Properties of Planets and the Sun

Energy is transferred by the movement of matter. Occurs in the Sun's Convective zone.

Convection

The rotation of the Sun in which the Equator rotates in about 25 days and the poles slower at 35 days.

Differential Rotation

3rd planet from sun; has an atmosphere that protects life & surface temp.'s that allow water to exist as a solid, liquid, & gas

Earth

Collection of star systems

Galaxy

An outer planet w/ a very cold atmosphere made up of Hydrogen & Helium. The Great Red Spot, a storm Bigger than the Earth, is continually visible on its surface.

Jupiter

Planets with 60+ moons

Jupiter and Saturn

A terrestrial planet w/ a thin atmosphere & rocky surface that is a red color from the iron oxide in the soil. The largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is on this planet.

Mars

A rocky planet with little or no atmosphere, and a heavily cratered surface. This is the closest planet to the Sun.

Mercury

Closest to the Sun; has a thin atmosphere w/ temp. extremes, an iron core, & many craters & high cliffs

Mercury

Planest that do not have moons

Mercury and Venus

A gas giant planet w/ an atmosphere of Hydrogen, Helium, and methane. Has the fastest wind speeds in the solar system.

Neptune

Revolutionary path the planet takes around the Sun.

Orbit

A characteristic of a pure substance that can be observed without changing it into another substance

Physical Propertie

Dwarf planet- no longer considered a planet; has a thin atmosphere & a solid, icy-rock surface

Pluto

The process by which energy is transferred as electromagnetic waves. Occurs in the Sun's Radiative zone.

Radiation

An outer planet w/ an atmosphere of Hydrogen & Helium, encircled by its famous rings of ice & rock.

Saturn

Yellow, medium star

Sun

Dense planets with rocky surfaces (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars)

Terrestrial planets

A gas giant planet w/ an atmosphere of mostly nitrogen, that strangely orbits on its side. This is the coldest outer planet,

Uranus

A terrestrial planet w/ a very thick, toxic atmosphere, & a surface covered w/ volcanoes, mountains, & valleys. The surface of the planet is around 485 degrees Celsius & getting hotter. This is the hottest inner planet.

Venus

This can be found between the inner and outer planets.

asteroid belt

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

inner planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

outer planets