01 introduction

Question 1

There are 4 practical reasons why humans have been fascinated with (and studied) space for thousands of years. What are they?

Answer 1

1. Navigation
2. Religion
3. Weather
4. Agriculture

Question 2

The constant movement of celestial bodies (the collective term for the planets, asteroids, and stars) has provided us information for:

Answer 2

Time of day
Weather
Tides
Planting and harvesting seasons
Navigation

Question 3

Earth-Centred Model: Geocentric Model

Draw it…

Answer 3

It was believed that the earth was the centre of the universe (everything revolved around the earth).

This view lasted 2000 years.

Question 4

Sun-Centred Model: Heliocentric Model

Draw it…

Answer 4

Some celestial motions could be better explained if Earth was not in the center. It made more sense if a sun-centred model for the solar system was used.

Question 5

How do we Know everything revolves around the sun is True?

People observed:

Answer 5

The Moon 🡪 phases and times of moon rise
The Sun🡪 time and position of rising and setting
The Stars 🡪 rotations around Polaris (North Star)
The Planets 🡪 Greek word for “wanderer”

Question 6

What’s a planet?

Answer 6

Orbits a star, but is not a star itself.
Is spherical.
Is the biggest object in its orbital path.

Question 7

Inner planets

Answer 7

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Also called the terrestrial planets.
Relatively small, have solid cores and rocky crusts.

Question 8

Outer planets

Answer 8

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Also called the gas giants.
Large clumps of gas, ice and dust, cold temperatures.

Question 9

Asteroids are:

Answer 9

chunks of rock and metal floating in space.

Question 10

There are 2 asteroid belts in our solar system:

Answer 10

1) Between Mars and Jupiter.
2) The Kuiper Belt (pronounced “kyper”) on the edge of the solar system – (20 times wider, about 100 times larger than the asteroid belt)

Question 11

Pluto is not a planet.

In 2006 Pluto was declared to be
a dwarf planet because:

Answer 11

a) It sometimes crosses Neptune’s orbit.
b) Does not have a clear orbit (other objects in its path).
c) Other objects in the Kuiper were discovered to be larger than Pluto.

Question 12

Dwarf planets… (+examples)

Answer 12

orbit the Sun and are spherical, but are not the largest objects in their orbits.

• Pluto
• Makemake
• Haumea
• Eris
• Ceres (not in Kuiper Belt)