Fredrich M.

Alonzo
BSMT 2 Bravo

ACTIVITY: week 1
1. What are the 8 planets in the solar system? In order
 Mercury,
 Venus,
 Earth,
 Mars,
 Jupiter,
 Saturn,
 Uranus,
 Neptune and then the possible Planet Nine
2. . Explain why pluto is not classified a planet?
It’s still a type of planet, but a “dwarf planet” instead of one that can be simply called
a “planet.” This is because it doesn’t meet the “cleared the neighborhood” part of the
definition of a regular planet. But the important thing to know is why that rule was
added. The reason was in order to be consistent.

When Ceres was first discovered between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, it was
considered to be a planet. Astronomers had predicted that a planet would be found
between Mars and Jupiter, and this was it. It was small, but large enough that its
gravity pulled it into a spherical shape.

But later, lots of other objects, albeit smaller and non-spherical, were also discovered
orbiting mostly between the Mars and Jupiter orbits. They were called asteroids and it
seemed logical to think of this belt of asteroids as a single entity. So Ceres was
“demoted” to being just one of the gang.

It took a bit longer after Pluto’s discovery (when it was considered a planet) before
it’s “gang,” the Kuiper belt, was discovered. Initial estimates of its size were revised,
as well, when they discovered that the estimates were for two objects, Pluto and its
largest moon Charon. Both were large enough to be spherical – in fact they both
orbited each other, so Pluto/Charon could be considered a double planet.

But after the Kuiper belt discovery, astronomers knew that to be consistent with the
classification of Ceres, Pluto and Charon should be classified as members of the
Kuiper belt. At first they thought they shouldn’t do that – because removing planet
status after Pluto being called a planet for so long would not be considered politically
correct. But what would they do if/when other spherical Kuiper belt objects were
discovered?

Someone thought of a compromise. Create a new category of planet. That should

satisfy everybody, as long as Pluto is some type of “planet.” Ceres would be
considered a dwarf planet – and Pluto would be considered a dwarf planet (or
Pluto/Ceres a double-dwarf planet). And the term could be used for other spherical
Kuiper belt objects.

So, in order to be consistent, the “cleared the neighborhood” rule was added, and the
new category of planet was used for objects which passed every rule except that.
So just accept that, for consistency, Ceres and Pluto (and Eris and [probably] Sedna
and others) are planets – just a different type of planet now called a “dwarf planet

3. Are there differences among the planets in our solar system? Yes or No.Explain.
 Yes, Some Differences:

Mars has a very thin atmosphere (about 1/1000) of the Earth’s.

Venus has a thick atmosphere (About 90X Earth’s).

Earth has an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere with a less than 1% carbon dioxide and has
a temperature range of about—30 degrees F to about 120 Degrees.

Venus has a shitload of Carbon dioxide (causing a runaway greenhouse effect) and
has a temperature range the high end of which is over 800 degrees.

Mars has practically no oxygen in its near-vacuum atmosphere and has a temperature
range from 70 degrees F to about 255 below zero.

Earth has the only active magnetosphere (magnetic field) to protect its inhabitants
from dangerous radiation from the sun.

Earth is the only planet where liquid water flows over its SURFACE.

Earth is the only planet where there is life that we know of.

Earth is the only planet that has intelligent life. (We think.)

There are many more differences and similarities, but to quote Forest Gump, that’s all
I have to say about this.

4. 4. Which planet are called the gaseous planets?

 A gaseous state planet is a planet without a solid surface. In our solar system,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune (the Gas Giants) are gaseous state planets
with thick atmospheres of hydrogen, helium, and in Uranus and Neptune
Methane.
5. 5. Which planet are called the "rocky planets"?
 The first four planets of the Solar System (or the inner  planets).

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are all terrestrial planets, meaning that they have
rocks and a solid surface which anything can land on.

The last four planets of the Solar System (or the outer planets), Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and Neptune, are known as Gas Giants. They have no rocks, no terrain, and
no solid surface to land on. Only gas, and a thick mantle of liquid as you proceed to
their center.

There are obviously more terrestrial planets outside the Solar System, though.