1 The Solar System

The objective of this unit is to study

the composition and functions of the
Solar System.

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 1
 Have you carefully observed the sun, moon and the other celestial bodies in the
sky? There is evidence that man had shown an interest in knowing about them
since ancient times. At present man can explore more than what is visible to
the naked eye, as scientists have invented modern equipment to observe the sky.

It has been discovered that there are eight planets, shapeless pieces of planets
called asteroids, various celestial bodies such as dwarf planets and natural
satellites revolving around the sun. When all these things are taken together;
we consider them as a system. This is called the solar system. It is believed
that the solar system has been formed 4600 million years ago, by combining
dust and particles of gases together.

When we observe the night sky with our naked

The sun is a star that
eye we can see a multitude of stars. Stars are
emits light and heat.
celestial bodies that emit light and heat. Thus they
are sources of energy. They can be seen shining or
twinkling in the night sky.

However, the other celestial bodies such as planets, natural satellites and
asteroids, though they do not emit light, are visible in the night sky as they
reflect the sunlight. They are seen with a "Monotonous light that does not
twinkle".

Observe the cloudless, clearly visible night sky and get the above information
confirmed.

2 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n
Composition of the Solar System
The Sun and the other celestial bodies which are bound by the gravitational force
of the sun belongs to the Solar System.

The celestial bodies found in the Solar System are listed below,
² The Sun, the main body of the Solar System
² Planets, the largest celestial bodies
² Smaller planets or Dwarf planets
² Natural Satellites of the planets
² Millions of other rock particles or debris
» Asteroids

» Comets

» Meteoroids

Eris
Sat
u
rn
Ju p
Aste

iter
roid Belt

Neptune

Pluto
Uranus
Mars
Venus
Earth
Mercury
Su n

Makemake

Ceres
Comet

Fig. 1.1 - Solar system

Source - http://www.retecool.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/solarsystem-21.jpg

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 3
 The sun
The sun is the main source that provides energy for the existence of life on
Earth. The sun lies at the centre of the solar system. A massive amount of heat is
generated at the core of the sun as a result of fusion and thermonuclear reactions.
The temperature of the centre of the sun is about 15,000,0000C (15 million 0C)
while the surface temperature is about 60000C.

Several important facts about the sun are given below;

² It holds 99.86 percent of the total mass of the solar system or the substances
that belong to the whole system.
² Its extent is 109 times of the diameter of the Earth. The diameter is 1.4 million
kilometres.
² It is a source of energy and it provides energy and heat to all the planets in the
solar system.
² Solar storms occur on the surface of the Sun and on such occasions flames
would burst out from the sun.
² The sun revolves around its own axis. The time taken for one rotation is 25.4
Earth days.

Fig. 1.2 - The sun Fig. 1.3 - the Coronal loops that gives out
Source - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.21/02/2016 heat on the sun's crust

Activities
1. Name the types celestial bodies that belong to the solar system.
2. Explain how planets and stars differ from each other.
3. Write four specific features of the sun.
4. Prepare an article for a wall paper about the sun, using information from
books, newspapers, magazines and the internet.

4 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n
Planets
The solar system consists of 8 main planets.
Spherical objects that
They are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,
are moving on orbits
Jupiter, Saturn Uranus, and Neptune. Between
around the sun are
Mars and Jupiter there is a belt of asteroids.
called planets.
Planets have been divided into two categories
as interior planets and outer planets.
² Inner planets

The planets located between the sun and the belt of asteroids are known as inner
planets. (Study Fig. 1.1) They are composed of rocks made up of silicate and metal
materials. Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars belong to the category of interior planets.

² Outer planets

The planets located out of the belt of asteroids are known as outer planets.
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Uranus, and Neptune belong to this category. They are
basically gaseous in composition. (Hydrogen and Helium)

Mercury
² Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.

² It is the smallest member of the solar

system. It is a bit larger than the moon,
satellite of the Earth in size.

² The temperature is extremely hot due to

its close proximity to the Sun and slow
rotation. The surface temperature is
about 1670C.

² There are craters on the surface due to Fig. 1.4 - Mercury

volcanic eruptions. Source - www.windows2universe.org/ 13.02.2016

² It has no atmosphere. Therefore, these is a

high risk of falling asteroids and meteors.
² Mercury has no satellites.

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 5
 Venus
² Venus is the second planet according to
the distance, from the Sun.
² It is the closest planet to the Earth.
² It is the planet with the highest surface
temperature (4640C).
² It is somewhat smaller than the Earth in
size.
² It is the planet most clearly visible in the Fig. 1.5 Venus
night sky. Source - www.windows2unverse. 13.02.2016

² The surface of the planet is covered by a thick layer of clouds. Therefore, its
surface cannot be seen well. It is visible brightly in the sky due to the reflection
of the Sun’s rays by this thick layer of clouds.
² The rotation from East to West is a special feature of this planet.
² The main gas found in this planet is Carbon dioxide (96%).
² During one period of the year it is clearly visible in the eastern sky before
dawn and during another period, in the western sky after sunset. Hence, Venus
is called the morning star as well as the evening star.
² Venus has no satellites.

