OUR PLANET

OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

BOOK 3

SECTION 1

OBTAINING RESOURCES - SEC 1 OBTAINING CLEAN WATEROUR PLANET - SECTION 1 OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

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The Electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is a range of wavelengths and frequencies which extend from gamma rays to radio waves. The EMS is very useful because it allows us car-ry out a wide array of tasks, including letting us see very far into the universe and show us things which might not be visible to the naked eye.

The EMS is split into seven regions:

1. Radio waves.2. Micro waves.3. Infra-red.4. Visible light.5. Ultraviolet.6. X-rays.7. Gamma rays.

THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM (EMS)

EMSEM spectrum qualities, Wikimedia CC, http://bit.ly/2e4EJXh

OBTAINING RESOURCES - SEC 1 OBTAINING CLEAN WATEROUR PLANET - SECTION 1 OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

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Regions of the EMS are often used to record or photograph far regions of space. Parts of our solar system have also been photographed using different regions of the EMS, giving interesting effects.

THE EMS AND SPACE

X-RAY IMAGES OF THE SUN

ULTRAVIOLET IMAGES

X-ray of the Sun 1NASA

UV of the SunNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center UV of a galaxy

NASA/ESA/Immer et al.

X-ray of the Sun 2NASA/NOAA/ Lockheed Martin

OBTAINING RESOURCES - SEC 1 OBTAINING CLEAN WATEROUR PLANET - SECTION 1 OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

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VISIBLE LIGHT IMAGES

Visible light image of the SunNASA/SDO, HMI

Visible light image of EarthNASA/ GSFC/ NOAA/ USGS

Visible light image of the Moon Visible light image of a galaxy

OBTAINING RESOURCES - SEC 1 OBTAINING CLEAN WATEROUR PLANET - SECTION 1 OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

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ACTIVITY

Using the internet, research different space images using different regions of the EMS. Construct a table like the one below.

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum

Object Picture

X-rays

Ultraviolet

visible

infrared

microwave

radio waves

OBTAINING RESOURCES - SEC 1 OBTAINING CLEAN WATEROUR PLANET - SECTION 1 OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

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THE UNIVERSE

The universe is massive and is continuing to expand. Our minds cannot fathom the enormous scope and size of the universe. The size for some of the objects in the universe is so large that they are measured in light years. A light year is the distance light will travel in one year. The speed of light is 670 616 629 mph and there are 8 760 hours in a year.

The table below compares the size of different objects in the universe:

Obj

ect

Ato

m

Dus

t par

ticle

Smal

lest

ast

eroi

d

Larg

est a

ster

oid

moo

n

Dw

arf p

lane

t

Smal

lest

pla

net

Smal

lest

sta

r

Larg

est p

lane

t

Larg

est s

tar

Sola

r sys

tem

Smal

lest

gal

axy

Our

Gal

axy

Larg

est g

alax

y

Size

0.1 nm

5 μm

6 m

940 km

1737 km

1186 km

2440 km

167000 km

559288 km

2.4 billion km

1.87 LY

200 LY

100000LY

4 millionLY

Smallest Largest(known)

OBTAINING RESOURCES - SEC 1 OBTAINING CLEAN WATEROUR PLANET - SECTION 1 OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

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Our solar system is the collection of one star, eight planets, a dwarf planet and a collection of moons. There is also an asteroid belt. The planets are various sizes and distances from the Sun. They are found in this order as you move away from the sun.

• Mercury• Venus• Earth• Mars• Jupiter• Saturn• Uranus• Neptune• Pluto

The asteroid belt is found within our solar system between Mars and Jupiter. This separates the inner and outer planets. The inner planets are rocky and the outer planets are gaseous. Some planets have many moons, but some have none.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The easiest way to remember the order of the planets is with a rhyme.

Many Vampires Eat My Jam Sandwiches Under Neptune’s Pub

Solar systemIan McKinnell / Alamy Stock Photo

OBTAINING RESOURCES - SEC 1 OBTAINING CLEAN WATEROUR PLANET - SECTION 1 OUR PLANET IN THE UNIVERSE

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ACTIVITY

Use only the words in the box below to fill in the blanks.

The solar system is made of one star called ____ ___________. Orbiting around the sun are eight ________ and one __________ __________. The first four planets are called Mercury, Venus, _________ and ________. Together they are called the __________ __________. The next four are called the ________ ________, called Jupiter, ________, Uranus and ___________. The inner and outer planets are separated by an __________ belt. The final planet is a dwarf planet called _________. Some of the planets have _________. Earth has one, called the __________, while Saturn has 60!

Saturn asteroid Earth

Neptune Moon inner planets

outer planets dwarf planet planets

Pluto moons Mars

the Sun