CHAPTER 12 SOLAR SYSTEM

Learning Outcomes:

1. To learn about the solar system

12.1 Solar System

1. The solar system consists of the Sun and eight other planets that orbit the Sun,
including our Earth. This system also contains comets, meteoroids and asteroids.
2. The Sun is the largest object in our Solar System. It is a medium-sized main sequence
star and it is the primary energy source for our Earth. The sun also generates solar
energy through thermonuclear reactions in its core.

Diagram 12.1 The solar system

Astronomical unit
1. Astronomical unit (A.U.) is the unit of measurement of distance. One A.U. is the
average distance from the centre of earth to the centre of the sun.

1 A.U. = 150 million km = 1.5 x 108 km

 Light year
1. A light year (ly) is the distance travelled by light in a year.
2. The light travels at the speed of 300000 km per second. Hence, light travels 9.5 x 1012
km in one year.
1 ly = 63000 A.U.

Planets in the solar system

Planet

Terrestrial planets Jovian planets

- Known as the inner - Known as the outer

planets planets
- Smaller in size and mass - Larger in size and mass
than Jovian planets - Low density; made mostly
- High density by hydrogen and helium
- Have rings; many
- Solid surface satellites
- No rings; few to no - Further away from the sun
satellites
- Closer to sun

Gas giants Ice planets

- Bigger size - Smaller size
Mercury --> Venus --> Earth - Higher mass with - Lower mass
--> Mars hydrogen and helium - Greater amount of rocks
- No solid surface and ice

Saturn --> Jupiter Uranus --> Neptune

 Planet Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

Distance
from the sun 57.9 108.2 149.6 227.9 778.3 1427 2871 4497
(million km)

Density
5.4 5.2 5.5 3.9 1.3 0.69 1.27 1.64
(g/cm3)

Max. surface
temperature 427 462 58 30 -108 -178 -216 -214
(.C)

Gravitational
3.7 8.9 9.8 3.7 24.8 10.4 8.7 11.2
pull (m/s-2)

Velocity of
the planets 170496 126072 107208 86652 47016 34884 25596 19548
orbit (km/h)

Direction of West to East to West to West to West to West to On its West to

rotation East West East East East East side East

No. of
natural
0 0 1 2 67 62 27 14
satellites (no.
of moon)

Cratered
Rocky and
Surface Cratered Compressed Compressed
Rocky and has snowing Ice Ice
condition land gases gases
water on the
caps

Main Carbon
Carbon Hydrogen, Hydrogen,
component No Nitrogen, dioxide, Hydrogen, Hydrogen,
dioxide, helium, helium,
of atmosphere oxygen nitrogen, helium helium
nitrogen methane methane
atmosphere argon

Time taken
to orbit Sun 224.7 164.8
88 days 365 days 687 days 11.9 years 29.5 years 84 years
(time on days years
earth)
Table 12.1 Characteristics of planets in solar system
 Relationships between the characteristics of planets
1. Temperature and distance from the sun
➢ The temperature on the surface of a planet depends on its distance from the sun.
➢ The closer the planet is to the sun, the higher the temperature of the surface.
➢ However, there are other factors that influence the temperature on the surface of a
planet.
≈ A planet without atmosphere (e.g. Mercury)
o The sunlight reaches its surface directly and causes the side that faces the
sun to be extremely hot but the other side is extremely cold as there is no
atmosphere to trap the heat.
≈ A planet with atmosphere (e.g. Venus, Earth and Mars)
o The thick clouds can reflect the sunlight back into the space but the
atmosphere traps the heat which causes the greenhouse effect.
2. Density and gravitational pull
➢ The gravitational pull of a planet depends on the density and size (radius) of the
planet.
➢ The denser the planet such as Jupiter, the stronger the gravitational pull.
3. Distance, time and speed
➢ Planets that are far away from the sun have larger orbits. Hence, they move more
slowly and take a longer time to make a complete revolution.
➢ The velocity of the rotation at the axis of a planet is influenced by the sun’s
gravitational pull. The further the planet from the sun, the faster the planet rotates
on its axis.
4. Direction of rotation
➢ The direction of rotation of planets causes the sun to rise and set in different
directions.
➢ Planets that rotate from West to East such as Earth will cause the sun to rise in the
East and set in the West.
Earth sustains life
1. Earth is the only planet that has life. This is because the Earth is located in a habitable
zone, a region around a sun that has suitable temperature to allow water to exist as
liquid.
2. Characteristic of Earth:
a. Water
≈ Has high water content for living processes
b. Oxygen
≈ Has high oxygen content for respiratory process
c. Temperature
≈ Has a suitable temperature range
d. Sunlight
≈ Plants receive sunlight for photosynthesis
e. Gravitational pull
≈ Has gravitational pull that pulls objects to the Earth’s surface

➢ Ecological footprint
1. Human should manage the resources in the environment effectively to reduce
ecological footprint.
2. Ecological footprint is a measure of the ability of land and water to prepare resources
that are needed by humans and the ability of the Earth to absorb all the wastes of
human and reproduce these resources after consumption.
3. The resources in our nature become less sustainable when the ecological footprint
increases.
4. In order to reduce ecological footprint, we should:
➢ Practice 5 R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse, Repurpose
➢ Use energy-saving devices
➢ Use alternative energy such as solar energy and wind energy
➢ Use public transport or carpool to reduce fossil fuel consumption
➢ Prevent open burning
➢ Plant more trees to maintain the balance of the ecosystem