Earth

² Earth is the planet which we live on.

² It is the third planet from the sun in

distance and it is the largest among the
inner planets.

² It is visible as an attractive celestial

object in blue when it is seen from
Fig. 1.6 - The Earth a photography
outer space. Hence, it is called the "blue taken from Appollo 17
planet".
Source - www.windows2universe.
² According to the information found upto
date, it is the only planet with life.
6 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n
 ² Existence of water, congenial atmospheric composition and the gravitational
power are the reasons for the existence of life on Earth.

² The Earth has one natural satellite called the moon.

Mars

² Mars is the fourth planet from the sun

according to distance.
² It is called the Red Planet since it is
visible as a reddish object in the night
sky.
² We can see Mars with the naked eye
as it is the second closest planet to the
Earth.
² There is a thin atmosphere and carbon
dioxide is the predominant gas. Fig. 1.7 - Mars
Source - www.windows2universe.org
² Mars has two satellites called Phobos /13.02.2016
and Deimos.

Jupiter

Fig. -1.8 - Jupiter Fig. 1.9 - A close photo shot of the surface
Sorce - http://nssdc.gsfc. of Jupiter
Source - www.windows2universe.org/our_so
² Outer planets begin with Jupiter.
² Among the planets, Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun and it is the largest
planet in the solar system.

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 7
 ² The diameter of the Jupiter is 1,42,984km and it is 10 times than the diameter
of the Earth.
² The regions like black stripes as well as bright regions can be seen on the
surface of Jupiter.(See fig.1.8)
² Among the planets in the solar system, Jupiter has the highest gravitational
force.
² Jupiter has the largest number of natural satellites. According to the
observations upto date, it has 67 natural satellites.

Saturn

² Saturn is the sixth planet from the

Sun.

² It is the second largest planet and it is

about nine times the size of the Earth.

² Saturn has an attractive set of "rings "

around it. These rings are formed of
ice particles of different sizes.
² Saturn has 62 natural satellites. Fig. 1.10 - Saturn
Source - Image courtesy of NASA, ESA, J. Clarke
(Boston University), and Z. Levay (STScI

Uranus
² Uranus is the seventh planet from the
Sun.
² It is the third largest planet in the solar
system.
² It has been found that Uranus too has
a thin set of rings around it.
² It has 27 satellites. Fig. 1.11 - Uranus
Source - http://s3.amazonaws.com/kidz-
world_photo

8 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n
Neptune
² Neptune is the eighth planet and the
one farthest from the sun.

² It is seen in blue.

² It is four times larger than the Earth.

² Neptune is extremely cold due to the

long distance from the sun.

² It has 14 natural satellites. Fig. 1.12 - Neptune

Facts about planets in brief

Table 1.1 - Facts about planets

Planet Diameter Rotation P eriod of Mean No of
period Revolution temperature satellites
km Hours Days Celsius
Mercury 4879 1407.6 88 167 0
Venus 12104 5832.5 224.75 464 0
Earth 12756 23.9 365.2 15 1
Mars 6792 24.6 687 -65 2
Jupiter 142984 9.9 4331 -110 67
Saturn 120536 15.7 10747 -140 62
Uranus 51118 17.2 30589 -195 27
Neptune 49528 16.1 59800 -200 14
Source - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet 21/02/2016

Rotates from east to west.

Activities
1. Name the planets in the solar system in the order from the Sun.
2. Categorize them as interior and outer planets.
3. Present the composition of the solar system in a diagram.

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 9
 Assignment
1. Prepare a brochure including information about planets.
2. Using materials that could be easily found, prepare a model of the solar
system with Teacher's advice.

Dwarf Planets

The small planets which have no fixed orbits are known as dwarf planets. At present
five planets have been identified as dwarf planets. (International Astronomical
Association 2006) However, Scientists believe that there may be more than five.
The fine dwarf planets are shown in the picture below.

Eris
Makemake

Haumea
Ceres
Pluto

Fig. 1.13 - Dwarf Planets

Source - http://www.the-dialogue.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ensystem

Natural satellites

The small celestial objects that orbit around planets are called natural satellites. So
far, scientists have identified 173 such satellites that belong to the main planets and
8 that belong to the dwarf planets.

10 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n
 Table 1.2 - Number of natural satellites in the solar system

Planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptun

No. of
satellites 0 0 1 2 67 62 27 14

Dwarf
Ceres Pluto Haumea Make make Eris
planets
No. of
satellites 0 5 2 0 1
Source - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet 21/02/2016

Asteroids

Asteroids are usually considered as

fragments of rock left over when forming
the solar system. They are formed with
hard rocks and they are of different shapes
and sizes. More than millions of asteroids
can be found between the orbits of Mars
and Jupiter. (Observe fig. 1.1)

Fig. 1.14 - Asteroids

Activities

1. State the number of natural satellites with the planets in the solar system ac-
cording to the information found so far.

