The Inner The Inner PlanetsPlanets

Mercury, Venus, Earth Mercury, Venus, Earth and Marsand Mars

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Vocabulary

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Vocabulary

Rotation Revolution

Orbit Diameter

Satellite Atmospheric

Geological

Gathering information about the INNER PLANETS!

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The Inner Planets!

MercuryMercury

The planet closest to the sun is Mercury. The planet closest to the sun is Mercury. Mercury is not much larger than Earth’s moon Mercury is not much larger than Earth’s moon and has no moons of its own. Mercury is made and has no moons of its own. Mercury is made up mainly of the dense metals iron and nickel.up mainly of the dense metals iron and nickel.

Mercury has many flat plains and craters on its Mercury has many flat plains and craters on its surface. The craters on Mercury have been surface. The craters on Mercury have been named for artists, writers, and musicians named for artists, writers, and musicians including the composers Bach and Mozart. including the composers Bach and Mozart.

Mercury Continued

Mercury ContinuedMercury Continued

Mercury has an extremely thin atmosphere. Astronomers have Mercury has an extremely thin atmosphere. Astronomers have detected small amounts of sodium and helium. Mercury is a planet detected small amounts of sodium and helium. Mercury is a planet of extremes. It is so close to the sun that during the day, the side of extremes. It is so close to the sun that during the day, the side facing the sun reaches temperatures of 450˚C. Because Mercury facing the sun reaches temperatures of 450˚C. Because Mercury has almost no atmosphere, at night all the heat escapes into space. has almost no atmosphere, at night all the heat escapes into space. The temperature drops to -170˚C. Mercury thus has a greater range The temperature drops to -170˚C. Mercury thus has a greater range of temperatures than any other planet in the solar system.of temperatures than any other planet in the solar system.

Average distance from Sun

Diameter (km)

Period of Revolution

(Earth days)

Rate of Rotation

(Earth days)

58,000,000 4,878 88 59

Take away fact:

Mercury resembles the moon!

VenusVenus

Venus is so similar in size to Earth that it is sometimes called Earth’s twin. Venus is so similar in size to Earth that it is sometimes called Earth’s twin. Astronomers think that the density and internal structure of Venus are Astronomers think that the density and internal structure of Venus are similar to Earths; however, Venus differs in many other ways.similar to Earths; however, Venus differs in many other ways.

Venus is the second planet from the sun; therefore, it receives a great deal Venus is the second planet from the sun; therefore, it receives a great deal of light. Ordinary light from the sun causes Venus’s surface to heat up. In of light. Ordinary light from the sun causes Venus’s surface to heat up. In turn, carbon dioxide traps this heat in the atmosphere causing Venus’s turn, carbon dioxide traps this heat in the atmosphere causing Venus’s surface to become hotter and hotter, until it is about 460˚C—hot enough to surface to become hotter and hotter, until it is about 460˚C—hot enough to melt lead. This trapping of heat by the atmosphere is called the melt lead. This trapping of heat by the atmosphere is called the greenhouse effectgreenhouse effect..

Venus takes about 7.5 Earth months (225 days) to revolve around the sun. Venus takes about 7.5 Earth months (225 days) to revolve around the sun. It takes about 8 months (243 days) for Venus to rotate on its axis. Venus It takes about 8 months (243 days) for Venus to rotate on its axis. Venus rotates so slowly that its “day” is longer than its “year.” Oddly, Venus rotates so slowly that its “day” is longer than its “year.” Oddly, Venus rotates from east to west, the opposite direction from most other planets and rotates from east to west, the opposite direction from most other planets and moons. This type of rotation is called moons. This type of rotation is called retrograde rotationretrograde rotation, from the Latin , from the Latin words for “moving backward.” One hypothesis proposed by astronomers to words for “moving backward.” One hypothesis proposed by astronomers to explain this unusual rotation is that Venus was struck by a very large object explain this unusual rotation is that Venus was struck by a very large object billions of years ago. This collision caused the direction of its rotation to billions of years ago. This collision caused the direction of its rotation to change. change.

