Questions and Answers
Which planet has the highest surface temperature?
Mars is larger than Earth.
False
What is the average temperature of Mars?
-60°C (-80°F)
Jupiter is a ______________ giant planet.
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Which planet has the longest day cycle?
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Saturn is the largest planet in the solar system.
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What is the gravity of Neptune compared to Earth's?
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Mercury orbits the sun at a distance of approximately ______________ km.
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Match the planets with their distances from the sun:
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Which planet has the coldest temperature in the solar system?
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Study Notes
Mercury
- Orbits the sun at a distance of approximately 58 million km (36 million miles)
- Smallest planet in the solar system with a diameter of 4,879 km (3031 miles)
- Second most dense planet with a day cycle lasting 58 days, but completes an orbit around the sun in 88 days
- Temperatures on the surface vary from 430°C (800°F) during the day to -180°C (-290°F) at night
- Gravity is approximately 38% of Earth's gravity, making it possible to weigh only 84lbs on Mercury
Venus
- Orbits the sun at a distance of approximately 107 million km (67 million miles)
- Diameter of 12,103 km (7520 miles)
- Hottest planet with surface temperatures reaching 465°C (900°F) due to its thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid clouds
- Surface features include thousands of volcanoes, mountains, and valleys, with a mountain similar in size to Mount Everest
- Completes a rotation around the sun in 225 days, with a day on Venus lasting 243 days on Earth
- Gravity is approximately 90% of Earth's gravity
Earth
- Orbits the sun at a comfortable distance of 149.6 million km (92.9 million miles)
- Diameter of 12,742 km (7917 miles)
- Most dense planet in the solar system
- Temperature varies depending on location and time of year, with the highest recorded temperature being 56.7°C (134.1°F) and the lowest being -89°C (-128°F)
- Completes a trip around the sun in 365 days, with a day lasting 24 hours
- Surface features diverse environments, including frozen, molten, greenery, wetlands, and dry areas
Mars
- Orbits the sun at an average distance of 228 million km (142 million miles)
- Diameter of 6,779 km (4212 miles), roughly half the size of Earth
- Average temperature of -60°C (-80°F), with temperatures varying greatly depending on location and time of year
- Gravity is approximately 62% lower than Earth's gravity
- Shares many similarities with Earth, making it an interesting planet for potential colonization
Jupiter
- Largest planet in the solar system, with a diameter of 139,820 km (86,880 miles)
- Gas giant with no firm surface, but a liquid metallic hydrogen ocean deep beneath the clouds
- Orbits the sun at an average distance of 778 million km (484 million miles)
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 12 years, with a day lasting just 10 hours
- Temperature within the clouds is approximately -145°C (-234°F), but reaches 24,000°C (43,000°F) near the core
- Gravity is approximately 2.4 times stronger than Earth's gravity
Saturn
- Gas giant planet with a diameter of 116,460 km (72,364 miles)
- Orbits the sun at a distance of 1.4 billion km (886 million miles)
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 29 years, with a day lasting just under 11 hours
- Has three layers of clouds, with temperatures ranging from -173°C to -113°C (-280°F to -270°F) in the upper layers
- Gravity is approximately 1.8 times stronger than Earth's gravity
Uranus
- Ice giant planet with a diameter of 50,724 km (31,518 miles)
- Orbits the sun at a distance of 2.9 billion km (1.8 billion miles)
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 84 years, with a day lasting 17 hours
- Majority of its mass comes from a hot, dense fluid of icy materials, making it difficult to land on the surface
- Average temperature is approximately -213°C (-353°F), but reaches 4,727°C (8,540°F) near the core
- Gravity is approximately 86% of Earth's gravity
Neptune
- Ice giant planet with a diameter of 49,244 km (30,598 miles)
- Orbits the sun at a distance of approximately 4.5 billion km (2.8 billion miles)
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 165 years, with a day lasting 16 hours
- Coldest planet in the solar system, with temperatures ranging from -218°C to -200°C (-360°F to -328°F)
- Surface gravity is close to Earth's, being approximately 1.14 times stronger
- Features intense storms that rage for weeks, with fast-moving dark vortex clouds
Mercury
- Orbits the sun at 58 million km (36 million miles) away
- Smallest planet with a diameter of 4,879 km (3031 miles)
- Has extreme temperature fluctuations: 430°C (800°F) during the day and -180°C (-290°F) at night
- Day cycle lasts 58 days, but orbits the sun in 88 days
- Gravity is 38% of Earth's gravity, with a weight equivalent to 84lbs
Venus
- Orbits the sun at 107 million km (67 million miles) away
- Has a diameter of 12,103 km (7520 miles)
- Hottest planet with surface temperatures reaching 465°C (900°F) due to thick atmosphere
- Features thousands of volcanoes, mountains, and valleys, including a mountain similar to Mount Everest
- Rotates slowly, with a day lasting 243 days on Earth and an orbit taking 225 days
Earth
- Orbits the sun at 149.6 million km (92.9 million miles) away
- Has a diameter of 12,742 km (7917 miles) and is the most dense planet
- Temperature varies depending on location and time of year, with extremes of 56.7°C (134.1°F) and -89°C (-128°F)
- Completes a trip around the sun in 365 days, with a 24-hour day
- Features diverse environments, including frozen, molten, greenery, wetlands, and dry areas
Mars
- Orbits the sun at 228 million km (142 million miles) away
- Has a diameter of 6,779 km (4212 miles), roughly half the size of Earth
- Average temperature is -60°C (-80°F), with varying temperatures depending on location and time
- Gravity is 62% lower than Earth's gravity, making it a potential candidate for colonization
- Shares many similarities with Earth
Jupiter
- Largest planet, with a diameter of 139,820 km (86,880 miles)
- Gas giant with no firm surface, but a liquid metallic hydrogen ocean beneath the clouds
- Orbits the sun at 778 million km (484 million miles) away
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 12 years, with a day lasting just 10 hours
- Temperature within the clouds is -145°C (-234°F), but reaches 24,000°C (43,000°F) near the core
- Gravity is approximately 2.4 times stronger than Earth's gravity
Saturn
- Gas giant planet with a diameter of 116,460 km (72,364 miles)
- Orbits the sun at 1.4 billion km (886 million miles) away
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 29 years, with a day lasting just under 11 hours
- Has three layers of clouds, with temperatures ranging from -173°C to -113°C (-280°F to -270°F) in the upper layers
- Gravity is approximately 1.8 times stronger than Earth's gravity
Uranus
- Ice giant planet with a diameter of 50,724 km (31,518 miles)
- Orbits the sun at 2.9 billion km (1.8 billion miles) away
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 84 years, with a day lasting 17 hours
- Majority of its mass comes from a hot, dense fluid of icy materials
- Average temperature is approximately -213°C (-353°F), but reaches 4,727°C (8,540°F) near the core
- Gravity is approximately 86% of Earth's gravity
Neptune
- Ice giant planet with a diameter of 49,244 km (30,598 miles)
- Orbits the sun at 4.5 billion km (2.8 billion miles) away
- Completes an orbit around the sun in 165 years, with a day lasting 16 hours
- Coldest planet in the solar system, with temperatures ranging from -218°C to -200°C (-360°F to -328°F)
- Surface gravity is close to Earth's, being approximately 1.14 times stronger
- Features intense storms that rage for weeks, with fast-moving dark vortex clouds
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Description
Explore the fascinating features of Mercury and Venus, including their orbits, sizes, temperatures, and gravity. Learn about the unique characteristics of these two planets in our solar system.