The Solar System

Birth of the Solar System

• Scientists think that our Sun and the planets orbiting it, could be the result of an ancient supernova

The Solar System (p60)

• Sun & planets formed from a swirling cloud of ______ & _____

• Planets held in orbit by Sun’s __________• Planets ________ light from the Sun• Planetary orbits are _____________ (oval)

The Solar System

The Solar System

• You need to be able to remember the order of the planets in the Solar System.

The Solar SystemMnemonic

MyVeryExcellentMotherJustSentUsNinePizzas

MercuryVenusEarthMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptunePluto

The Solar SystemMnemonic - Your turn!

MVEMJSUNP

MercuryVenusEarthMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptunePluto

The Solar System

Poor Pluto!• Only discovered in

1930• Smaller than

Earth’s moon• Too small to be a

real planet!• Now a ‘Plutoid’

The New Solar System

Centripetal Force

• The planets follow near-circular paths around the ____

• They are kept in orbit by the Sun’s ________

• This force towards the _______ of the circle is known as a centripetal force

Centripetal Force

• Without this _________ force pulling them towards the centre of their orbits, the planets would ____ _____ into space!

Light-Years

• A light-year is the distance that light travels in one year

Speed of light = 3 x 108 m/s

1 year = 31471200 seconds

1 light-year = ? metres

Manned Space Travel (p61)

• Read page 61• Discuss with your

neighbour & note down the problems with manned space travel

Manned Space Travel - Problems

Robotic Space Exploration

• Read page 61• Discuss with your

neighbour & note down the advantages of using robotic probes to explore space

Robotic Exploration - Advantages

Solar System - PREP

Using your notes, textbooks and the internet: www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/www.nasa.gov

Complete sections 1-3 on sheet P2f.1