Unit 6: The Solar System
This unit explores the vast family of celestial bodies that make up our solar system, their
formation, and the unique characteristics that allow life to flourish on Earth.
1. The Family of the Solar System
The solar system consists of the Sun at its centre, along with eight planets, their moons
(satellites), dwarf planets, and smaller bodies such as asteroids, comets, and meteors.
The Sun: A star located at the very centre of our system. It is composed primarily of
hydrogen (71%) and helium (27%), with 2% consisting of other gases. Its surface
temperature is approximately 5,500 °C, while the core reaches a staggering 15 million °C.
Remarkably, the Sun accounts for 98% to 99.8% of the total mass of the entire solar
system.
The Planets: Eight planets revolve around the Sun in well-defined paths called orbits.
They are classified into two groups based on their distance from the Sun:
o Terrestrial (Inner) Planets: These include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They
are characterized by low mass, high densities (4,000 to 5,500 kg/m³), and solid,
rocky surfaces with metallic cores.
o Jovian (Outer) Planets: These include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
They have large diameters (4 to 11 times that of Earth), high mass, and low
average densities. They are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium without
a solid surface and typically possess many moons.
2. Detailed Profiles of the Eight Planets
1. Mercury: The closest and smallest planet. It has no satellites and experiences extreme
temperatures ranging from 426 °C during the day to -173 °C at night.
2. Venus: The nearest planet to Earth and the hottest in the solar system. Its dense
atmosphere of carbon dioxide creates a powerful greenhouse effect, trapping heat.
Uniquely, it rotates in the opposite direction (retrograde) to most other planets.
3. Earth: Our home, found at a distance of 149.6 million km from the Sun. It appears blue-
green from space due to water and landmasses and has one moon.
4. Mars: Known as the "Red Planet" due to its reddish colour, it is the second smallest
planet. It features the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, and the deep
valley Valles Marineris. It has two moons.
5. Jupiter: The largest planet. It has 79 moons and faint rings. It is the fifth planet from the
Sun.
6. Saturn: Located next to Jupiter, it is famous for its visible rings and has the largest
number of moons (82). It is the least dense planet—less dense than water.
7. Uranus: A blue-green planet and the third-largest. It has 27 moons and a highly tilted
rotational axis. Like Venus, it rotates from east to west.
8. Neptune: The farthest, fourth-largest, and coldest planet. It has 14 moons and can only
be observed with large telescopes.
3. Other Celestial Members
Dwarf Planets: Small bodies like Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Haumea, and Makemake that are
too small to be full planets but too large for other categories.
Asteroids: Rocky or metallic objects found mostly in the asteroid belt between Mars and
Jupiter.
Comets: Icy and dusty objects with highly elliptical orbits. Their tails always point away
from the Sun and grow longer as they approach it.
Meteors: Often called "shooting stars," these are small objects that heat up and
evaporate upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Large ones that reach the surface are
called meteorites.
4. Formation and Satellites
Formation Theory: Scientists believe the solar system formed 4.6 billion years ago from
a rotating cloud of dust and gas (a solar nebula) triggered by a supernova explosion.
Satellites: Celestial bodies revolving around planets.
o Natural: The Moon is Earth's natural satellite.
o Artificial: Man-made objects launched for communication, weather forecasting,
and remote sensing. Ethiopia has launched two satellites: ETRSS-1 (2019) and ET-
SMART-RSS (2020) for resource management and climate monitoring.
5. Earth’s Suitability for Life
Earth is unique because it supports life through several critical factors:
Liquid Water: Approximately 71% of the surface is covered by water, essential for life.
Optimal Distance: Being at the right distance from the Sun ensures temperatures allow
liquid water to exist without freezing or boiling away.
Atmosphere and Magnetosphere: An atmosphere rich in oxygen and nitrogen,
combined with an ozone layer that blocks harmful radiation, protects organisms. The
magnetic field (created by Earth's core) deflects solar winds that would otherwise strip
away the atmosphere.
Planetary Shielding: Jupiter's massive gravity attracts many asteroids, shielding Earth
from constant bombardment.
Unit 7: Physical Phenomena in the Surrounding
This unit covers the fundamental concepts of light, sound, heat, electricity, and magnetism.
1. Phenomena of Light
Light is a form of energy that enables vision.
Sources:
o Luminous objects (e.g., Sun, stars, bulbs) emit their own light.
o Non-luminous objects (e.g., the Moon) are seen by reflecting light from other
sources.
Properties:
1. Reflection: Light returning to its original medium after hitting a surface. Regular
reflection occurs on smooth surfaces (like mirrors), forming clear images, while
diffused reflection on rough surfaces (like wood) does not.
2. Refraction: The bending of light as it moves from one medium to another (e.g.,
air to water), making objects like pencils appear broken in a glass of water.
3. Dispersion: The splitting of white light into its component colours (spectrum)
when passing through a prism. These colours are red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
indigo, and violet.
Imaging: Plane mirrors form images that are virtual, erect, the same size as the object,
and laterally inverted (left appears right and vice versa).
Transmission: Materials are classified as transparent (allow all light through, like glass),
translucent (allow some light, like oiled paper), or opaque (block all light, like wood).
2. Sound
Sound is energy produced by vibrating objects.
Propagation: Sound requires a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel. It travels
fastest in solids because molecules are closer together and slowest in gases. It cannot
travel through a vacuum.
Hearing: The human ear senses vibrations through the eardrum, which sends signals to
the brain.
Sound Pollution: Excessive unwanted sound (above 80 dB) can cause irritation, stress,
hearing loss, and even heart attacks. Strategies to control it include planting trees, using
silencers, and minimizing horn usage.
Echo: The reflection of sound from a surface. It is used in hearing aids, stethoscopes, and
auditorium design.
3. Heat
Heat is energy that flows from a higher temperature body to a lower temperature body.
Mechanisms of Transfer:
1. Conduction: Heat transfer in solids through successive particle collisions.
2. Convection: Heat transfer in fluids (liquids and gases) by the movement of the
fluid itself (hotter, less dense fluid rises).
3. Radiation: Heat transfer through vacuum or transparent media without requiring
a material medium (e.g., heat from the Sun).
Materials: Conductors (like metals) allow heat to pass easily, while insulators (like wood
or plastic) do not.
4. Simple Circuits and Electricity
A circuit is a complete path for electricity.
Components: An electric cell (source), bulb (resistor), wires (conductors), and a switch.
Types: In a closed circuit, the path is complete and the bulb lights up; in an open circuit,
there is a gap and no current flows.
5. Magnetism
Magnetism is the study of materials that attract metals like iron, cobalt, and nickel.
Types: Natural magnets (e.g., lodestone) and artificial magnets (e.g., bar or U-shaped
magnets).
Magnetic Fields: The region around a magnet where its influence is felt. Field lines point
from the North to South pole outside the magnet. Like poles repel, while unlike poles
attract.
Uses: Magnets are used in computers, MRIs, loudspeakers, credit cards, and Maglev
trains, which float above tracks to reach speeds of 500 km/h.