2. Describe what dwarf planets are and name the dwarf planets found so far.

Beliefs connected with the solar system

Different beliefs exist in the society regarding the impacts of

the Sun, the Moon and the other planets on the lives of people.

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 11
 Several such beliefs are mentioned below.

² Worshiping Sun and the Moon considering them as gods.

² Emergence of the Astrology on the basis of the movements of the Sun and the
Moon and other planets.

² Holding ritualistic activities known as 'Shanthe karma', due to the belief that
planets have malefic or bad effects.

² The preparation of the horoscope on the basis of the locations of planets at the
time of the birth and prevalence of the belief in society that many things are
determined by the influence of planets.

² There are various ceremonies on the basis of the Sun and the Moon. (Thaipongal
festival, Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival and Ramalan Festival)

Fig. 1.15 - Sinhala new year festival Fig. 1.16 - Tamil new year festival

² Organization of traditional farming activities based on the influence of the

Sun and the Moon. Accordingly, they have the belief that they would reap a
good harvest, receive rain on time and have less harm from pests.

² Considering the direction when collecting the parts of herbal plants used for
Ayurvedic treatment and the belief that it has the influence of the moon.

Though it is difficult to come to a definite conclusion about these beliefs, they have
a practical importance.

12 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n
New knowledge about the solar system

² The early man used to explore the unseen universe even at the time that science
was not developed. New information about the solar system and the universe is
continuously added due to the explorations and observations done for a long period
since past.

² Galileo Galilee used telescope to observe the universe for the first time in 1610
AC. He was able to reveal more information about the universe not known so far,
through the observation conduct using his telescope.

Fig. 1.17 - Galileo Galilee Fig. 1.18 - Telescope prepared

by Galileo Galilee

Person like Claudius Ptolemy, Nicolas Copernicus, Johannes Kepler and Isaac
Newton too were enthusiastic in finding information about the universe in the
past.

The launching of an artificial satellite to explore information about space in

1957 A.D by USSR (Russia) is an important event in the history. Thereafter
United States of America established the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) and launched several satellites. Images taken by these
satellites have helped in broadening the knowledge about the universe.

It was believed that the solar system has nine planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto including our living planet Earth. But, in 2006

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 13
 the International Astronomical Institute declared Pluto as a dwarf planet. Hence,
here after it is considered that the solar system has eight planets. It was accepted
that there are celestial objects called dwarf planets among other planets that belong
to the solar system.

Recently, the "Caltech" Astronomical Institute in U.S.A. revealed information

about a ninth planet which is ten times larger than the Earth. This planet has been
named as Planet 9. But, it has not been proved yet as a member of the solar system.

As a result of continuous exploratory activities, the knowledge about the space is

changing day by day.

Fig. 1.19 - Neil Armstrong's Fig. 1.20 - Launching of a rocket

first step on moon

Activities
1. Prepare a list of the modern discoveries about the solar system.
2. Mention four beliefs found in the Sri Lankan society on the basis of the sun
and the moon.
3. State some other beliefs that you are aware of and have heard from your
elders which are not included in the text book.

14 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n
Sources

² https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LWMHIkIFwEQ/maxresdefault.jpg

² www.windows2universe.org/our_solar_system/solar_system.html 13.02.2016

² http://s3.amazonaws.com/kidzworld_photo/images/201562/b96379d2-a7f2-
4f01-a2d2-83712931c25e/uranus.jpg

² http://www.the-dialogue.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/en10-exploring-
the-solar-system_06.jpg

² Image courtesy of NASA, ESA, J. Clarke (Boston University), and Z. Levay

(STScI

² http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet 21/02/2016

² http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet 21/02/2016

² https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Moons_of_solar_sys
tem_v7.jpg

Glossary
² Solar system fi!r.%y uKav,h bõ°ØÖz öuõSv

² Rotation N%uKh _ÇØ]

² Revolution mßN%uKh _ØÖøP

² Planet .%yf,dalh ÷PõÒ

² Asteroids .%yl G›PØPÒ

² Natural Satellites Wm .%yhka E£÷PõÒPÒ

² Dwarf planets jduk .%yhka ]Ö÷PõÒPÒ

² Gravitational force .=re;ajdl¾IK n,h Dº¨¦ Âø\

² Thermonuclear reactions ;dm kHIaál m%;sl%shd öÁ¨£ Aq«Ò uõUP®

² Mass ialkaOh voÄ

Fo r Fre e D i st ri b u t i o n 15
 ² Solar storms iQ¾h l=Kdgq bõ°ØÖ¨¦¯À

² Axis wlaIh Aa_

² Inner Planets wNHka;r .%yf,dal APU ÷PõÒPÒ

² Outer planets ndysr .%yf,dal ¦ÓU ÷PõÒPÒ

² Ice particles whsia wxY= £ÛzxoUøPPÒ

² Artificial satellites lD;%su pkaøsld ö\¯ØøPU ÷PõÒ

² Satellite images pkaøsld m%;sìïn ö\´©v¨£i©[PÒ

² Astrology fcHda;s¾ úoHdj ®ÁõÚ\õìvµ

16 Fo r Fre e Di s t ri b u t i o n