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GET Term 4 Take Home Package

Natural Sciences
Grade 8
 TAKE HOME PACK GET SP GRADE 8 NATURAL SCIENCES TERM 4

SECTION A
Activity 1:

1.1 Comparing the Terrestrial planets and the Gas planets

Study the information in the table below to answer the questions that follow.

Name of Density Size/ Distance Number of Surface Day length Year length
Planet (kg/m3) Diameter from Sun Moons temperature (hours) (Earth days)
(millions km)
Mercury 5427 4879 km 57.9 0 167 0C 4222.6 88
Venus 5243 12104 km 108.2 0 464 0C 2808.0 224.7
Earth 5514 12756 km 149.6 1 15 0C 24.0 365.25
Mars 3933 6792 km 206.6 2 -65 0C 24.7 687.0
Jupiter 1326 142984 740.5 67 -110 0C 9.9 4331
Saturn 687 120536 1352.6 62 -140 0C 10.7 10747
Uranus 1271 51118 2741.3 27 -195 0C 17.2 30589
Neptune 1638 49528 4444.5 13 -200 0C 16.1 59800

1.1.1 Correctly label each of the planets on the thermometer

using the temperature information provided in the table.
1.1.2 Which planet has the lowest average temperature?
1.1.3 Explain your answer in Question 1.1.2 above.
1.1.4 What do you notice about the average temperatures of the
terrestrial planets compared with the gas giants?
1.1.5 If you exclude Venus, how does the ordering of the planets
from the Sun compare with their average temperature?
1.1.6 Given that the density of water is 1000 kg/m3, which of the
planets would float on water? Explain your answer.
1.1.7 Compare the densities of the rocky planets and the gas
giants.
(a) Which type of planet tends to be denser?
(b) Explain your answer.
1.1.8 Which planet has the shortest day?
1.1.9 Compare the day length for the rocky planets and the gas
giants.
(a) Which type of planet tends to have the shortest
day?
(b) What does this tell you about how fast the two
types of planets rotate on their axis?
1.1.10 (a) Which planet orbits around the Sun the fastest?
(b) Explain your answer.
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 1.1.11 Which planet's year is shorter than its day?
1.1.12 Plot a bar graph to show the distance each planet is from
the Sun.

1.1.13 Plot a bar graph to show the number of moons that each planet has.
NOTE:
• The bar graph must have a complete heading.
• The independent variable must be on the x-axis and the dependent variable must be on
• the Y-axis.
• Use a correct scale.

Activity 2:
2.1 What reaction releases energy from the Sun’s core?
2.2 Which two kinds of energy are released by the Sun?
2.3 What is nuclear fusion?
2.4 What is the temperature at the Sun’s surface?
2.5 Name the largest planet.
2.6 Name the smallest planet.
2.7 Which planet is furthest from the Sun?

How does the size of Earth compare to the other planets?

2.8 Other than size, what is the main difference between a planet and a star?
2.9 Name the eight planets in our solar system, starting with the one closest to the Sun.
2.10 Which planet has the most moons?
2.11 What can you say in general about the number of moons that the two types of planets
have?
2.12 Suggest why the Earth’s moon is important to us?
2.13 Why can the planets orbit around the Sun?
2.14 Why are four planets closest to the Sun called terrestrial planets?
2.15 Which planet is closest to the Sun?
2.16 What do you notice about the size of the planets as they get further away from the Sun?
2.17 Explain how it is possible that Venus is further away from the Sun than Mercury but has a
higher surface temperature.
2.18 Name the four terrestrial planets, starting with the one closest to the Sun.
2.19 Name 3 celestial bodies you can find in our solar system?
2.20 What are the differences between asteroids and comets?
2.21 Name one dwarf planet.
2.22 What are comets made up of?
2.23 Where would you find the Asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt?
2.24 Will comets from the Kuiper belt or Oort Cloud take longer to complete an orbit? Give a
reason for your answer.

2.25 Complete the missing information in the Table below about other solar system objects

Other solar system objects Location Composition

Asteroid
Comet Ammonia, ice, dry ice,
water, dirt,

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 rocks
Meteoroid Just outside the Earth’s
atmosphere

2.26 Complete the table below to show differences between the Kuiper Belt and the Oort
Cloud:

Kuiper Belt Oort Cloud

Earth’s position in the Solar System

2.27 Which gas is necessary for life on Earth?

2.28 Name one other thing that Earth has that makes it suitable for life.
2.29 List the four conditions required to sustain life on Earth.
2.30 Give an example of a ‘producer’ in the food chain.
2.31 In the table below, name the four conditions that are needed for life on Earth and then
explain why the condition is needed.

Condition needed for life Why is this condition needed

1.
2.
3.
4.

