Unit C: The Planets

Front

What is a noteworthy feature of Mars?

Back

Mars has polar ice caps.

Front

How does the speed of a planet's orbit relate to its distance from the Sun?

Back

The closer a planet is to the Sun, the faster it moves in its orbit.

Front

What is a main reason for changing Pluto’s status from planet to dwarf planet?

Back

Pluto has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.

Front

Which planet has a lot of liquid water on its surface?

Back

Earth has a lot of liquid water on its surface.

Front

What is the term for the westward motion of a planet against the background of the stars?

Back

Retrograde motion.

Front

What is the definition of a planet?

Back

A celestial body that orbits the Sun, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other debris.

Front

What distinguishes a dwarf planet from a regular planet?

Back

A dwarf planet has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.

Front

What is the Great Red Spot?

Back

A giant storm on Jupiter that has been raging for hundreds of years.

Front

What are the polar ice caps of Mars primarily made of?

Back

The polar ice caps of Mars are primarily made of water ice and dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide).

Front

What is the significance of the asteroid belt?

Back

The asteroid belt is located between Mars and Jupiter and contains numerous rocky bodies that never formed into a planet.