Venus Continued

Venus ContinuedVenus Continued

Venus is covered with rock, similar to many rocky areas on Earth. Venus is covered with rock, similar to many rocky areas on Earth. Venus has volcanoes with lava flow, many craters and strange Venus has volcanoes with lava flow, many craters and strange domes not found on other planets. domes not found on other planets.

Venus is also known as the "morning star" or the "evening star" Venus is also known as the "morning star" or the "evening star" since it is visible and quite bright at either dawn or dusk. It is only since it is visible and quite bright at either dawn or dusk. It is only visible at dawn or dusk since it is closer to the sun than we are.visible at dawn or dusk since it is closer to the sun than we are.

Average distance from Sun

Diameter (km)

Number of Satellites (moons)

Dominant Atmospheric

Gases

108,000,000 12,104 0 Mostly CO2 gas (Greenhouse effect)Partly Sulfuric Acid

Take away fact:

Venus has retrograde rotation!

EarthEarth The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our Solar System. It is the The Earth is the third planet from the Sun in our Solar System. It is the

planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar System that is known planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar System that is known to support life. Earth is 12,756 km in diameter, the fifth largest! to support life. Earth is 12,756 km in diameter, the fifth largest!

Our planet’s atmosphere extends more than 100 kilometers above Earth’s Our planet’s atmosphere extends more than 100 kilometers above Earth’s surface. The oxygen you need to live makes up about 20 percent of the surface. The oxygen you need to live makes up about 20 percent of the gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Almost all the rest is nitrogen gas, with a gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Almost all the rest is nitrogen gas, with a small amount of carbon dioxide. Earth’s atmosphere also contains water small amount of carbon dioxide. Earth’s atmosphere also contains water vapor and clouds of water droplets. vapor and clouds of water droplets.

Most of Earth, about 70 percent, is covered with water. Perhaps the planet Most of Earth, about 70 percent, is covered with water. Perhaps the planet should be named “Water” instead of “Earth”! No other planet in our solar should be named “Water” instead of “Earth”! No other planet in our solar system has oceans like Earth’s.system has oceans like Earth’s.

Earth has three main layers—a crust, a mantle, and a core. The crust Earth has three main layers—a crust, a mantle, and a core. The crust includes the solid rocky surface. Under the crust is the mantle, a layer of includes the solid rocky surface. Under the crust is the mantle, a layer of hot molten rock. When volcanoes erupt, this hot material rises to the hot molten rock. When volcanoes erupt, this hot material rises to the surface. Earth has a dense inner core made up mainly of iron and nickel surface. Earth has a dense inner core made up mainly of iron and nickel

Earth Continued

Earth ContinuedEarth Continued Our Earth has one satellite or moon which is about ¼ of Our Earth has one satellite or moon which is about ¼ of

the diameter of Earth. Some scientists hypothesize that the diameter of Earth. Some scientists hypothesize that the moon may have once been a part of the Earth: it may the moon may have once been a part of the Earth: it may have been broken off during a catastrophic collision of a have been broken off during a catastrophic collision of a huge body with the Earth billions of years ago. huge body with the Earth billions of years ago.

Average distance from Sun

Period of Revolution

(Earth days)

Rate of Rotation

(Earth days)

Surface Temperature

(˚C)

150,000,000 365 days 1 day(23 hrs, 56

min.)

-88˚C58˚C

Take away fact:

Earth is 70% water!

MarsMars Mars is the farthest inner planet from the sun, approximately Mars is the farthest inner planet from the sun, approximately

228,000,000 kilometers away. Mars is called the “red planet” 228,000,000 kilometers away. Mars is called the “red planet” because it has a slightly reddish color when you see it in the sky. because it has a slightly reddish color when you see it in the sky. The atmosphere of Mars is mostly carbon dioxide. In the early The atmosphere of Mars is mostly carbon dioxide. In the early 1900’s, two Italian astronomers convinced many people that there 1900’s, two Italian astronomers convinced many people that there were canals on Mars that had been built by intelligent Martians to were canals on Mars that had been built by intelligent Martians to carry water. Astronomers now know that this was a mistake. There carry water. Astronomers now know that this was a mistake. There are no canals on Mars; however, we have found that some water are no canals on Mars; however, we have found that some water remains in the form of ice at its north pole. Unlike Earth’s ice caps, remains in the form of ice at its north pole. Unlike Earth’s ice caps, during the winter this polar cap is covered by a layer of frozen during the winter this polar cap is covered by a layer of frozen carbon dioxide. carbon dioxide.

