Sun , Stars and Pluto

The Sun/Life Cycle of Star

Learning Intentions:

1. We are learning to explain the different characteristics of our Sun.

2. We are learning to understand the life cycle of a star.

The Sun

The Sun

• Our sun is a medium, yellow star

• This energy comes from the Sun’s two main gasses: Helium & Hydrogen

Multiple Choice

How would you describe our Sun?

• large red star

• extra large yellow star

• medium yellow star

• medium red star

Multiple Select

Which two gasses power the Sun?

• Carbon

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Helium

• Hydrogen

Characteristics of Stars

• Our Sun looks like the brightest because it is so close

• A star's size, temperature, and distance from us determines their brightness

• Color of stars tells you their temperature

• Red are the coldest

• Orange and yellow are the next hottest (This is our sun which is 9,941^oF)

• Blue and white stars are the hottest (can get up to 100,000^oF)

Pluto: The Planet that Wasn't

Poor Pluto!

It’s bad enough to be the runt of the group, but to be told after 75 years that you’re not even a member of the club - what an insult!

Scientists had to rethink the rules for what is counted as a planet. They decided on the following three criteria:

1. It must orbit the sun.

2. It must hold a sperical shape

3. It must have enough gravity to clear its orbit of debris.

NEITHER Pluto nor Eris qualified.

Multiple Choice

The discovery of Eris made scientists rethink _______.

• the rules for what counted as a dwarf planet

• the rules for what counted as a planet

After Eris was discovered, scientists had to make a decision. Either Eris was the 10th planet in the solar system or it was not a planet at all! And if Eris wasn’t a planet, could Pluto be considered one?

Multiple Choice

Pluto used to be considered a planet. Today, what is it considered to be?

• a comet

• a star

• a dwarf planet

• an asteroid

Multiple Choice

A planet must be in orbit around the sun.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A planet must be spherical in shape.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A planet must have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.

• True

• False