Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 1
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 2
Grade code: B7.3.2.1.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: B7.3.2.1
Indicator code: B7.3.2.1.2
Theme: SYSTEMS
Subtheme: THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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The Solar System is the family of the Sun and all the objects that move around it. In JHS Science, understanding the Solar System helps Ghanaian learners to: explain day/night and seasons more confidently later, understand why some planets are hotter/colder than others, appreciate how scientists use evidence (data, pictures, measurements) to compare planets. In this lesson, we focus on Mercury and Venus—the two planets closest to the Sun—by discussing their properties and their movement around the Sun (relative to each other and to Earth).
A. Important Definitions Solar System: The Sun and all objects that move around it (planets, moons, asteroids, comets, dust). Planet: A large body that orbits the Sun, is nearly round, and has cleared its orbit of many smaller objects. Orbit: The path a planet follows around the Sun. Most orbits are elliptical (oval-shaped), not perfect circles. Revolution: The movement of a planet around the Sun. Rotation: The spinning of a planet on its own axis. Inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. They are rocky (terrestrial) and closer to the Sun. Relative properties: Comparing two things using words like *closer/farther, hotter/cooler, bigger/smaller, faster/slower*.
B. Properties of Mercury (Planet 1) Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
Key properties Position: 1st planet from the Sun. Size: Smallest planet in the Solar System (smaller than Earth). Surface: Rocky and heavily cratered (looks like the Moon). Atmosphere: Almost no atmosphere (very thin). Because of this, it cannot trap heat well. Temperature: Very large temperature difference: Daytime can be extremely hot (about 430°C), Night can be extremely cold (about −180°C). Moons: No moons. Water/Life: No liquid water on the surface; not suitable for life as we know it. Revolution period (year length): About 88 Earth days to go around the Sun.
Why Mercury has extreme temperatures It is close to the Sun (more solar heat). It lacks a thick atmosphere to hold heat at night.