Grade 9 Science

Unit 4: Space

Chapter 11: We continue to learn a lot about the solar system by using space exploration.

Name: ________________

Section #: ______________The Sun

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Average sized _______________. Millions of ________ away. 300,000 more ____________________ then Earth, 99% of all mass in our

__________________ ____________________. Approximately 5 ___________________ years old with 5 ________________ more to

go.

The huge size of the sun causes _____________________ to build up at the _______________ of the sun as _____________________ pulls the mass _______________.

Thermonuclear Reactions turn: H (______________________) → He (__________________) giving off ____________ , Light, and UV _____________________________ in the process.

Solar Radiation

E (energy) ______________________ from the sun in the form of __________________________ Radiation....E that is ___________________ or radiated in the form of ______________ that range in ________________.

Ex:________________________, _________________________, ___________________, ____________________

The ___________________ is located in the “________________________ _______________”, not too __________, not too ______________, just right!

Sunspots

Dark _______________ of slightly cooler (_______________) surface areas on the sun, they ____________________ and _____________________ in number on an 11-yr ______________. They may be related to ___________________ in the Earth’s climate.

Solar Flares

Eruptions of ___________ on the suns surface – can ___________ a few hours, temperatures increase up to ____________________creates solar ______________.

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Solar Wind

Hot E bubbles “pop” on the _________________ of the sun and________ high E particles rushing past _____________. Earth is __________________ from this solar wind by its ________________ field. Some of the _________________ enter the Earth’s _________________________ at the poles where they ______________ with the gas in the atmosphere to create _________________ (Northern/Southern Lights).

Some solar winds can ___________ Earth’s magnetic field and ______________ satellites, knock out ____________ lines, and expose astronauts to high levels of ___________________.

The Planets

To be a planet you must...

Orbit 1 or more ___________. Be large enough so its _________________ holds it in place. Be the only ______________ in its ________________ path.

Astronomical Units (AU)

Used to ___________________ distances in space. 1 AU = 150 million km (the distance from the ______________ to the _________ )

Pluto

Now considered a __________________________________. A celestial body ______________________ the sun that is generally

__________________ than a planet but massive enough for its own _________________ to give it a round shape. However they are not strong enough to clear their ________________ of __________________.

There are many other “dwarf planets” some are _____________________ and some like _________________ have moons.

Comets

“_____________________________” composed of ice, rock, and gas. Originate from the ____________________ belt and Oort _________________. They travel in long _____________________ orbits around the sun which are

__________________ by the gravitational _________________ of other planets. It has a long ____________ tail as sunlight starts to melt the ____________, these can

stretch ______________________ of kilometres.

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Most famous __________________ comet which is visible every ____________ years or so.

Periodicity of Comets

“Period” is the amount of ____________ it takes an ________________ in orbit to return to its ___________________ location.

Comets travel in _______________ and ______________ periods around the sun in ______________________ orbits.

Asteroids

Small bodies _______________________ to be the leftover remains of the _______________________ of the Solar System.

Mostly found in an _______________________ belt between Mars and ____________________.

They have _________________________ shapes. Range in size from a ___________________ of sand up to ______________________. An asteroid up to 1 km would ________________________ Earth.

Meteors

Meteoroid: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Meteor: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meteorite: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deep Impact Sites

A place where a ________________________ small object (meteorite) has _______________________ with a larger object. (planet)

Produces a fairly ________________________ depression in the ____________________ of the larger ____________________ referred to as an impact ______________________.

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Comprehension Questions

1. What are the three effects the Sun can have on the Earth?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What material makes up most of the Sun’s mass?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. A) What causes thermonuclear reactions?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B) What chemical change occurs during a thermonuclear reaction?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

C) What are the effects of a thermonuclear reaction?

