Solar System

                                                    Use this powerpoint to help you answer questions about our solar system! Have fun!  

Solar System

1. Stars

What is a star? A star is a giant ball of hot gases that release    energy. An example of a star is the Sun. The sun seems to be the biggest star, however, it is not. It is just the closest star to Earth. We cannot see other stars during the day because of the light from the sun. The sun is the source of almost all the energy available on Earth. The Sun produces and gives off heat and light. Weather patterns and changes come from the Sun and its energy.

Sun April62011.001.001 (image/png)

Caption: : The sun is a star.

More about the Sun

Fossil Fuels have stored energy from the Sun. Plants take in solar energy and make food. Without the heat and light from the sun, Earth would be cold and lifeless. The sun does not heat the ground causing volcanic eruptions. Plants are able to make food and grow because Earth is just the right distance from the sun. The sun is bigger than the Earth. The Earth is bigger than the moon!

Dream Dictionary Sun (image/jpeg)

Caption: : Picture of the Sun on a bright day.

1. Stars

Star Patterns Stars appear in shapes and patterns in the sky. These patterns are called constellations. Some constellations are only visible during certain seasons. (an example of a season would be fall or summer.) The constellations look like they are moving (in different parts of the sky at different times) because the Earth orbits the sun.

77qsg Oq (image/jpeg)

Caption: : Map of constellations.

Example of a constellation moving

Orion is a constellation (pattern of stars in the sky) In the winter, Orion appears to be a bright constellation in the sky.   In the summer, Orion is too low in the sky for people to see.

Sgu Rge Objects Orion 070315 20 50mmf5p6 Stl H37x10m Lrvb6x10m Vrg1 Ll Lm Cp8 (image/jpeg)

Caption: : Orion

2. Solar System

The planets and moon in our solar system revolve (orbit or circle) the Sun. The sun is a star at the center of our universe. Look at the picture on this slide to see the order of the planets from closest to the SUn to farthest from the sun. Earth is a middle-sized planet and has one moon. The inner planets are made of rock. The outer planets are made of gas. Natural satellites that orbit the sun are called planets. Stars and the sun (which is a star) produce their own light.  

Solar System (image/jpeg)

Caption: : Look closely to see the order of the planets from closest to the sun to farthest from the sun.

3. Earth

Earth rotates on an axis.  An axis is an imaginary line that goes through the center of a planet. The axis for Earth goes through the North and South Pole. Earth takes 23 hours and 56 minutes to make one rotation around its axis (this is where we get a 24 hour day from) If Earth took longer to rotate, our days would be longer. Earth's rotation causes day to turn into night, and night to turn into day.

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Caption: : Picture showing Earth's axis.

4. Earth and Moon

Phases (image/jpeg)

Caption: : Earth is in the center and the moon orbits around Earth.

We know that the moon appears to change shape over the course of the month because we can only see the part of the moon that is lit (reflecting light) from the sun. Gravity allows Earth and the moon to pull on each other. The moon causes tides (at the beach) on Earth. High tide happens twice a day. It takes the moon about 29 days to go through the 8 phases. The moon does not produce its own light. It reflects light from the sun.