Questions on the Earth in Space
Q9. The table below gives information about the planets of the Solar System. They are listed in alphabetical order.
planet name
|
average distance from the Sun /million km |
diameter
/km
|
time for
one orbit round the Sun |
time for
one rotation
on its axis
/hours |
temperature on surface of planet /°C |
Earth |
150 |
13 000 |
365 days |
24 |
+22 |
Jupiter |
780 |
140 000 |
12 years |
9.8 |
–150 |
Mars |
230 |
6800 |
687 days |
25 |
–23 |
Mercury |
58 |
4900 |
88 days |
1400 |
+350 |
Neptune |
4500 |
51 000 |
165 years |
16 |
–220 |
Pluto |
5900 |
2300 |
248 years |
150 |
–220 |
Saturn |
1400 |
120 000 |
29 years |
10.2 |
–180 |
Uranus |
2900 |
51 000 |
84 years |
17 |
–210 |
Venus |
110 |
12 000 |
225 days |
5800 |
+480 |
(Data obtained from The Guinness Book of Astronomy, Patrick Moore; published by Guinness 1992) |
(a) Explain why Neptune and Pluto are the coldest planets.
1 mark
(b) Explain why there could be no liquid water on the surface of:
(i) Mars
(ii) Venus
2 marks
(c) On which planet would the time between sunrise and sunset be shortest?
1 mark
(d) Which planet has the shortest year?
1 mark
(e) Give the name of the force which keeps the planets in their orbits.
1 mark
Maximum 6 marks
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