The Solar System Flashcards
(42 cards)
Name and categorise the 8 planets.
Rocky/Terrestrial
Mercury / Venus / Earth / Mars
Gas Giants
Jupiter / Saturn / Uranus /Neptune
What is the definition of a planet?
A planet is a body that:
- Is in orbit around the Sun
- Is large enough to be Spherical
- Has cleared its orbit of other objects.
Name 6 other types of body in our Solar System.
- Asteroids (Vesta / Pallas)
- Comets
- Centaurs (Half comet, Half Asteroid)
Orbit between Jupiter and Neptune - Moons/satellites (160 known)
- Dwarf Planets (Pluto, Ceres, Eris)
- TNOs (Trans Neptunian Object)
Objects orbiting beyond Neptune
Name 2 decisions of the IAU (International Astronomical Union) taken in 2006.
- Ceres promoted from Asteroid to dwarf planet
- Pluto demoted from planet to dwarf planet.
What is 1 AU (Astronomical Unit) ?
Unit of Measurement
Based on distance between Earth and Sun
150 million km
Describe Mercury.
- It is the closest to the sun
- Fastest orbital period. Smallest planet
- Heavily cratered
- Highlands and lava filled basins.
What is odd about Venus?
It spins backwards.
Retrograde Rotation
Describe Venus.
It is a similar size to Earth Clouds of Sulphuric Acid Atmosphere of mostly Carbon Dioxide Runaway Greenhouse Effect Temp 470 degrees C Pressure 90 x Earth’s
Describe Mars.
Iron rich rocks Red planet 450km long water carved canyons Mariner Valley Highest volcano in solar system Olympus Mons
What is the Great red spot on Jupiter?
It is an anticyclone weather system greater in size than Earth.
How many times bigger than Earth is Jupiter?
11 (approx)
Describe Jupiter’s equatorial bulge and explain why it has one.
- Dynamic wind system splits atmosphere into belts and zones
- Bulge due to extremely fast rotation (once in only 10hrs)
How long is a Venus day?
243 Earth days.
Name some similarities between Uranus and Neptune.
-Similar Size
-They are both cold Gas Giants.
(Hydrogen / Helium / Methane / Ammonia)
Describe some similarities and differences between Jupiter and Saturn.
-Both have ring systems
(Jupiter’s not as reflective as Saturn’s)
-Both are gas giants
-Similar rotational periods
-Saturn has less visible structure to its atmosphere
(unlike Jupiter which has Great Red Spot, red/brown belts and yellow/white zones.)
Name some differences between Uranus and Neptune?
- Uranus is almost featureless.
- Uranus spins on its side.
- Neptune has a Great Dark Spot.
- Neptune has clouds of frozen methane.
Name 5 problems Astronauts could face if venturing beyond the Moon.
-Time
-Space adaptation syndrome
(No up and no down / Disorientation / Headaches / Vomiting / Poor concentration)
-Physiological problems, prolonged zero gravity causes: (Muscle wasting. Brittle bones, Reduced red cell count)
-Psychological problems: Confined spaces with the same group of people.
-Communication delays
-Radiation Risk
Name some advantages of robotic planetary exploration.
Less expense
No loss of life
Safer
Name Mars’ two small moons.
Deimos
Phobos
Why do Astronomers believe that Deimos and Phobos are captured Asteroids?
Heavily cratered.
Irregular in shape.
Densities half that of Mars.
Compositions similar to Asteroids.
Name 3 moons of Neptune.
-Triton
-Dark Proteus (Largest Irregular moon of Solar System. Orbits in the plane of Neptune’s equator.
Suggesting it was formed at the same time as Neptune.)
-Nereid. (Highly eccentric orbit, 1 orbit is 1 Earth year. Probably captured Kuiper Belt object.)
Why do astronomers believe Triton is also a captured body?
- Revolves around Neptune in the opposite direction to Neptune’s rotation.
- Highly inclined orbit.
- It is thought that Triton’s capture is the result of a collision with Neptune or one of it’s moons.
Name 4 planets that have ring systems.
Saturn.
Jupiter.
Neptune.
Uranus.
Why aren’t Jupiter’s rings visible like Saturn’s rings?
Saturn’s rings are made out of highly reflective ice particles.
Jupiter’s rings are made out of dark dust.
