How are the planets alike and/or

different?
• What factors exists on Earth
that make life possible here,
but unlikely on any other
planet?

• Which planets in the solar

system are called the “gas
giants” and why?

• In general, what condition on

the planets is MOST affected
by its distance from
 The Planets
• Earth’s atmosphere is about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen.

• Liquid water, moderate temperature, and an atmosphere rich in

oxygen make Earth the only planet that can support life as we
know it.

• The planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are called

the “gas giants.” This is because they are so much larger than
Earth and they do not have well defined surfaces.

• The condition on the planets that is most affected by its

distance from the sun is the temperature. The farther away
they are from the sun, the lower the temperature on the planet.
• The planets that are much closer to the sun are classified
as inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
– Inner planets have rocky, dense surfaces….terrestrial
planets

• The planets that are much farther from the sun are
classified as outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune
– Outer planets are larger and composed of gas…. Gas
giants

• Pluto is a dwarf planet – it is not included in the outer

planets group because it has different characteristics
 The Inner Planets
Also known as the “Terrestrial Planets”

•Mercury
•Venus
•Earth
•Mars
Mercury Distance from the sun 58,000,000 km
Diameter 4,880 km

•closest planet to the Year Length (Earth Years) 88 days

Gravity (X Earth’s0 0.38
sun Moons 0
•only Pluto is smaller
•rocky surface with
many craters
•very thin atmosphere
•high temperature
•no life;
Venus Distance from the Sun 108,000,000 km
Diameter 12,100 km
Year Length (Earth Years) 225 days
•2nd planet from sun Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.91

•same size as Earth Moons 0

•rocky surface
•atmosphere is very
•thick with carbon
dioxide
•gas traps heat under
it
•no life;
Earth Distance from the Sun 150,000,000 km
Diameter = 12,760 km
•3rd planet from sun Length of Year = 365.25 days
•surface is rocky Gravity = 1
•covered with plains, valleys, Moons = 1
mountains, plateaus,
active volcanoes
• ¾ surface covered with water,
•atmosphere 78% nitrogen,
21% oxygen
• water, moderate temperature,
and oxygen makes Earth
only planet supporting
life
Mars Distance from the Sun 228,000,000 km

•4th planet from the sun, Diameter 6,790 km

called “red planet”, Year Length (Earth Years) 687 days
•half the size of Earth, rocky Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.38
and dusty surface, Moons 2
hills, plains mountains,
extinct volcanoes,
craters,
•largest volcano in solar
system,
•ice caps north and south
poles,
•may have had water at one
time,
• thin atmosphere with carbon
dioxide,
•life may have existed at one
time;
 The Outer Planets
“Gas Giants”
•Jupiter
•Saturn
•Uranus
•Neptune
*No solid surfaces to walk upon*
 Distance from the Sun 778,000,000 km
Jupiter
Diameter 143,000 km
•5th planet from sun,
•largest planet, Yea Length (Earth Years) 119 years
Gravity (X Earth’s) 2.53
•“gas giants"
Moons 63
•no solid surface,
•slushy ball of liquid
hydrogen,
•atmosphere mostly
helium and
hydrogen gases,
•large red spot ( gigantic
storm or hurricane),
•circled by very thin rings,
•no life;
 Distance from the Sum 1,427,000,000 km

Saturn Diameter 120,500 km

Year Length (Earth Years) 29.4 years
•6th planet from sun, Gravity (X Earth’s) 1.14
•complex ring Moons 47
system,
•second largest
planet,
•structure similar to
Jupiter,
• atmosphere is
hydrogen and
helium gases,
•no life;
 Distance from the Sun 2,871,000,000 km
Uranus Diameter 51,100 km
Year Length (Earth Years) 84 years
•blue-green color from
poisonous methane Gravity (X Earth’s) 0.9
Moons 27
•7th planet from sun
•third largest planet
•surface completely
covered with water,
methane, and ammonia
•11 rings circle planet
•rotates on its side

•poles point toward and

away from sun, extremely
cold temperature,
•no life;
 Distance from the Sun 4,498,000,000 km
Neptune Diameter 49,500 km
Year Length (Earth Years) 165 years
•8th planet from the Gravity (X Earth’s) 1.14
sun, Moons 13
•fourth largest planet,
•glows blue-green with
methane gas
clouds,
•icy ocean of water,
methane,
ammonia, and
hydrogen,
•six rings orbit planet,
•no life on planet;
 Quick Check
Which planets in the solar system are called
the gas giants?

a. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

b. Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
c. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
d. Earth, Venus, Pluto, Mars
 Quick Check
Which is the current and correct model of
our solar system?

a. The Big Bang Theory

b. The Geocentric Theory
c. The Pythagorean Theory
d. The Heliocentric Theory
 Quick Check
What three factors exist on Earth that make life
possible here, but unlikely on any other planet?

A. liquid water, moderate temperatures, atmospheric

oxygen

B. liquid water, moderate temperatures, atmospheric

nitrogen

C. liquid waters, moderate size of Earth, atmospheric

oxygen

D. solid water, moderate temperatures, atmospheric

oxygen
 Quick Check
Which planet is MOST LIKELY to
support life as we know it?

A. Mercury
B. Venus
C. Jupiter
D. Mars
 Quick Check
I n general, what condition is MOST
affected by its distance from the sun?

A. size

B. temperature

C. atmosphere

D. surface composition
 Quick Check
The force of gravity on a planet
determines the weight of objects on the
planet. If you weighted 30 kg (66
pounds) on Earth, what would you
weigh on Jupiter?

A. 11.4 kg (5.2 pounds)

B. 30 kg (66 pounds)
C. 34.2 kg (75.4 pounds)
D. 75.9 kg (167.3 pounds)