Physical Geography

~Earth in Space~

Important concepts you should know:

• The importance of the study of physical geography.
• The relationship between the earth, the universe, the galaxy and the solar system.
• The relationship between the spheres of the earth and in particular the workings of the biosphere.
• The members of the solar system: the planets, meteors, asteroids, comets and the sun and some interesting facts that go with them.
• The theories involved in the creation of the earth, the universe and the solar system.
• The relationships between the motions of the earth and our everyday lives.
• The importance of the moon and its effect on life on earth.
• The interesting connection of the stars, the zodiac, the constellations and astrology.
• All the key terms involved in the study of astronomy.

Click here to go to the Book Work section

1.    The origins of the Universe and the Solar System

1. Origins of our Solar System and the Universe slideshow and questions.
   
   
2. Compare any two origins of the Universe and the Solar System. Use the slideshow above that introduces the origins of our universe and solar system, as well as other sources to develop a report of about one to two pages in length (double space). The theories do not have to come from the slide show. Your report must clearly show that you have completed some extra research beyond the slide show.

  Here are some sites to get you started:

http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni.html
http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Astronomy/
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planetary_home.html
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/

Interested in finding out how our PLANET EARTH was created?  Click here to find out!

Media Corner!

Flash
- Formation of the Solar System
- Another look at the formation of the Solar System
- Nebular Hypothesis of the Solar System formation

2.    The Planets and the Solar System

1. Research the following characteristics of the planets in our solar system. Create an Excel spreadsheet using the bullets below as your rows and the names of the planets as your columns.  Then select any two planets and in a paragraph or two describe the main characteristics of the planets. Please include other facts and interesting points. Also include a picture for each planet.

   • Distance from the sun in AU.
   • Distance from the sun in KM.
   • Diameter in KM.
   • Revolution (in days/years)
   • Rotation (in hours or days)
   • Surface Temperature (average degrees Celsius)
   • Mass (assuming earth = 1)
   • Gravity (assuming earth = 1)
   • Volume (how many earths will fit inside the planet)
   • Density (assuming water = 1 and earth = 5.52)
   • Weight of a 100 pound person.
   • Major gases that make up the atmosphere.
   • The tilt of the axis.
   • How many moons.

   WOW - Click here to see a series of images that compare the sizes of the planets and stars.

   Click here if you want to learn more about each planet in our solar system.
   
   Click here to go to a site that can calculate how much you might weigh on other worlds.
   
   Click here to read about how Pluto lost it's Planetary status.

B.    We will be going outside to create our own solar system using your gathered information. For distance and   
       scale, check out this website http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/index.html
     
       Click here to see what you will need.

Check the following web sites for the information:

http://starryskies.com/
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome.htm
http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Astronomy/
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planetary_home.html
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/
http://earthspace.net/solar_system/Jupiter_html/jupiter.html