmosphere
ocean of liquid
hydrogen &
helium, perhaps
a core of ice &
rock
2.
3.
4.
5.
7.
8.
9.
10.
hydrogen,
helium, ammonia,
methane &
water vapor
12.
2013 Book J Astronomy
14.
15.
liquid water,
methane,
ammonia, rocky
core.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Io, Europa,
Ganymede,
Castillo
+ 62 more
26.
Space
probes
13.
liquid water,
methane,
ammonia, rocky
core.
Notable
features
Moons
(number/
names)
hydrogen,
helium, methane
Voyager 1 & 2
27.
thin dark rings,
blue-green color,
Cordella &
Ophellia
+ 21 more
28.
Voyager 2
Glencoe McGraw-Hill
Charron
+ 1 more
29.
30.
New
Horizon
3-1
CHAPTER 3 The Planets continued pg. 4
How does Earth compare with other planets?
This data table compares some physical properties of Earth
and the other planets in our solar system.
Diameter
(Km)
Distance
from Sun (AU)
Period of
Rotation
Period of
Revolution
(Earth days)
Surface
Number
Temperature of Moons
(°C)
Mercury
4,878
0.39
58 days, 16 hrs
88 days
-173 to 427
0
Venus
12,104
0.72
243 days
224 days, 17 hrs
464
0
Earth
12,756
1
-13 to 37
1
Mars
6,794
1.52
24 hrs, 37 min
1 yr, 322 days
-123 to 37
2
Jupiter
142,984
5.2
9 hrs, 50 min
11 yrs 313 days
-153
66
Saturn
120,536
9.54
10 hr, 30 min
29 yrs 155 days
-185
35
Uranus
51,118
19.19
17 hrs, 14 min 83 yrs, 274 days
-214
24
Neptune
49,532
30.07
16 hrs, 7 min 163 yrs, 263 days
-225
11
2,290
39.48
6 days, 10 hrs
-236
2
Pluto
23 hrs, 56 min 365 days, 6 hrs
248 yrs
Note: that the table measures distance from the sun in astronomical units (AU).
One astronomical unit is equal to Earth’s average distance from the sun, or 150 Km.
Show What You Know
1. Identify two patterns you observe in the data table above.
a. _______________________________________________________________
b. _______________________________________________________________
2. Which planet is most like Earth? Explain your answer. _______________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2013 Book J Astronomy
Glencoe McGraw-Hill
3-1