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the name of the dark areas on the photosphere of the Sun?________________________________________________________________________

5. Define solar wind.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. A) What are the names of the light phenomena that occur in the sky at the North and South poles?________________________________________________________________________B) Explain why these occur.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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7. What is the hottest layer of the Sun?________________________________________________________________________

8. Why would a solar wind be fatal to organisms on Earth?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. How is Earth protected from solar wind?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What is meant by the term “Goldilocks Zone”?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. What forces must be balanced in order for a star to continue to shine?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. What three conditions must be met for a celestial body to be classified as a planet?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. Name two planets that do not have moons.________________________________________________________________________

14. How many planets in the solar system have liquid water, ice, and clouds?________________________________________________________________________

15. Where are asteroids formed?________________________________________________________________________

16. How are meteors formed?________________________________________________________________________

17. Which planet...a) Has the shortest day? ___________________________________________________b) Is called the red planet? _________________________________________________

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c) Has an atmosphere composed of almost all carbon dioxide? ____________________d) Rotates flipped on its side? ______________________________________________e) Has an extreme temperature range of 400° C to 183° C?

_______________________f) Is closest to the Sun? ___________________________________________________g) Is furthest from the Sun? ________________________________________________

18. How do we believe the Earth’s moon formed?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. What is a dwarf planet? Name five.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

20. What does NEAs stand for?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21. Where is the Kuiper belt found?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

22. A) Describe the composition of a comet.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B) How does the tail of a comet form? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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23. What is a shooting star?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

24. What is the main purpose of a rocket?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

25. What creates the thrust of a rocket?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

26. Why is the International Space Station referred to as “international”?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

27. Define the term microgravity.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28. Define the term artificial satellite.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

29. What factors must be taken into consideration when designing a spacesuit?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

30. State the differences between the following:A) Satellites and probes.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B) Optical telescopes and radio telescopes:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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31. Other than communication, list three ways that satellites help scientists.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

32. Why are communication satellites placed in a geosynchronous orbit?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

33. Give two reasons why a probe would be sent to another planet before a human world.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

34. Why did the robotic space rovers that were sent to Mars have to be programmed to solve problems on their own rather than be totally controlled by scientists on Earth?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

35. When referring to astronauts floating in their spacecrafts, why is the term “freefall” a better term than “zero gravity”?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

36. What is the main difference between a refracting optical telescope and a reflecting telescope?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

37. Describe a disadvantage of using a telescope positioned in space.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

38. Why are radio telescopes used?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter 11 Key Terms

Create a list of 10 Key Terms or phrases from the descriptions below. Then find the words and phrases in the puzzle.

 1. the Sun’s 3000 km thick layer of hot (6000–20 000°C), low-density gas (12 letters)

 2. meteors that enter Earth’s atmosphere and reach Earth’s surface (9 letters)

 3. the hot and energetic gases in the Sun’s corona that are ejected in a sudden burst and rush past Earth (5 letters,4 letters)

 4. a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is generally smaller than a planet but massive enough for its own gravity to give it a round shape (5 letters, 6 letters)

 5. a telescope that gathers and focusses light to provide a magnified view (7 letters, 9 letters)

 6. takes place when a planet passes in between Earth and the Sun (7 letters)

 7. an orbit that appears to sit above the same place on Earth (14 letters, 5 letters)

 8. a small body believed to be leftover remains of the formation of the solar system (8 letters)

 9. a space vehicle sent to other celestial bodies (5 letters)

10. a robotic space explorer that can be programmed to carry out tests that humans would otherwise make (5 lters)

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Instructions:

1. Spread the newspaper on the floor and place the container in the centre.2. Fill the tub with flour so that it is about 3 to 5 cm deep. Do not press the flour down.3. Using the meter stick, measure 30 cm from which to drop the rocks.4. Drop the small rock into the pan from the height you chose. Carefully remove the rock from the flour. Observe and measure the crater it made. Record your observations in the table.5. Without repairing the surface, drop the large rock into the flour from the same height as you dropped the previous rock (but drop it away from the first crater). Record your observations.6. Repair the surface of the flour by smoothing it gently. 7. Repeat the above process for 60 cm. Record your observations in the table provided.

Size of Rock

Distance the rock is dropped

30 cm 60 cm

Small

Crater diameter ______

Crater depth _______

-------Description--------

Crater diameter ______

Crater depth _______

-------Description--------

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Meteor Impacts.Some meteorites have enough energy and mass that when they hit Earth, they make a large circular indention in the surface called an impact crater.

Impact craters can take on various shapes based on the meteorites’ size and the speed with which they hit Earth.

In this activity, you will learn more about meteorites and impact craters.

