Question

reviewing concepts

1. which planets are classified as terrestrial? which planets are classified as jovian?
2. sequence the nine planets in order, beginning with the planet closest to the sun.
3. how do the terrestrial planets differ from the jovian planets?
4. what is a nebula?
5. how did distance from the sun affect the size and composition of the planets?

critical thinking

1. summarizing summarize the nebular theory of the formation of the solar system.

Explanation:

1. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are Jovian planets. Terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
2. The order of the planets from closest to the sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, (Pluto - now considered a dwarf - planet).
3. Terrestrial planets are small, rocky, and dense with thin or no atmospheres. Jovian planets are large, gaseous, and have thick atmospheres.
4. A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space.
5. Planets closer to the sun are smaller and rocky due to high - temperature evaporation of lighter elements. Planets farther away are larger and gaseous as cooler temperatures allowed lighter elements like hydrogen and helium to condense.
6. The nebular theory states that the solar system formed from a rotating cloud of gas and dust (nebula). Gravity caused the nebula to collapse, forming a protosun at the center and a disk of material around it. Planetesimals formed from the disk material and eventually combined to form planets.

Answer:

1. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune are Jovian planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars are terrestrial planets.
2. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, (Pluto).
3. Terrestrial: small, rocky, dense, thin/no atmospheres; Jovian: large, gaseous, thick atmospheres.
4. A giant cloud of dust and gas in space.
5. Closer planets are small and rocky; farther planets are large and gaseous.
6. Solar system formed from a rotating nebula; gravity caused collapse, forming a protosun and a disk; planetesimals combined to form planets.