We will go up to the school library as a class.  There are approximately 14 computers with access to the Internet.  Each of
you will work with another partner (hopefully at least one of you knows your way around the computer/keyboard!)  There
will be an assignment for you to complete while you are searching for information on the net. Fill in the blank or choose
the correct answer.

During these assignments, unless given permission by the teachers to visit other websites, ONLY THE
WEBSITES LISTED BELOW WILL BE USED!  Failure to follow library rules of correct
computer/internet use will result in losing the privilege of using the computers.  Turn in your
worksheets to the teacher after each day of library work.

We will use the “STARCHILD PROJECT” WEB SITE to begin our first internet assignment:
The address is:   http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov         Click on “SOLAR SYSTEM LEVEL TWO”
 

1. The words “Solar System” refer to the Sun and all of the objects that travel around it. These objects
include ___________, natural satellites such as the __________, the ___________ belt, __________ and
meteoroids.

2. The Sun is the center of the solar system. It contains:
a) 50%      b) 90.0%     c) 95.99%     d) 99.86%     e) 100%
...of all of the mass in our solar system.   Consequently, it exerts a tremendous:
a) magnetic pull     b) gravitational pull     c) electrical pull    d) nuclear pull  ...on planets and satellites.

go halfway down and click on “THE SUN”
3. How old is the Sun thought to be?   (in numbers only)______________________________ years old.
4. In the Sun's core, _________________ is being fused to form ________________ by a fusion process.
 The energy created by this process radiates up to the visible boundary of the Sun and then off
into  space. It radiates into space in the form of _____________ and _______________.
 5. An event that does NOT occur on the Sun is:
 a) sunspots    b) solar flares    c) solar wind    d) lunar eclipses   e) solar prominences

go back a page and click on “THE PLANETS”
6. Describe at least one difference between the inner planets and the outer planets.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
7. What is “between” the inner planets and the outer planets?___________________________________

click on “MERCURY”
8. The surface temperature on the side of Mercury closest to the Sun reaches __________ degrees
Celsius, a temperature hot enough to melt ___________. On the side facing away from the Sun, or the
night side, the temperature drops to ____________ degrees Celsius.
9. Mercury's thin atmosphere is composed of two elements: (choose two)
a) Hydrogen    b) helium    c) nitrogen    d) oxygen    e) sodium    f) chlorine
 

go back a page and click on “VENUS”
10. Two gasses in the atmosphere of Venus which act as a greenhouse are ______________________
and _________________  ...The sulfur found in the atmosphere is believed to have come from_____________

go back a page and click on “EARTH”
11. List at least SIX different gasses found in the atmosphere of planet Earth.
____________________ _____________________ __________________ ______________
____________________ _____________________ __________________ ______________

12. What causes the change from day to night on planet Earth?
___________________________________
13. What two molten metals make up the core of the Earth?  _______________ and _______________

go back a page and click on “MARS”
14. What is at the Martian poles that is similar to what is at Earth’s poles?___________________________
15. The largest volcano in the solar system is on Mars and is named _________________  ___________
.
go back a page and click on “JUPITER”
16. How many of the planets in our solar system could fit inside of Jupiter at once?__________________
17. Jupiter's atmosphere is thought to be composed of ___________, ___________, sulfur and
__________.
18. The volcanically active moon of Jupiter is:      a) Io     b) Europa    c) Callisto    d) Ganymede

go back a page and click on “SATURN”
19. Saturn is a large gas planet with an atmosphere composed of _______________ and______________.
20. Saturn's most prominent feature is its extensive ring system.  The composition of the rings appear
to contain _______________  __________  and _________________.

go back a page and click on “URANUS”
21. What is unique about the planet Uranus? _______________________________________________
22. The temperature in the upper atmosphere is so cold that the ___________________ condenses and
forms a thin cloud layer which gives the planet its ________________ - _______________appearance.

go back a page and click on “NEPTUNE”
23. Earth’s solid mantle consist mainly of oxygen, silicon and magnesium.  How does this compare
with the Neptune’s mantle?
_________________________________________________________________
24. Neptune’s largest moon is called __________________.  What do astronomers theorize about the
moon’s origin? __________________________________________________________________________

go back a page and click on “PLUTO”
25. Pluto has more in common with this moon than the other eight planets ______________________
26. Studies conducted using a spectroscope have detected ________________________ frost on Pluto
and____________________ frost on Pluto’s moon Charon.

back page and click on “SOLAR SYSTEM ACTIVITIES”  then on “MOONLIGHT MADNESS”
27. Put in the correct name of the MOON PHASE and NUMERICAL ORDER of the phase in the
boxes.
 Correct Moon phase with photograph _____ (out of 8)
 Correct numbering of Moon phase _______ (out of 8)