Worksheet Chapter 12: Solar System

1. List the four Terrestrial planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun.

2. Explain why Venus has a higher surface temperature than Mercury even though Mercury is closer to the Sun.

3. Describe the relationship between a planet's distance from the Sun and its time taken to complete one orbit (orbital period).

4. Which planet has an unusual axial tilt of approximately 98 degrees, causing it to rotate on its side?

5. Fill in the blank: The region around a star where conditions allow liquid water to exist on a planet's surface is known as the ________ zone.

6. State THREE essential conditions or features that make Earth uniquely capable of supporting life.

7. Compare Terrestrial planets and Jovian planets in terms of their physical surface structure, relative size, and number of moons.

8. Explain the vital protective roles played by Earth's ozone layer and magnetosphere in safeguarding living organisms.

9. True or False: Mercury is the hottest planet in the Solar System because it is closest to the Sun.

10. True or False: Gas giant planets generally have a lower density than terrestrial rocky planets.