For the most part, Mars is deserted and covered with craters like the For the most part, Mars is deserted and covered with craters like the moon. Some regions of Mars have giant volcanoes that show signs moon. Some regions of Mars have giant volcanoes that show signs of lava flow. The rocks on Mars look red because they are covered of lava flow. The rocks on Mars look red because they are covered with a rusty dust. There are also deep canyons possibly formed by with a rusty dust. There are also deep canyons possibly formed by fault zones. fault zones.

Mars Continued

Mars ContinuedMars Continued

Mars has two very small moons. Phobos, the larger moon, is only Mars has two very small moons. Phobos, the larger moon, is only 27 kilometers in diameter, about the distance a car can travel on the 27 kilometers in diameter, about the distance a car can travel on the highway in 15 minutes. Deimos, is even smaller, only 15 kilometers highway in 15 minutes. Deimos, is even smaller, only 15 kilometers in diameter. Close-up views from space show that, like Earth’s in diameter. Close-up views from space show that, like Earth’s moon, Phobos and Deimos are covered with craters.moon, Phobos and Deimos are covered with craters.

Take away fact:

Mars has the largest volcanoes in our Solar System!

Diameter (km)

Period of Revolution

(Earth days)

Rate of rotation

(Earth days)

Surface Temperature

(˚C)

6,794 687 days 1 day (24 hrs. 37

min.)

-87˚C-5˚C

Revolution

The movement of an object The movement of an object around another object!around another object!

GeologicalThe physical characteristics, The physical characteristics,

especially the surface features of especially the surface features of an area (mountains, craters, etc)!an area (mountains, craters, etc)!

Satellite

Any object that revolves Any object that revolves around another object in around another object in

space (moon)!space (moon)!

Diameter

A straight line connecting A straight line connecting two points of a circle two points of a circle

(size).(size).

Orbit

The path of an object as it The path of an object as it revolves around another revolves around another

object in space!object in space!

Rotation

The spinning motion of The spinning motion of a planet about its axis!a planet about its axis!

Atmospheric

The air or climate in a The air or climate in a specific place!specific place!

QUIZ TIME!!!!!QUIZ TIME!!!!!Time to test out what you have Time to test out what you have

learned!learned!

Click here to start the quiz!

1. Which planet is green and blue, 1. Which planet is green and blue, and has an average diameter of and has an average diameter of 12,756 kilometers? 12,756 kilometers?

a.a. MercuryMercury

b.b. VenusVenus

c.c. EarthEarth

d.d. MarsMars

2. Which planet orbits the sun once 2. Which planet orbits the sun once every 687 days, and has the largest every 687 days, and has the largest volcanoes in our solar system? volcanoes in our solar system?

a.a. MercuryMercury

b.b. VenusVenus

c.c. Earth Earth

d.d. MarsMars

3. Which planet is about the same 3. Which planet is about the same size as Earth, shows evidence of size as Earth, shows evidence of volcanic activity, but is so hot you volcanic activity, but is so hot you wouldn’t be able to live?wouldn’t be able to live?

a.a. MercuryMercury

b.b. VenusVenus

c.c. Earth Earth

d.d. MarsMars

Correct!!!Correct!!!

Excellent Job! Excellent Job!

Make sure you record your Make sure you record your answer in Chart 1.answer in Chart 1.

IncorrectIncorrectSorry, Try Again!Sorry, Try Again!

Look at your chart 1: Look at your chart 1: Terrestrial Planets!Terrestrial Planets!

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