LargeCrater diameter ______

Crater depth _______

-------Description--------

Crater diameter ______

Crater depth _______

-------Description--------

Questions:

1. What effect did the size of the meteorite have on the size of the crater?

2. What effect did changing the height from which the meteorite was dropped have on the size of the crater?

3. Why do we see huge meteor impacts on the moon, but only a few on Earth?

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Grade 9 Science Space Unit Lab 2

Working on the International Space Station (ISS)

Instructions: Go to the Canadian Space Agency website

(www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts), select each topic heading below, read the information and then answer the questions that follow.

A. Eating

1. Why is eating a problem? _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. How do the astronauts prevent this problem? _________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. What forms of food can the astronauts eat? ___________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

4. What about drinks? _____________________________________________________

5. What do they use as a table? ______________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6. How much emergency food do they have on board in case of an emergency?

________________________________________________________________________

B. Exercising

1. Why do the astronauts have to exercise in space? ______________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. How much of their bone density will they lose even if they exercise regularly?

________________________________________________________________________

3. How long do the astronauts on the Space station have to exercise each day?

________________________________________________________________________

4. What exercise equipment is available for the ISS crew? _________________________

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C. Personal Hygiene

1. How do the astronauts shower? ____________________________________________

2. How do they clean their hair? _____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. How is cleaning their teeth different than on earth? ____________________________

________________________________________________________________________

D. Relaxing

1. How many hours in the day

2. How many days a week do the astronauts on long term missions work? ____________

3. Can they get the Internet on the Space Station? _______________________________

4. What do they say is one of the most relaxing things to do on the Space station?

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5. What was the motto on Julie Payette's mission? _______________________________

________________________________________________________________________

E. Sleeping

1. Do astronauts sleep on mattresses? _________________________________________

2. How many sunsets do the astronauts see every 24 hours? _______________________

3. Where do the astronauts put their sleeping bags? ______________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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F. Working

1. Name three tasks astronauts might be required to do. ___________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. What is an Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA)? _________________________________

3. How long do EVAs usually last? ___________________________________________

4. Who was the first Canadian to perform an EVA? ______________________________

5. What job did he do on this EVA? __________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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Chapter 11 Practice Test

Goal • Check your understanding of Chapter 11.

Circle the letter of the best answer.

1.Which of the following statements about the Sun is false?

A. In the photosphere, hot gas rises to the surface, cools, and then sinks back into deeper layers.

B. Solar prominences are large loops of super-hot gas that extend out from the Sun’s surface.

C. The corona is the innermost part of the Sun.D. The dark patches on the Sun’s surface are called sunspots.

2.What is the temperature of sunspots?A. about 10°CB. about 3500°CC. about 25 000°CD. about 100 000°C

3.Which of the following could be damaged by space weather?A. buildingsB. Earth’s orbitC. satellitesD. wetlands

4.Which of the following statements does not describe an astronomical unit?A. about 150 million kmB. equal to one light-yearC. the average distance between the Sun and EarthD. used to measure distances in the solar system

5.Which of the following are sometimes called shooting stars?A. asteroidsB. cometsC. meteorsD. planets

6.Which of the following statements about optical telescopes is false?A. can be affected by cloudy weather, air and light pollution, and distortion

caused by heat and the atmosphereB. collect wavelengths that are longer than those of lightC. use lenses to gather and focus lightD. use mirrors to collect light and project the image to an eyepiece lens

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7.Which of the following planets has the least mass in our solar system?A. JupiterB. NeptuneC. SaturnD.Venus

8.Which of the following parts is not a component of a rocket?A. frameB. guidanceC. payloadD. rover

Match the Term on the left with the best Descriptor on the right. Each Descriptor may be used only once.

Term Descriptor

_____  9.asteroid_____ 10. comet_____ 11. dwarf planet_____ 12. meteorite_____ 13. Oort Cloud_____ 14. rover_____ 15. solar wind_____ 16. thermonuclear

reaction

A. a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is smaller than a planet but massive enough for its own gravity to give it a round shape

B. a process where two or more atoms fuse to create a different, larger atom, as well as a tremendous amount of energy

C. a robotic space explorerD.a source of cometsE. high-energy particles from the Sun’s

corona that rush past EarthF. meteoroids that land on Earth’s surfaceG.rocky material composed of ice, rock, and

gasH.small body that is believed to be leftover

remains of the formation of the solar system

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