Earth ScienceEarth Science

An overview of theAn overview of the

Solar SystemSolar System

Geocentric Theory Geocentric Theory Essentially the belief that the Earth is the Essentially the belief that the Earth is the

center of the universe. center of the universe. The idea is associated with Aristotle in the The idea is associated with Aristotle in the

44thth century BCE. century BCE. Christianity claims God intentionally Christianity claims God intentionally

placed earth in the center of the universe. placed earth in the center of the universe.

Problems with GeocentricProblems with Geocentric

If Earth was in a fixed position:If Earth was in a fixed position:Then celestial bodies would move in a Then celestial bodies would move in a

constant direction at a standard rate.constant direction at a standard rate.

Copernicus found that celestial bodies Copernicus found that celestial bodies were not moving in a standard rate around were not moving in a standard rate around the Earth.the Earth.Supporting Heliocentric or sun centered Supporting Heliocentric or sun centered

model. model.

Heliocentric TheoryHeliocentric Theory Polish cleric and astronomer Nicolaus Polish cleric and astronomer Nicolaus

Copernicus spent 25 years studying the Copernicus spent 25 years studying the solar system. solar system.

He knew his Heliocentric or sun-centered He knew his Heliocentric or sun-centered theory would be rejected. theory would be rejected.

He only published his works towards the He only published his works towards the end of his life.end of his life.

GalileoGalileo Galileo Galilei studied the work of Galileo Galilei studied the work of

Copernicus, and found evidence that Copernicus, and found evidence that supported his findings.supported his findings.

Eventually Galileo was summoned by the Eventually Galileo was summoned by the Catholic Church and under threat of Catholic Church and under threat of torture recanted his findings. torture recanted his findings.

Adding to CopernicusAdding to Copernicus

Tycho Brahe spent 25 years documenting Tycho Brahe spent 25 years documenting planetary movement and positions.planetary movement and positions.

Johannes Kepler used this data to Johannes Kepler used this data to construct what would become Kepler’s first construct what would become Kepler’s first law.law.Planets orbit the sun in an ellipse not a circle.Planets orbit the sun in an ellipse not a circle.Thus planets are not in a constant distance Thus planets are not in a constant distance

from the Sun.from the Sun.

Cont.Cont.

Kepler’s 2Kepler’s 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd Laws mathmatically Laws mathmatically calculate orbital length and patterns of calculate orbital length and patterns of motion.motion.

GravityGravityThe mechanisms of Newton's law of universal gravitation; a point mass m1 attracts another point mass m2 by a force F2 which is proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them. Regardless of masses or distance, the magnitudes of |F1| and |F2| will always be equal. G is the gravitational constant.

General relativityGeneral relativity

General relativityGeneral relativity or the or the general theory general theory of relativityof relativity is the geometric theory of is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916. 1916. description of gravity in modern physicsdescription of gravity in modern physicsUnifies special relativity and Newton's law of Unifies special relativity and Newton's law of

universal gravitation, and describes gravity as universal gravitation, and describes gravity as a property of the geometry of space and time, a property of the geometry of space and time, or spacetime. or spacetime.

Given the universality of free fall, there is Given the universality of free fall, there is no observable distinction between inertial no observable distinction between inertial motion and motion under the influence of motion and motion under the influence of the gravitational force. the gravitational force.

Newton Vs. EinsteinNewton Vs. Einstein

This suggests the definition of a This suggests the definition of a new class of inertial motion, new class of inertial motion, namely that of objects in free fall namely that of objects in free fall under the influence of gravity. under the influence of gravity.

The SunThe Sun

The sun is the The sun is the biggest, brightest, and biggest, brightest, and hottest object in the hottest object in the solar system.solar system.

The sun is an The sun is an ordinary star.ordinary star.

The sun is made of The sun is made of about 70% hydrogen about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium.and 28% helium.

MercuryMercury

Mercury is solid and Mercury is solid and is covered with is covered with craters.craters.

Mercury has almost Mercury has almost no atmosphere.no atmosphere.

Mercury is the eighth Mercury is the eighth largest planet.largest planet.

VenusVenus

Venus is the sixth Venus is the sixth largest planet. It’s largest planet. It’s about three-fourths about three-fourths the size of earth.the size of earth.

The surface is rocky The surface is rocky and very hot. The and very hot. The atmosphere atmosphere completely hides the completely hides the surface and traps the surface and traps the heat.heat.

EarthEarth

Earth is the fifth largest planet and the third from Earth is the fifth largest planet and the third from the sun.the sun.

Liquid covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface.Liquid covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. The Earth has one moon.The Earth has one moon.

EARTHEARTH Age:Age: At least 4 1/2 billion years At least 4 1/2 billion years Mass:Mass: 6,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 (6.6 sextillion) 6,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 (6.6 sextillion)

tons (6.0 sextillion metric tons).tons (6.0 sextillion metric tons). Surface features:Surface features: Highest landHighest land—Mount Everest, 29,035 —Mount Everest, 29,035

feet (8,850 meters) above sea level. feet (8,850 meters) above sea level. Lowest landLowest land—shore —shore of Dead Sea, about 1,310 feet (399 meters) below sea).of Dead Sea, about 1,310 feet (399 meters) below sea).

