The Planets in the Solar System

Introduction

The Solar System is full of planets, moons, asteroids, comets, minor planets, and many other exciting objects. The first view most people have of a planet, other than our own, is glancing up into the western sky after sunset and seeing Venus, the brightest object in our skies. You will also, almost certainly, have seen Jupiter, even if you did not know it, as it is the third brightest object in the sky after Venus and Sirius (the brightest star). When looking at the night sky you can tell a planet from a star because only stars "twinkle", but if you live in a badly light-polluted area you may struggle to even notice that difference. If you do live in a large city you can still try observing the moon, and with a pair of binoculars you will be able to pick out a lot of detail on its surface.

Task

What are the two groups of planets
How did the solar system form?
How do astronomers determine the age of solar system objects?
Do other solar systems/planetary systems exist?

Process

Process:

Links that may help you to understand the ff tasks.

http://www.universetoday.com/34577/inner-and-outer-planets/

http://www.windows2universe.org/our_solar_system/formation.html

http://www.universetoday.com/15575/how-old-is-the-solar-system/

http://www.uni.edu/morgans/astro/course/Notes/section4/new16.html

Evaluation

For your evaluation, answer these following questions.

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Now that Pluto is no longer included, how many planets are there in the Solar System?

a. 7 b. 8 c. 9

2. What is the smallest planet in the Solar System?

a. Venus b. Mercury c. Pluto

3. What is the largest planet in the Solar System?

a. Mars b. Jupiter c. Uranus

4. What is the hottest planet in the Solar System?

a. Earth b. Venus c. Saturn

5. The sixth planet from the Sun features an extensive ring system, what is the name of this planet?

a. Saturn b. Jupiter c. Uranus

6. What planet is closest to the Sun?

a. Venus b. Mercury c. Pluto

7. What planet is nicknamed the ‘Red Planet’?

a. Mars b. Jupiter c. Uranus

8. What is the third planet from the Sun?

a. Earth b. Venus c. Saturn

9. The moon Titan orbits what planet?

a. Saturn b. Jupiter c. Uranus

10. What planet in the solar system is farthest from the Sun?

a. Earth b. Venus c. Neptune

Conclusion

All matters of the Solar System almost contain entirely in the Sun, about 99.85 %. The eight planets, together with Pluto, only consist of 0.135 % of the total mass while the remaining 0.015 % constitute of planets' satellites, comets, asteroids, solar particles, dusts etc. The planets can be divided into two gropus: (i) The Terrestrial Planets, consist of four planet closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. (ii) The Jovian Planets, consist of the following four planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The Terrestrial Planets are generally compact and rocky, whereas the Jovian Planets are comparatively much bigger in size and gaseous in nature. These planets are also sometimes referred to as the gas giants.The distances of the Terrestrial Planets from one another and from the Sun are relatively close when compare with those of Jovian Planets. Diagram below shows relative (approximate) size of planetary orbits.