CHAPTER 12

SOLAR SYSTEM
Comparison of Planet Distances in the Solar System from the Sun

• Astronomical Unit (A.U.)

Astronomical unit (A.U.) is the average distance
between the Earth and the Sun, which is
approximately 93 million miles or 150 million
kilometres.
LIGHT YEARS

Light years refers to the distance travelled by light in

one year. Light moves at a velocity of 300 000 km
every second.

Therefore, light can move as far as 9.5 x 1012 km in a

year.

1 light year = 9.5 x 1012 km

Textbook page 253
Planet in the Solar System
• A planet is a massive sphere-shaped body that
orbits a star (Sun).
• The planet does not illuminate light like the stars
but can reflect light because the planet is an
opaque object.
 Mercury
• The closest planet to the sun.
• The smallest planet in the solar system. Mercury’s diameter is
40% s Earth's diameter.
• The sky in Mercury is always appears dark because it does not
have a layer of atmosphere to scattered the sunlight.
• The temperature on its surface during the day is very high. It is
approximately 480 C while the temperature at night is extremely
cold, approximately -170C.
 Venus
Description
• The second closest planet to the Sun.

• Venus has a layer of atmosphere with a high content of carbon dioxide.

Therefore, it is also known as the green house‘s planet. The temperature
on its surface approximately 460°C because of the high content of
carbon dioxide.
• The rotation of this planet is from east to west, unlike the Earth's. This
means that the Sun rises in the west.

• According to astronomers, Venus is the Earth's twin' because its age,

mass and volume is the same as the Earth's.
Earth
• The third planet in the solar system.
• The fifth largest planet in the solar system.
• The Earth is one of the planets in the universe inhabited by living
things.
• The Earth is surrounded by a layer of atmosphere made up of
nitrogen gas, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon and water vapour.
• 71% of the surface of the Earth is covered with water and 29% is
covered with land.
 Mars
• Fourth planet from the Sun.
• Mars also known as the Red planet.
• Mars has two moon, they are Phobos and Demos.
• Its surface is covered with reddish sand dust.
• It has a thin atmosphere and an extremely high
content of carbon dioxide at 96%.
Jupiter
• Fifth planet from the Sun.
• The largest planet in the solar system.
• It has 67 moons that orbit it and the largest moon
is Ganymede.
Saturn
• Sixth planet from the Sun.
• Second largest planet after Jupiter.
• Saturn is made up of gases and is classified as a gas
giant planet.
• It has ring, made up of ice with small amount of
rocky material and dust.
Uranus
• Seventh planet from the Sun.
• Third largest planet in solar system.
• It is made up of ice element and rocks.
• It has a ring like Saturn but in is thinner and darker.
• It has 27 moons orbiting the planet.
Neptune
• Eight planet from the solar system.
• Methane gives the blue colour to Neptune.
• Takes the longest time to orbit the Sun that is 165 years
(Earth time).
• Being the farthest in the solar system, the temperature on
its surface is extremely cold.
(-201 ˚C)
EARTH AS A PLANET FOR LIFE
ECOLOGICAL