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Solar System and Planets: Formation, Composition, and Characteristics, Quizzes of Geology

Definitions and essential information about the solar system, its planets, their compositions, and characteristics. Topics include the solar nebula theory, planetesimals, terrestrial and jovian planets, moons, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and types of meteorites. Learn about the formation of the solar system, the composition of planets, and the unique features of each planet and moon.

Typology: Quizzes

2010/2011

Uploaded on 12/04/2011

linda6linda13
linda6linda13 🇺🇸

12 documents

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Solar System

sun planets asteroids comets meteoroids TERM 2

orbit velocity

DEFINITION 2 decrease with distance from sun TERM 3

nebular theory

DEFINITION 3 solar sytem formed a solar nebula which is composed of gases and dustform about 5 B yrs ago TERM 4

chemical differentiation

DEFINITION 4 during nebular formation:iron and nickel --> sand toward centersilicate mineral, oxygen and hydrogen --> toward the surface TERM 5

planetesimals

DEFINITION 5 collisionsaccretion: pieces of ice and dust clumped together --

continue collision lead to protoplanets

For terrestrial planets:

mercury venus earth mars TERM 7

Earth and venus...

DEFINITION 7 high surface gravitiesretained most atmospheric gases TERM 8

four jovian planets:

DEFINITION 8 Jupiter saturn neptune uranus

  • contain high percentage of ice and gas TERM 9

Terrestrial description

DEFINITION 9 earth like planets small, dense and rocky have atmosphere with varying compositions low escape velocities TERM 10

Jovian description

DEFINITION 10 large, low density and gaseous thick atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia high escape velocities

Mecury

inner most planet smallest thinest atmosphere cratered highlands vas, smooth terrains very dense slow rotation hot surface temperature TERM 17

Venus

DEFINITION 17 similar to earth in: size, density, orbit, and retrograde motion thick atmosphere (97% carbon dioxide hot surface temperature Surface mapped by radar 80% surface covered by volcanic flows low density of impact craters TERM 18

Mars ("red planet")

DEFINITION 18 Atmosphere (1% dense as earth's) mostly CO cold polar temperature extensive dust storm Surface similar to earth numerous large volcanoes: largest: Olympus Mons Less abundant impact craters tectonically dead Several canyons: Valles Marineris is the largest stream drainage patterns no surface water liquid water intermittently flows TERM 19

Mars Rovers

DEFINITION 19 1997, landed 2004 TERM 20

Jupiter

DEFINITION 20 Largest planetRapid rotation (10 hours)Has faint rings multicuolored appearance Great Red Spot counterclockwise rotating storm in the south Structure ocean of liquid metallic hydrogen surrounds the core Has 63 moons

4 largest Jupiter moons

Callisto (outermost) Europa (ice covered) Ganymede (magnetic field) Io (innermost, volcanic active) TERM 22

Saturn

DEFINITION 22 Similar (atmosphere, composition, and internal structure) to Jupitermultiple stormssaturn ring are its characteristic feature composed of moonlets 61 moons, 53 named Titan: largest; have atmosphere TERM 23

Uranus

DEFINITION 23 Neptune's twinrotates "on its side"similar rings to other jovian planets (10 sets of ring)Its five largest moon have varied terrains --> largest: Miranda (innermost) TERM 24

Neptune

DEFINITION 24 Atmosphere similar to other Jovian planet- highest wind speeds in the solar systemGreat dark spot shorter life span than the great red spot 13 known moonsTriton (largest) orbit opposite lowest surface temperature atmosphere: nitrogen and little methane TERM 25

Asteroids

DEFINITION 25 located mainly between Mars and Jupiterssmall bodies