Mr.
Ishwaar Singh 2019
UNIT 9: THE SOLAR SYSTEM
9.1: The Solar System
-The Solar System is elliptical in shape and it consists of:
The Sun
Eight planets
Natural satellites
Asteroids
Meteoroids
Comets
The Sun
- Centre of Solar System. Largest object in solar system
- Is a star. Closest star to Earth.
- Gives us heat, light and energy.
- Creates gravity that holds Earth and other planets together.
- All members move around the Sun in same direction but at different speed.
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Mr. Ishwaar Singh 2019
Planets
- There are eight planets.
- In sequence: Mercury. Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune.
- All are located at different distance from Sun
- Can be divided into two groups:
(i) Inner group: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
-Made of rocks and metals.
-The atmosphere of Mercury, Venus and Mars is very thin and
poisonous for living things.
Mercury
-Nearest planet to Earth.
-Extremely hot planet (400 C)
-Too hot to support life.
Venus
-Second planet from Sun.
- Has a thick layer of carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid which form the
atmosphere.
-Carbon dioxide absorbs and traps heat, preventing it from escaping. Therefore it
is very hot.
Earth
-Third planet from Sun.
-Fifth largest planet.
-Has air, water and atmosphere.
-Only planet where life exists.
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Mr. Ishwaar Singh 2019
Mars
-Fourth planet from Sun
-Also known as the RED PLANET (covered in red dust)
-Cold and lifeless planet.
-Have craters on its surface and snow at its pole.
(ii) Outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
-They are mainly made from gases. Hence, there is no surface to
stand on these planets.
-The temperature is too cold to support life.
Jupiter
-Fifth planet from Sun.
-The biggest planet.
-Made of hydrogen and helium. Very light.
Saturn
-Sixth planet from Sun.
-Second largest planet.
-Most beautiful planet (has thousands of coloured rings surrounding it)
-Rings are made from dust and ice particles. Therefore they shine because ice
reflects light.
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Mr. Ishwaar Singh 2019
Uranus
-Seventh planet from Sun
-Third largest planet.
-Blue color and made mainly of hydrogen, helium and methane (Methane gives
Uranus the blue colour)
-Has a ring around it.
Neptune
-Eighth planet from Sun
-Composed of hydrogen, helium and methane.
-Methane gives Neptune the blue colour.
-It has storm and wind
-Furthest and coldest planet in the Solar System.
Natural satellites
- Smaller objects that move around planets are called natural satellites.
- The Moon is the natural satellite for Earth.
- Moon orbits (turns) around Earth in an anti-clockwise direction.
- Moon takes 27 1/3 days to go around Earth.
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Mr. Ishwaar Singh 2019
Asteroids
-Are rocky and metallic objects that orbits the Sun.
-Are smaller than planets but bigger than meteoroids.
- Most of the known asteroids are found within the main asteroid belt, between
the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
-The first asteroid discovered was known as Ceres.
Meteoroids
-A piece of stone-like or metal-like debris in the Solar System.
-Most of them are small.
-If meteoroid falls into the Earth atmosphere, it begins to heat up and glow. This
is called a meteor.
A meteor that hits a surface is called a meteorite.
-When a big meteor hits the Earth’s surface, it will form a crater.
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Mr. Ishwaar Singh 2019
Comets
-Are icy lumps that are formed from frozen gas and dust.
-Have long glowing tails and revolve around the Sun.
An example of a comet is the Halley Comet, which returns to the center of the
Solar System every 76 years.
-Halley Comet was last seen in 1986.
