Name:
Date:
Period:
Open Response – Planetary Characteristics
Use the chart below to help answer the open response question below.
Mercury Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Distance from
36
67
93
142
483
886
1783
2794
3666
Sun
(million miles)
Diameter of
3031
7521
7926
4217
88730
74900
31763
30775
1430
Planet
(miles)
Mass of Planet
0.05
0.81
1.00
0.11
317.83
95.18
14.53
17.13
0.002
(times earth mass)
1. Suppose that two new planets have been discovered
Planet Q is located between Venus and earth and is about the same size as both Venus and
earth.
Planet Z is located between Saturn and Jupiter and is about the same size as Saturn.
a. Based on your knowledge of the solar system, describe three differences in conditions you
would expect to find on planets Q and Z.
b. Explain why you would expect to find these conditions on each of the planets.