Planets Flashcards
What are the eight planets and their location from the Sun?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Saturn
What are some interesting facts about Mercury? (4)
- it lacks an atmosphere which causes extreme heating and cooling
- it is the closest to the Sun
- it is only visible at dusk and dawn
- it has craters on its surface
What are some interesting facts about Venus? (4)
- it has huge volcanoes
- it is the brightest object after the Sun and the Moon
- it is Earth’s sister because of its similar size and composition
- it is hotter than Mercury because it has a runaway greenhouse effect
What are some interesting facts about Earth? (3)
- 70% of its surface is Earth; the only planet with water in three forms
- its ozone protects it from the Sun
- soil supports life
What are some interesting facts about Mars? (3)
- red planet (rusty soil-iron in crust)
- water has been found here
- has a thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide
What are some interesting facts about Jupiter? (3)
- its coloured bands are spinning belts of gas
- its red spot is a giant hurricane (visible for over 500 years)
- its mass is greater than all the other planets combined
What are some interesting facts about Saturn? (3)
- less dense than water (it could float on water)
- its rings are made of ice and rock
- second largest planet
What are some interesting facts about Uranus? (3)
- its atmosphere is mostly hydrogen
- its blue-green colour is from methane on the atmosphere
- it is flipped on its side; it looks like its rolling around in orbit
What are some interesting facts about Neptune? (3)
- appears blue because of methane gas
- it surface gravity is almost Earth like
- it is the coldest planet and has the strongest winds
What is the biggest planet?
Jupiter; 11.2 times the size of Earth
What is the smallest planet?
Mercury; 0.4
Which planet has the most and least moons?
Mercury and Venus don’t have any moons.
Jupiter has 63 moons.
Which planet has the longest and shortest orbital period?
Mercury 0.24
Neptune 165
Which planet has the longest and shortest rotational period?
Jupiter 9.85 hours
Venus 243 Earth days
Which planet has the biggest and smallest diameter?
Mercury 2/5 of the diameter of Earth
Jupiter 11x