Critical Thinking
Inferring During some solar eclipses, the moon completely hides the sun. During other solar eclipses, a bright ring of the sun can be seen all the way around the moon. What does this tell you about the shape of the moon's orbit?
Drawing Conclusions A thin layer of dust and rock fragments covers the surface of the moon. This lunar soil did not form from weathering, as on Earth, because there is no liquid water on the moon. How do you think the lunar soil formed?
Using Analogies How are the gas giants similar to miniature solar systems?
Applying Concepts Put the following objects in order from the oldest to the youngest: protoplanets, solar nebula, protoplanetary disk, planetesimals, and planets.
Analyzing Data
Use the table below to answer Questions 30–33.
Name |
Diameter (km) |
Period of Revolution (Earth days) |
Distance from Planet (× 103 km) |
|---|---|---|---|
Callisto |
4800 |
16.69 |
1883.0 |
Ganymede |
5268 |
7.16 |
1070.0 |
Io |
3642 |
1.77 |
421.6 |
Earth's moon |
3476 |
27.32 |
384.4 |
Titan |
5150 |
15.95 |
1221.9 |
Using Tables Which moon in the table is farthest from its planet?
Using Tables Which moon is the largest in the solar system? How much larger is it than Earth's moon?
Calculating How many times does Io revolve around Jupiter for each time Earth's moon revolves around Earth?
Making Generalizations Which planet do most of the large moons revolve around?
Concepts in Action
Applying Concepts You see on the news that a hurricane is approaching the coast of North Carolina. The weather service is concerned over the timing of a spring tide. What impact could such a tide have on damage from the hurricane?
Inferring If you were on the surface of Venus with a telescope and a friend was on the surface of Mars with a telescope, which one of you would have a better view of Earth? Explain.
Applying Concepts Besides Earth, what planets or moons in our solar system are the most likely candidates for life? Explain why.
Applying Concepts Why do comets' ion tails always stream away from the sun?
Comparing and Contrasting Explain the differences among a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid.
Making Judgments In 2006, Pluto's status as a planet was changed to that of a dwarf planet. Why do you think this happened? Do you think Pluto should be kept as a dwarf planet?
Writing in Science Imagine you are a television reporter and you are observing the formation of the solar system. Write the script for your broadcast, documenting what you are seeing and offering clues as to why it may be happening.
Performance-Based Assessment
Observing Over the course of a month, keep a record of the moon's phases and position in the sky. Be sure to make your observations at the same time and from the same place each night. Use a tree or other landmark as a reference point. Also record when the sky is cloudy or the moon cannot be seen on a clear night. At the end of the month, prepare a summary of your observations.
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