Activity 1: Suggested responses (Memorandum)

1.1.1 1.1.1
1.1.2 Neptune.
1.1.3 It is the furthest planet from the Sun.
1.1.4 The average temperatures of the terrestrial
planets are much higher than the average
temperatures of the gas giants.
1.1.5 In general, the further away from the Sun a
planet is, the lower its temperature.
NOTE: Venus is the exception because it has
a very thick atmosphere and is undergoing a
runaway Greenhouse effect which learners
will discover later in this chapter.
1.1.6 Saturn would float on water as its density is
less than that of water.
1.1.7 (a) The inner rocky (terrestrial) planets are
denser than the outer gas giants.

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 (b) The inner planets are made of solid
rock, which is denser than gas.
1.1.8 Jupiter
1.1.9 (a) The gas giants tend to have the
shortest days.
(b) These planets must spin on their axes
faster than the terrestrial planets.
1.1.10 (a) Mercury
(b) Because it is the closest planet to the
Sun and has the least distance to
cover.

1.1.11 Mercury
1.1.12

Bar graph showing distance of each planet from Sun

(millions km)
Distance from Sun (millions km)

5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
Name of Planets

1.1.13

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 Bar graph showing the number of Moons that each
planet has
80

Number of Moons 70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
Name of Planets

Activity 2:

2.1 Nuclear fusion

2.2 Heat and light
2.3 When nuclei are fused together to form a new nucleus.
2.4 The temperature at the Sun's surface is about 5500 ̊C, while at the core it is + 15 million ̊C.
2.5 Jupiter
2.6 Mercury
2.7 Neptune
2.8 Planets do not produce their own energy, but stars do.
2.9 Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
2.10 Jupiter
2.11 The gas planets have more moons than the terrestrial planets.
2.12 It controls the tides.
2.13 The planets can orbit around the Sun because of the Sun's massive gravitational pull.
2.14 These are called terrestrial planets because they have solid rocky surfaces.
2.15 Mercury
2.16 The planets closest to the Sun are smaller than the ones further away.
2.17 This is because it has a dense atmosphere made of carbon dioxide that traps the solar
energy.
2.18 Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
2.19 star (Sun), planets, moons, satellites, Asteroid, comets, meteors, meteorites, dwarf planets
2.20 Asteroids are lumps of stony or metallic material.
Comets are lumps of frozen gas that can be as small as 200 meters or as large as 50
kilometres.
2.21 Pluto, Eris, Ceres or Makemake.
2.22 Frozen gas.
2.23 The asteroid belt is found between Mars and Jupiter and the Kuiper belt is found just past
Neptune.
2.24 Comets from the Oort Cloud will take longer to complete an orbit.
Reason: The Oort Cloud is much further away from the Sun, and this will mean that the
comet will take a much longer time to complete an orbit around the Sun.

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 2.25
Other solar system objects Location Composition
Asteroid Mostly found in asteroid belt Lumps of stony or metallic
which is between the orbits material
of Mars and Jupiter
Comet Comes from the Kuiper belt Ammonia, ice, dry ice, water,
and Oort Cloud dirt, rocks
Meteoroid Just outside the Earth’s Small pieces of rock
atmosphere
2.26
Kuiper Belt Oort Cloud
1. Found past the orbit of Neptune. 1. The Oort Cloud is thought to be a huge
cloud of icy objects at the very edge of
our solar system.
2. Region of space filled with trillions of 2. Cloud of icy objects
small objects.

2.27 Oxygen
2.28 It has any of the following: water, ideal temperature, Sunlight
2.29 Temperature, water, Sunlight and oxygen
2.30 Any relevant correct answer, for example, Grass, trees, bushes.

2.31
Condition needed for life Why is this condition needed
1. Temperature If it was too hot, water would evaporate and if it was too
cold the water would freeze.
We would freeze if it was too cold or burn up if it was too hot.
2. Water Organisms are made up of mostly water. Water is also
needed for drinking.
Many organisms live in water.
3. Sunlight Sunlight provides energy to sustain food chains on Earth.
Plants manufacture food using the Sun’s energy.
Plants are then eaten by animals and the energy is
transferred through the food chain. Sunlight also warms the
Earth.
4. Oxygen Oxygen is needed for respiration which is the process
whereby organisms break down food to release energy

SECTION B
Activity 1: The Milky Way:

1.1 What are the two main parts that make up our Milky Way Galaxy?
1.2 Where are the spiral arms located; in the disk or the bulge of our galaxy?
1.3 Is our Sun found in the central bulge or in a spiral arm in the Milky Way?
1.4 How far from the centre of the galaxy is our Sun located?