Temperature:Temperature: Highest,Highest, 136 °F (58 °C) at Al Aziziyah, 136 °F (58 °C) at Al Aziziyah, Libya. Libya. Lowest,Lowest, -128.6 °F (-89.6 °C) at Vostok Station in -128.6 °F (-89.6 °C) at Vostok Station in Antarctica. Antarctica. Average surface temperature,Average surface temperature, 59 °F (15 °C). 59 °F (15 °C).

Chemical makeup of the earth's crust (in percent of Chemical makeup of the earth's crust (in percent of the crust's weight):the crust's weight): oxygen 46.6, silicon 27.7, oxygen 46.6, silicon 27.7, aluminum 8.1, iron 5.0, calcium 3.6, sodium 2.8, aluminum 8.1, iron 5.0, calcium 3.6, sodium 2.8, potassium 2.6, magnesium 2.0, and other elements potassium 2.6, magnesium 2.0, and other elements totaling 1.6.totaling 1.6.

MoonMoon

MarsMars

Mars is the fourth Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.planet from the sun.

Mars has a thin Mars has a thin atmosphere that atmosphere that contains mostly contains mostly carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide.

Mars has two small Mars has two small moons.moons.

Moons of MarsMoons of Mars

PhobosPhobos

DeimosDeimos

JupiterJupiter

Jupiter’s Red SpotJupiter’s Red Spot

The Great Red Spot, The Great Red Spot, a huge storm of a huge storm of swirling gas that has swirling gas that has lasted for hundreds of lasted for hundreds of years.years.

Jupiter does not have Jupiter does not have a solid surface. The a solid surface. The planet is a ball of planet is a ball of liquid surrounded by liquid surrounded by gas.gas.

Moons of JupiterMoons of Jupiter

Jupiter has four large Galilean moons, Jupiter has four large Galilean moons, twelve smaller named moons and twenty-twelve smaller named moons and twenty-three more recently discovered but not three more recently discovered but not named moons.named moons.

We’ll take a look at the four large Galilean We’ll take a look at the four large Galilean moons which were first observed by moons which were first observed by Galileo in 1610.Galileo in 1610.

IoIo

Io is the fifth moon of Io is the fifth moon of Jupiter. It’s the third Jupiter. It’s the third largest of Jupiter’s largest of Jupiter’s moons.moons.

Io has hundreds of Io has hundreds of volcanic calderas. volcanic calderas. Some of the volcanoes Some of the volcanoes are active.are active.

EuropaEuropa Europa is the sixth of Europa is the sixth of

Jupiter’s moons and is Jupiter’s moons and is the fourth largest.the fourth largest.

It is slightly smaller than It is slightly smaller than the Earth’s moon.the Earth’s moon.

The surface strongly The surface strongly resembles images of sea resembles images of sea ice on Earth. There may ice on Earth. There may be a liquid water sea be a liquid water sea under the crust.under the crust.

Europa is one of the five Europa is one of the five known moons in the solar known moons in the solar system to have an system to have an atmosphere.atmosphere.

GanymedeGanymede

Ganymede is the Ganymede is the seventh and largest of seventh and largest of Jupiter’s known Jupiter’s known satellites.satellites.

Ganymede has Ganymede has extensive cratering extensive cratering and an icy crust.and an icy crust.

CallistoCallisto

Callisto is the eighth of Jupiter’s known satellites Callisto is the eighth of Jupiter’s known satellites and the second largest.and the second largest.

Callisto has the oldest, most cratered surface of Callisto has the oldest, most cratered surface of any body yet observed in the solar system.any body yet observed in the solar system.

SaturnSaturn

Saturn is the second largest planet and the sixth Saturn is the second largest planet and the sixth from the sun.from the sun.

Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than water. If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would water. If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would float!float!

Rings of SaturnRings of Saturn

Saturn’s rings are not Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are solid; they are composed of small composed of small countless particles.countless particles.

The rings are very The rings are very thin. Though they’re thin. Though they’re 250,000km or more in 250,000km or more in diameter, they’re less diameter, they’re less than one kilometer than one kilometer thick.thick.

UranusUranus

Uranus is the third Uranus is the third largest planet and the largest planet and the seventh from the sun.seventh from the sun.

Uranus is one of the Uranus is one of the giant gas planets.giant gas planets.

Uranus is blue-green Uranus is blue-green because of the because of the methane in its methane in its atmosphere.atmosphere.

NeptuneNeptune

Neptune is the fourth Neptune is the fourth largest planet and the largest planet and the eight from the sun.eight from the sun.

Because of the orbits, Because of the orbits, from 1979 to 1999, from 1979 to 1999, Neptune was the Neptune was the ninth planet.ninth planet.

Like Uranus, the Like Uranus, the methane gives methane gives Neptune its color.Neptune its color.

PlutoPluto

Pluto is the smallest Pluto is the smallest planet and usually the planet and usually the farthest from the sun.farthest from the sun.

Pluto is the only Pluto is the only planet that has not planet that has not been visited by a been visited by a spacecraft.spacecraft.