Characteristics of Planets

CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR
SOLAR SYSTEM

Explain and Elaborate

LEARNERS CAN:

Define astronomical
unit.
01

Identify the solar
system's eight planets
and their
characteristics,
including size and
length of orbit relative
to Earth.

02

Describe the size and
shape of planetary
orbits.
03

VOCABULARY -

• astronomical unit : A unit of measure; 1 AU is the distance from

the Sun to Earth.

• orbit : the circular or elliptical path of an object as it revolves

around another object

• revolution : the orbiting of an object around another object

• rotation: the spinning of a celestial body, such as a planet,

around an axis

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Labelling

Label the Solar System Planets

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Uranus

Neptune

Mars

Jupiter

Mercury

Sun

Saturn

Earth

Venus

EIGHT PLANETS

We have learned a lot about the solar system since planets were
first discovered.

8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, 150+ moons, asteroids and other small
objects

8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, 150+ moons, asteroids and other small
objects

Our Sun is just "average" compared to other stars BUT it is the
largest object in our solar system by far.

500 times more the mass than everything else in our solar
system COMBINED!

Poll

Based on the data which planet is similar in diameter to Earth?

• Mars

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Venus

• Mercury

​Solar System Size and Distance

DISTANCES IN
THE SOLAR
SYSTEM

Astronomical Units (AU)

1 AU = the distance from
the Earth to the Sun

1 AU = 150,000,000 km, or
93,000,000 miles

REVOLUTION VS. ROTATION

REVOLUTION

• Orbiting of an object around another
  object

• The MOTION of a planet around a sun
  or a moon around a planet

• Orbit is the ellipitcal pathan object
  takes revolving around another object

REVOLUTION VS. ROTATION

• The spinning of a celestial
  body (planet, moon, star)
  around an axis

• Earth is tilted 23.5° on its
  axis

​Rotation

Labelling

Match the correct term to the picture. Drag your answer to the correct box.

​ ​

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Revolution

Rotation

Multiple Choice

Which planet has the shortest day?

• Mercury

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Venus

• Mars

Multiple Choice

Which planet has the longest day?

• Mercury

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Venus

• Mars

Multiple Choice

Which planet has the longest year?

• Neptune

• Mars

• Uranus

• Venus

• Mercury

Multiple Choice

Which planet has the shortest year?

• Neptune

• Mars

• Uranus

• Venus

• Mercury

Multiple Choice

True or False: The planets revolve around the Sun in a circular orbit.

• TRUE

• FALSE

CONCLUSIONS

• The planets of the solar system, with increasing distance from the Sun, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The five known dwarf planets are Ceres, Pluto, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris.

• Solar system distances are measured as multiples of the distance between Earth and Sun, which is defined as one astronomical unit (AU).

• All planets and dwarf planets orbit the Sun and rotate on their axes.

• The eight planets orbit the Sun along slightly elliptical paths, with Sun located at one of the foci.

• Kepler discovered that by using a planet's orbital period, it is possible to determine its distance from the Sun.

• The farther the planets are from the Sun, the greater their distance from each other.