The Solar System Ge150

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Unit 10 WA: The Solar System Discussion Questions: 1, 2, 3, 5, & 8 1. Was the formation of Earth unique, or was it similar to the process that created all the planets in the solar system? It was made the same way the other planets were made. All the planets and galaxies were made during the Big Bang. 2. What distinctive characteristics of Earth make it suitable for life? How has life altered the chemistry of Earth’s atmosphere? Water, Energy, Time, Recycling or Plate Tectonics, Magnetic field Protection, and Low Sun Radiation. Life has altered the atmosphere by releasing high levels of carbon dioxide along with other chemicals which has been slowly thinning the atmosphere over the years, 3. Why is the rotation of Venus different from that of Earth? All the planets in the solar systems rotate counter clockwise around the sun except Venus. Venus rotates clockwise or retrograde around the sun. Venus also has the slowest rotation out of all the planets rotating around the sun every 243 Earth days. 5 .Why do Mercury and Earth’s Moon lacks an atmosphere? Mercury and the moon are so small and light they do not have enough gravity to hold on to an atmosphere. Also they are closer to the Sun so the sun burns off their gasses a lot quicker than ours. 8. Why was the formation of planets such as Jupiter and Saturn more like the development of the Sun then like the development of the terrestrial planets? Saturn and Jupiter are mainly made of gases like the Sun instead of solids like the other planets. Resources http://www.livescience.com/31788-why-earth-perfect-for-life.html http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/Perry_Samson_lectures/evolution_atm/ http://www.universetoday.com/36687/rotation-of-venus/ https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100228201245AATxtaB

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