Hot and cold.The average surface temperature of the planets in our solar system solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The sun is by far the most massive part of the solar system, containing almost 99.9% of the system's total mass. ranges from frosty frost·y adj. frost·i·er, frost·i·est 1. Producing or characterized by frost; freezing. See Synonyms at cold. 2. Covered with or as if with frost. 3. Silvery white; hoary. 4. to sizzling siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. hot. A planet's temperature depends on what the planet is made of, its distance from the sun, and the composition and thickness of its atmosphere. This layer of gases warms a planet by trapping the sun's heat, a process called the greenhouse effect greenhouse effect: see global warming. greenhouse effect Warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere caused by water vapour, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases in the atmosphere. Visible light from the Sun heats the Earth's surface. . Study the thermometer thermometer, instrument for measuring temperature. Galileo and Sanctorius devised thermometers consisting essentially of a bulb with a tubular projection, the open end of which was immersed in a liquid. showing the planets' surface temperatures, and then answer the questions below. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Which planet has an average temperature of approximately -140[degrees]C? 2. What is the average surface temperature (to the nearest 10 degrees) of Jupiter? -- [degrees]F -- [degrees]C 3. Which planet's average temperature is roughly 380 degrees Fahrenheit colder than Earth's? 4. A chunk of solid lead will melt at 327[degrees]C. On which planets' surfaces would lead melt? 5. a. Which planet has the coldest average surface temperature? b. In a complete sentence, explain one reason for the planet's freezing temperatures. 6. The break in the thermometer indicates a gap in the scale. Roughly how many degrees Celsius are represented in the break? Answer Key 1. Saturn 2. -160[degrees]F; -110[degrees]C 3. Uranus 4. Mercury and Venus 5. a. Neptune b. Neptune is the coldest planet because it is the farthest planet from the sun. 6. Approximately 250 degrees Celsius |
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