Name: ______________________________________

The Inner planets

I. Do Now: On the first day of class, we discussed the IMMENSE distances between planets. On these two
days, we will discuss those little chunks of rock and gas that make up the solar system. Before we begin, come
up with your own definition of a star system, using the solar system* as a basis. Offer a guess for how many
such star systems exist in just our galaxy. (Keep in mind there are also several hundred billion other galaxies!)

While watching the videos, please take down the following information. Some information may be left blank for
now if not mentioned in the videos. You will fill in this information afterward, using credible current sources
(such as https://space-facts.com/terrestrial-planets/).
Planet Mercury Venus Earth Mars

Size (radius, km)

Length of day
(earth days)

Length of year
(earth days)

Average
Temperature

(F and C)

planet composition

atmospheric
composition

How many moons?

Other fun facts

* The phrase, “Solar System” refers specifically and ONLY to our star’s system. “Solar System” literally
means, “the system of the star Sol.” Many people, including professional astronomers, incorrectly use this
term when talking about other stars’ systems. My expectation is that you will use the phrase correctly.

Once you have finished filling in the chart, complete the questions on the next page ONLY, using the
Internet as needed.
II. Mercury and Mars:
a. These planets are incredibly cratered. This happens because of chunks of rock/ice hitting the surface
of the planet. These craters are more than just holes though. What information could you learn from studying a
crater?

b. There are two main types of craters formed - simple and complex. Simple craters look just like you
would expect a crater to look! Paste a side view cross-sectional sketch below.
Simple Complex

Typically formed by - Typically formed by -

c. Complex craters indicate that at some point in the collision rocks were somewhat molten, even if not
completely. Indicate two possible ways this could happen.

d. Highlight the type of crater that is least likely to be created -

A. small simple B. large simple C. small complex D. large complex

e. Mars might be “terraformed” in the future. This word has a root of “terra” or “terrestrial.” What do you
think this process describes?

f. Looking at the data chart above, why do you think Mars is a decent candidate (but not the best) for
terraforming?

STOP HERE until I instruct you to move on.

III. Venus and Earth
a. Venus is sometimes called Earth’s “sister.” What are some of the similarities Venus has with us?

b. Why don’t we talk about terraforming Venus instead of Mars then, if it is so much like us?

c. You probably have a decent understanding of “the greenhouse effect” by this point in your high
school careers. Give a one or two sentence description of this effect.

d. Examine the graphic below.

The sun emits all

types of EM “light.”
e. What type of radiation comes in? What band reaches the surface?

f. What kind gets “given off” by the Earth to the atmosphere as a result of warming?

g. What band may get absorbed by greenhouse gases on its way back out?

h. As it turns out, the amount of greenhouse gases has a direct relationship with the surface temperature of the
air on a planet. There really is no serious dispute on this, nor of the facts that, for the past 150 years or so, the
amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and the average surface temperature of the planet have been
dramatically rising. What is disputed by some people (mainly politicians, and not really by any serious
scientists in the field) is whether humans are a main “forcing factor” for this. Is it the fault of humans that we
have more greenhouse gases, or are other factors to blame? Below is a small list of the evidence that more
and more greenhouse gases are accumulating in our atmosphere and that it is our fault. Whoops!
1. At the very least, watch this series of 7 short videos outlining the lines of evidence we have supporting climate science.
2. Here’s data from NASA showing CO2 amounts in the atmosphere. http://viewpure.com/x1SgmFa0r04?ref=bkmk
3. Gases are growing! Ice core defense - http://climatechange.umaine.edu/icecores/IceCore/Ice_Core_101.html
4. Could the sun be getting hotter and making us hotter? The “natural cycles” argument doesn’t hold up - Link below
5. Pictures from the ISS of shrinking ice sheets, warming oceans, and rising sea levels- http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
6. Lower levels of the atmosphere are expanding due to more gases too!
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/human-contribution-to-gw-faq.html
7. But volcanoes release most of the greenhouse gases, right? They don’t release even close to what we’re seeing, and the
trend is actually dropping! http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/gas/climate.php
8. Solar panels improve local environments, offset negative effects of greenhouse effect in two ways -
http://solareis.anl.gov/guide/environment/
9. 97% of credible scholarly sources in a study support the conclusion that our climate is changing in a measurable and
destructive way, and it is absolutely our fault. This is science - unless you can show me where the evidence is wrong, or
a better set of evidence, or a better explanation of the evidence, I’ve got to go with what the evidence shows. We’re
not ancient Greeks. The scientific method is our best error-reducing problem-solving method; it works.
10. Even if there was no climate change, we are/will be running out of fossil fuels, even if we can’t pin the exact date, so there!
http://www.carboncounted.co.uk/when-will-fossil-fuels-run-out.html
11. Direct evidence of our ability to impact the amount of greenhouse gases came during the stay-at-home restrictions of the
CoViD-19 pandemic.
12. Finally, one of the best arguments for trying to reduce our carbon emissions, even if you don’t “believe” the current state of the
science.
i. Now that that rant is over, let’s get to something awesome. You literally owe your life and the life of everyone
you love to it: Earth’s magnetic field! You might have noticed a trend in the planets. If a planet has a
magnetic field, what does it also likely (although not necessarily!) have?

j. Why is the answer to question i so important for life? Give at least 2 good reasons.
k. Also, magnetic fields make for a pretty phenomenon when mixed with the solar wind. Look at this image
and then 1. Name the phenomenon; and 2. Give a short description of how this phenomenon occurs.
1.

2.

IV. Closure: Now that we have discussed the four inner planets, what are some characteristics that all of our
inner planets share?