Activity 2: Our Closest Stars

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 Instructions:
1. Study the table below showing our closest stars and the star map.
2. Answer the questions below
STAR DISTANCE (LIGHT YEARS)
Proxima Centauri 4,24
Alpha Centauri 4,37
Barnard's Star 5,96
WISE 1049-5319 6,52
Wolf 359 7,78
Lalande 21185 8,29
Sirius 8,58

2.1 Which star is our closest neighbour, excluding the Sun?

2.2 How far is Sirius?
2.3 How long does light from Barnard's Star take to reach us?
2.4 Explain in your own words what the statement "Sirius is 8.58 light years away from Earth"
means.

Activity 3: Comparing galaxies

Instructions:
Study the images of the of six galaxies used in the activity below.
3.1 Write down in the table below the type of galaxy our Milky Way Galaxy is.
3.2 Write down in the table below the type of galaxy (spiral, barred spiral, elliptical or irregular)
you think each galaxy is.
Galaxy name Galaxy Type

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxy M 89. The galaxy is 60 million light

years away.

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 Galaxy NGC 4622. The galaxy is 111 million
light years ago away.

The Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. This

satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way is only
163 000 light years away.

The Spindle Galaxy, 44 million light years

away.
3.3 List the galaxies in the table above in increasing order of distance from our Milky Way
Galaxy.

ACTIVITY 4: 25
4.1 What is the name of our second closest star? How far away is it? 2
4.2 What is the name of our second closest easily visible star? Is it really a single star? 2
4.3 What is the definition of a light year? 2
4.4 What is a galaxy? 2
4.5 Where is the Sun located within the Milky Way? 2
4.6 How many stars are in our Milky Way Galaxy? 1
4.7 Name the 4 main types of galaxies. 4
4.8 What kind of galaxy is the Milky Way? 2
4.9 Why does it look as though the Milky Way is a splash of milk or a starry road across the sky? 2
4.10 What is a group of galaxies? 2
4.11 What is the name of the group of galaxies that the Milky Way is a member of? 1
4.12 What are clusters of galaxies and superclusters of galaxies? 2
4.13 What is the size of the observable Universe? 1

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 MEMORANDUM

Activity 1: The Milky Way

1.1 The disk and the bulge.
1.2 In the disk
1.3 Our Sun is located in a spiral arm.
1.4 Just over halfway out from the centre.

Activity 2: Our Closest Stars

2.1 Proxima Centauri
2.2 Sirius is 8,58 light years away
2.3 Light takes 5.96 years to reach us from Barnard's star.
2.4 It means that the star is at the distance that light can travel in 8.58 years. It
means that light takes 8.58 years to reach us on Earth from Sirius.

Activity 3: Comparing galaxies

Galaxy name Galaxy Type

Barred spiral galaxy (because it has

spiral arms with a bright, central
bar)

The Milky Way Galaxy

Elliptical galaxy (because it is round

and smooth with no spiral arms)

Galaxy M 89. The galaxy is 60 million light years

away.

Spiral galaxy (because it has spiral

arms)

Galaxy NGC 4622. The galaxy is 111 million light

years ago away.

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 Irregular galaxy (it does not have
spiral arms and is not a smooth oval
shape like elliptical galaxies. It looks
like an irregular shape)
The Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. This
satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way is only
163 000 light years away.

Lenticular galaxy (because disk

shaped, with a central bulge, but no
spiral arms)

The Spindle Galaxy, 44 million light years away.

3.3 The LMC, the Spindle Galaxy, M 89, NGC 4622.

ACTIVITY 4: 25
4.1 Proxima Centauri. 4.24 light years away.
4.2 Alpha Centauri. Alpha Centauri is actually a multiple star system containing the stars Alpha
Centauri A and B closely orbiting each other. To the naked eye these two stars look like a
single star. Proxima Centauri is also thought to be a member of this star system but it is farther
away from the other two
stars.
4.3 A light year is the distance that light travels in one year.
4.4 A galaxy is a massive collection of stars, dust and gas held together by gravity. A typical
galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars.
4.5 It is located in the Orion spiral arm halfway out from the centre of the galaxy.
4.6 200 billion
4.7 Elliptical galaxies, spiral galaxies, barred spiral galaxies and irregular galaxies.
4.8 The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy.
4.9 The Milky Way Galaxy is a flat disk and when you look at the band of the Milky Way across
the sky at night you are actually looking along the plane of the disk of the Galaxy in towards
the centre where there is a high density of stars.
4.10 A collection of galaxies, held together by gravity.
4.11 The Local Group.
4.12 A cluster of galaxies is a collection of 50 or more galaxies held together by gravity. Clusters of
galaxies often group together to form larger structures called superclusters of galaxies.
4.13 The size of the observable Universe is 93 billion light years in diameter.

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