1. What are three effects the sun can have on the Earth?

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Rose Bridges
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1 1. What are three effects the sun can have on the Earth? 1. the food we eat gets its energy from the sun 2. We depend on sunlight to see 3. Gas and oil come from fossilized plants that grew with the suns energy. 1

2 2. What material makes up most of the Sun s mass? Hydrogen makes up 90 percent of the Sun s mass. 2

3 3 a What causes thermonuclear reactions? Thermonuclear reactions occur when there is tremendous pressure and heat, which occurs in the centre of the Sun. 3

4 3 b. What chemical change occurs during a thermonuclear reaction? Two or more atoms fuse, or combine, to create a different, larger atom. 4

5 3 c. What are the effects of a thermonuclear reaction? A tremendous amount of energy in the forms of heat, light, and other electromagnetic radiation is created. 5

6 4. What is the name for the dark areas on the photosphere of the Sun? Sunspots 6

7 5. Define solar wind Solar wind is the hot, energetic gas spewed out of the solar corona. 7

8 6 a. What are the names of the light phenomena that occur in the sky at the North and South Poles? The northern lights and southern lights, or auroras. In the northern hemisphere, this phenomenon is called aurora borealis; in the southern hemisphere, aurora australis. 8

9 6 b. Explain why these lights occur. These lights occur when some of the high energy particles in solar wind enter Earth s atmosphere at the poles and collide with gases in the atmosphere. 9

10 7. What is the hottest layer of the Sun? The hottest layer of the Sun is the corona. 10

11 8. Why would solar wind be fatal to organisms on Earth? Solar wind consists of high energy particles. This dangerous radiation would be fatal to living organisms. 11

12 9. How is Earth protected from solar wind? Earth s magnetic field acts as a shield and deflects the solar wind around the planet. 12

13 10. What is meant by the term "Goldilocks Zone"? Earth is in an orbit which is neither too close to, nor too far from, the Sun. The heat we receive from the Sun is just right for life to flourish. 13

14 11. What forces must be balanced in order for a star to continue to shine? The force of all the material trying to collapse the star due to gravity is equally balanced by the force of solar radiation moving out from the core of the star. 14

15 12. What are the three conditions that must be met to classify a celestial body as a planet? To be considered a planet, a body must orbit one or more stars, be large enough that its own gravity holds it in a spherical shape, and be the only body occupying the orbital path. 15

16 13. Name two planets that do not have moons. Mercury and Venus do not have moons. 16

17 14. How many planets in the solar system have liquid water, ice, and clouds? One: Earth 17

18 15 Where are most asteroids found? Most asteroids are found in a band between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. 18

19 16. How are meteors formed? Meteors can be chunks of asteroids or planets broken by collisions with other asteroids or other bodies, or they may even be debris left over from the formation of the solar system, which burn up as they enter the atmosphere at high speeds. 19

20 17. Which planet a has the shortest day? b is called the red planet? Jupiter Mars c has an atmosphere almost completely composed of carbon dioxide? d rotates flipped on its side? e has an extreme temperate range of 400 oc to 183 oc? (f) Is closest to the sun? (g) is farthest from the sun? Uranus Mercury Venus Neptune Mercury 20

21 18. What do we believe occurred to form Earth s Moon? Earth s Moon most likely formed when a body the size of Mars collided with it, sending debris into space in orbit around what was left of Earth. Gravitational forces brought much of the debris back together to form Earth while other debris formed the Moon. 21

22 19. What is a dwarf planet?name five. A dwarf planet is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is generally smaller than a planet but massive enough for its own gravity to give it a round shape. Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, Makemake 22

23 20. What does NEAs stand for? Near Earth Asteroids 23

24 21. Where is the Kuiper Belt found? Outside the orbit of Neptune 24

25 22 a. Describe the composition of a comet. A comet is composed of ice, rock, and gas. 25

26 22 b. How does the tail of a comet form? Once a comet nears the Sun, the surface ice melts releasing dust which forms the tail. 26

27 23. What is a shooting star? A shooting star is a meteor a small piece of rock burning up in our atmosphere. 27

Related Standards and Background Information

Related Standards and Background Information Earth Patterns, Cycles and Changes This strand focuses on student understanding of patterns in nature, natural cycles, and changes that occur both quickly and