Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius about nine times that of Earth. It is best known for its prominent ring system, which is composed mostly of ice particles with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust. Saturn has 82 known moons, with the largest being Titan, which is larger than the planet Mercury.

Physical Characteristics

Size: Saturn has a diameter of about 116,464 km, making it the second largest planet in the Solar System.
Atmosphere: It is mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, with traces of other elements.
Rings: Saturn's rings are made up of ice, rock, and dust particles. They are divided into several main rings and are incredibly thin, with a maximum thickness of about 1 kilometer.
Moons: Saturn has 82 confirmed moons, the largest of which is Titan. Other notable moons include Enceladus, Mimas, and Rhea.

Exploration

Several spacecraft have visited Saturn, including Pioneer 11, Voyager 1 and 2, Cassini-Huygens, and the ongoing mission of the spacecraft Juno. These missions have provided a wealth of information about the planet's atmosphere, moons, and rings.

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember when studying Saturn:

Identify the main components of Saturn's atmosphere and their relative proportions.
Describe the structure and composition of Saturn's rings.
List some of Saturn's notable moons and their distinguishing features.
Compare and contrast Saturn with other gas giants in the Solar System, such as Jupiter and Uranus.
Explain the significance of past and ongoing space missions to Saturn, including the information they have provided about the planet.

Understanding Saturn's features and characteristics can provide insights into the formation and evolution of our Solar System, as well as the broader study of planetary systems in the universe.

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Our impact on earth

Vocabulary/Answer key

Our impact on earth

The resources above cover the following skills:

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Earth’s Systems

Analyze and interpret data (e.g., tables, graphs, maps of global and regional temperatures; atmospheric levels of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane; rates of human activities) to describe how various human activities (e.g., use of fossil fuels, creation of urban heat islands, agricultural practices) and natural processes (e.g., solar radiation, greenhouse effect, volcanic activity) may cause changes in local and global temperatures over time.

Earth and Human Activity

Analyze evidence (e.g., databases on human populations, rates of consumption of food and other natural resources) to explain how changes in human population, per capita consumption of natural resources, and other human activities (e.g., land use, resource development, water and air pollution, urbanization) affect Earth’s systems.

Implement scientific principles to design processes for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment (e.g., water usage, including withdrawal of water from streams and aquifers or construction of dams and levees; land usage, including urban development, agriculture, or removal of wetlands; pollution of air, water, and land).