Solar System Study Guide

Which other planet is believed to have once had run water and has been shaped by the same forces as Earth? List the forces that have and continue to shape Earth's surface.

Mars is believed to have had water at some point. The forces that are thought to have shaped Mars and Earth are wind, moving liquids, volcanic activity, seismic activity, and asteroid (meteoroid) impacts.

Newton

Introduced the Law of Gravity which states that all objects in space attract each other through a balance of gravity and inertia.

Copernicus

Introduced the heliocentric model of the universe (now is of the solar system). Also, was the first person to say that the moon revolved around Earth.

List the planets in order from the sun out.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

How are Venus and Earth alike?

Venus and Earth have similar size, density, and mass.

Which planet's atmosphere is trapping carbon dioxide and causing the Greenhouse Effect?

Venus's atmosphere is trapping carbon dioxide and causing Venus to experience the Greenhouse Effect.

How old is our solar system?

about 4.6 billion years old.

What makes Earth unique and different from the other planets?

Earth is unique because it has liquid water! And it can support life!

What is the difference between meteoroid, meteor, meteorite?

A meteoroid is a chunk of rock in space, a meteor is rock passing through Earth's atmosphere (also known as a shooting star), and a meteorite is a meteor that has hit Earth's surface.

What did Brahe and Kepler prove?

Brahe - PREDICTED that orbits were elliptical instead of round. Kepler - used Brahe's information to PROVE that orbits are elliptical.

Which object or objects would have the greatest period of revolution?

Comets have the longest period of revolution.

Comets' orbits are what shape?

Comets orbits are long, narrow ellipses.

Galileo

First person to look into the sky and investigate space with a telescope. He saw craters on the moon, the four moons of Jupiter, and the phases of Venus.

What is the difference between geocentric and heliocentric?

Geocentric - Earth is the center of the universe and everything revolves around it. Heliocentric - Sun is the center of the universe and everything revolves around it.

Ptolemy

Geocentric model of the universe which stated that the Earth was the center of the universe

What two forces keep the planets in orbit around the sun?

Gravity and inertia keep planets in orbit.

What did Ptolemy believe about the system of planets?

He believed the geocentric model of the universe which stated that the Earth was the center of the universe

What did Copernicus believe about the system of planets?

He introduced the heliocentric model of the universe (now is of the solar system). Also, was the first person to say that the moon revolved around Earth.

What discoveries did Galileo make that supported Copernicus' views of the solar system? And what did he use to make these discoveries?

He was the first person to look into the sky and investigate space with a telescope. He saw craters on the moon, the four moons of Jupiter, and the phases of Venus.

What is the difference between inertia and gravity? What would happen if one or the other was not present?

Inertia says that an object in motion will stay in motion or an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. Gravity is a force that holds things in place.

Brahe

PREDICTED that orbits were elliptical instead of round.

What is the theory that explains the formation of our solar system? Explain the theory.

The Nebular Theory explains the formation of the solar system. It explains that the solar system formed from gas and dust called a nebula.

What is the asteroid belt and where is it located?

The asteroid belt is located between Mars and Jupiter.

What effects the revolution time of each planet?

The distance from the sun effects the time of revolution for each planet.

What do the first 4 inner planets have in common?

The inner planets are: small, rocky, and very dense

What is the difference between a comet, asteroid, and meteoroid?

The main difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid is that a meteoroid is MUCH smaller than an asteroid. Asteroids orbit the sun and meteoroids do not. Comets have parts such as a nucleus and tail and asteroids and meteoroids do not. Also, comets have long narrow elliptical orbits unlike the others.

What do the first 4 outer planets have in common?

The outer planets are: larger, less dense, more gravitational pull, and have gaseous atmospheres.

What two elements is our solar system mainly composed of?

hydrogen and helium.

Hubble

most recent notable astronomer - proved that there are other galaxies outside of the Milky Way and that the universe is larger than our galaxy.

Kepler

used Brahe's information to PROVE that orbits are elliptical.