Handout 27-4Handout 27-4 The Outer PlanetsThe Outer Planets

MatchingMatching

1.1. outer planets outer planets

2.2. asteroid belt asteroid belt

3.3. gas giant gas giant

4.4. Pluto Pluto

a.a. a planet with a deep and a planet with a deep and massive gaseous atmosphere massive gaseous atmosphere

b.b. the planets farthest from the sun; the planets farthest from the sun; include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and PlutoNeptune, and Pluto

c.c. the smallest and usually most the smallest and usually most distant planet; differs from other distant planet; differs from other outer planetsouter planets

d.d. a ring of debris that separates a ring of debris that separates the inner planets from the outer the inner planets from the outer planetsplanets

55

How do the gas giants compare with the How do the gas giants compare with the terrestrial planets? terrestrial planets? b. b. Gas giants are larger and less dense. Gas giants are larger and less dense.

66

Compared with the terrestrial planets, the Compared with the terrestrial planets, the gas giants gas giants a. a. have more gravity, which helps them retain have more gravity, which helps them retain

gases.gases.

77

The thick atmosphere of the gas giants is The thick atmosphere of the gas giants is made up ofmade up ofc. c. hydrogen and helium. hydrogen and helium.

88

The gas giants have ring systems that are The gas giants have ring systems that are made up of made up of b. b. dust and icy debris. dust and icy debris.

99

Jupiter is the _________________ planet Jupiter is the _________________ planet from the sun.from the sun.

5th5th

1010

Jupiter’s mass is more than Jupiter’s mass is more than _________________ times that of Earth._________________ times that of Earth.

300300

1111

How long is Jupiter’s orbital period?How long is Jupiter’s orbital period?Almost 12 yearsAlmost 12 years

1212

How often does Jupiter rotate on its axis?How often does Jupiter rotate on its axis?

9 hours 50 minutes- fastest of all planets9 hours 50 minutes- fastest of all planets

1313

Jupiter has at least 60 ________, four of Jupiter has at least 60 ________, four of which are the size of small planets.which are the size of small planets.moonsmoons

1414

How much of Jupiter’s atmosphere is How much of Jupiter’s atmosphere is composed of hydrogen and helium?composed of hydrogen and helium?

92% (much like the sun)92% (much like the sun)

1515

Jupiter’s atmosphere is much like the Jupiter’s atmosphere is much like the atmosphere of the atmosphere of the ____________________________.____________________________.

sunsun

1616

Why didn’t Jupiter become a star?Why didn’t Jupiter become a star? It did not have enough mass to allow nuclear It did not have enough mass to allow nuclear

fusion to begin.fusion to begin.

...the Sun, Proxima Centauri (closest star) and Jupiter.

1717

How does Jupiter’s large mass affect its How does Jupiter’s large mass affect its interior temperature and pressure?interior temperature and pressure?

The temperature and pressure inside The temperature and pressure inside Jupiter are much greater than inside Earth.Jupiter are much greater than inside Earth.

...the Sun, Proxima Centauri (closest star) and Jupiter.

1818

How far is Saturn from the sun?How far is Saturn from the sun?

B: B: It is the sixth planet from the sun.It is the sixth planet from the sun.

1919

How long is Saturn’s orbital period?How long is Saturn’s orbital period?

D: D: 29.5 years29.5 years

2020

How many moons does Saturn have?How many moons does Saturn have?a. a. at least 30 at least 30

2121

How large is Titan, Saturn’s largest moon?How large is Titan, Saturn’s largest moon?a. a. half the size of Earth half the size of Earth

2222

Saturn, like the planet _______________, Saturn, like the planet _______________, is made up almost entirely of hydrogen is made up almost entirely of hydrogen and helium and has a rocky, iron core.and helium and has a rocky, iron core.

JupiterJupiter

2323

Saturn is the least ___________ planet in Saturn is the least ___________ planet in the solar system.the solar system.densedense

2424

Saturn is known for its _______________, Saturn is known for its _______________, which are two times the planet’s diameter.which are two times the planet’s diameter.

ringsrings

2525

Like Jupiter, Saturn has ______________ Like Jupiter, Saturn has ______________ of colored clouds.of colored clouds.

bandsbands

2626

Uranus is the ____________ planet from Uranus is the ____________ planet from the sun and the third largest planet in the the sun and the third largest planet in the solar system.solar system.

seventhseventh

2727

Why is Uranus a difficult planet to study?Why is Uranus a difficult planet to study?

It is so far from the sun (3 billion km.)It is so far from the sun (3 billion km.)

2828

Uranus has at least _________ moons Uranus has at least _________ moons and at least 11 small rings.and at least 11 small rings.2424

2929

The orbital period for Uranus is almost The orbital period for Uranus is almost _______________ years._______________ years.

Almost 84 yearsAlmost 84 years

3030

Although most planets rotate with their Although most planets rotate with their axis perpendicular to their orbital planes, axis perpendicular to their orbital planes, Uranus’s axis is almost ________to the Uranus’s axis is almost ________to the plane of its orbit.plane of its orbit.parallelparallel

3131

How often does Uranus rotate?How often does Uranus rotate?About 17 hoursAbout 17 hours

3232

The planet’s blue-green color indicates The planet’s blue-green color indicates that the atmosphere may contain that the atmosphere may contain significant amounts of _______________, significant amounts of _______________, in addition to hydrogen and helium.in addition to hydrogen and helium.

methanemethane

3333

Neptune is the ___________________ Neptune is the ___________________ planet from the sun and is similar to planet from the sun and is similar to Uranus in size and mass.Uranus in size and mass.

eightheighth

3434

Neptune’s orbital period is nearly 164 Neptune’s orbital period is nearly 164 years, and the planet rotates about every years, and the planet rotates about every ________ h. ________ h. 1616

Planets and their RingsPlanets and their RingsUranus

Saturn

Jupiter

Neptune

3535

Neptune has at least ________________ Neptune has at least ________________ moons and possibly four rings.moons and possibly four rings.

EightEight

3636

Pluto is the __________________ planet Pluto is the __________________ planet from the sun.from the sun.

ninthninth

3737

Pluto’s orbit is an unusually elongated and Pluto’s orbit is an unusually elongated and tilted _________. tilted _________. ellipseellipse

3838

How does Pluto compare with the other How does Pluto compare with the other planets in terms of its size and distance planets in terms of its size and distance from the sun?from the sun?

It is the smallest and farthest planet from It is the smallest and farthest planet from the sun.the sun.

3939

What is Pluto made of?What is Pluto made of?Frozen methane, rock, and ice.Frozen methane, rock, and ice.

PlutoPluto

4040

Describe the Kuiper belt.Describe the Kuiper belt.A region of the solar system that is just A region of the solar system that is just

beyond the orbit of Neptune and that contains beyond the orbit of Neptune and that contains small bodies made mostly of ice.small bodies made mostly of ice.

4141

Name two objects that have been found Name two objects that have been found beyond Pluto.beyond Pluto.

Quaoar and Sedna (ice/rock objects Quaoar and Sedna (ice/rock objects similar to Pluto but smaller)similar to Pluto but smaller)

THE ENDTHE END