Interactive and Integrative Lesson Plan

Origin and Composition of the Solar System

(Date)

I.

II.

Objectives
Cognitive

Psychomotor

Affective

Integration
A.
B.

III.

Conclude that the solar system is an orderly arrangement of heavenly bodies.

Identify the members of the solar system.

Explain why planets stay in orbit as they revolve around the sun.
Illustrate through a diagram how the members of the solar system revolve around the sun
in the same direction as they follow their own orbit.
Recognize mans place in the solar system.

Values: Humility, self-esteem, constructive opposition

Makabayan: Man and the solar system

Subject Matter

1.
Topic
Sub-topic
Reference
Materials

2.

Unit
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Solar System
Origin and composition of the solar system
Forces governing planetary motion.
iTextbook 5, Science and Health 5, Jessie A. Villegas, pages 272-277
computer animation of the solar system, plastic ball, string, gravity simulator

Concepts/Related Ideas
1.

2.

3.

The solar system is believed to have been formed about 4.7 billion years ago from a rotating cloud of
gas and dust, called nebula. As this cloud rotated faster and faster, it formed into a flattened disk and
contracted. The shrinking continued until the density became large enough to start a nuclear fusion.
This was the birth of the sun. Around the young sun, at different distances, gravity caused matter to
collapse into spheres which became larger and larger as they gathered more and more cosmic dust.
When the spheres cooled, they became the planets. Matter that was not pulled into the planets
became their satellites.
Today, the solar system as we now it is an orderly arrangement around the sun of nine planets, fortyone moons, thousands of planetoids, and undetermined number of meteors.
a) The sun, which is a star that is far more massive than any of the planets, is the center of the
solar system.
b) The nine planets, which are drawn to the sun by gravity, are Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury,
Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, Uranus, and Venus (arranged in alphabetical order). The term planet is
derived from the Greek word meaning wanderer. This is because planets appear to change their
position in the sky from time to time, unlike the stars which seem to occupy a fixed position with
reference to each other.
c) Planets do not emit their own light. They shine like the stars because they reflect the sunlight
that strikes them.
Forces Governing Planetary Motion
a)
The nine planets, moons, planetoids, and meteors are revolving around the sun from west to
east in their respective orbits. There are two opposite and equal forces that keep each of these
objects in orbit: centrifugal force and centripetal force.
b)
Newtons Law of Gravitation states that every object in the universe attracts every other object.
The larger the mass of the object, the greater is the force of attraction. In the solar system, it is
the gravitational force of the sun that attracts the planets. This gravity creates the centripetal
force.
c)
Newtons Law of Inertia. The centrifugal force, on the other hand, is explained by Newtons
Law of Inertia, which states that the natural tendency of a moving object is to continue in
straight line. This centrifugal force is equal and opposite the suns centripetal force. The
combination of these two opposing forces is what keeps planets in orbit.
d)
The fact that objects fall to the ground need not be discovered. But what pulled it to the ground
was something that was described by Newton based on his observation of an apple falling from
a tree. Newton said that bodies fall because they are attracted by gravity (from the Latin word
for heaviness or weight), and that this gravity is the same force that is responsible for all
movements of the planets and the stars in the heavens.
e) Gravity is the force that rules the universe. Sir Isaac Newton suggested that it is a force that
two bodies exert on each other, and that the larger is the mass of a body, the greater is its
gravity. In the solar system, the largest body is the sun, thus the gravity of the sun is greater
than all of its planets. Earth is larger than the moon, thus it has a stronger force of gravity than

the moon. Jupiter, the largest planet, has a stronger force of gravity than either Earth or the
moon.
Process Skills

3.

Observing, identifying, describing, inferring

IV.

Procedure
A. Preparatory Activities
Greetings
Checking of attendance
Checking of assignments

1.

Motivation
(Show a computer animation of the solar system)
This is the solar system. Do you know how it was formed?

2.

Presentation
The solar system is believed to have been formed about 4.7 billion years ago from a rotating cloud of gas and
dust, called nebula. As this cloud rotated faster and faster, it formed into a flattened disk and contracted. The shrinking
continued until the density became large enough to start a nuclear fusion. This was the birth of the sun. Around the
young sun, at different distances, gravity caused matter to collapse into spheres which became larger and larger as they
gathered more and more cosmic dust. When the spheres cooled, they became the planets. Matter that was not pulled
into the planets became their satellites.
Concept Formation

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4.

Today, the solar system as we now it contains nine planets, forty-one moons, thousands of planetoids, and
undetermined number of meteors and meteorites around the sun. How are these heavenly bodies arranged?
The sun, which is a star that is far more massive than any of the planets, is the center of the solar system upon
which the nine planets revolve. Name the nine planets in alphabetical order.
The term planet is derived from the Greek word planete meaning wanderer. Why is this so?
Planets do not emit their own light. Why do they shine like the stars?
In activity 1 on page 273, you will identify the nine planets as they are arranged in orbits around the sun. (Allow
15 minutes for the activity).
How are the nine planets arranged from the sun?
Which are the inner planets and why are they so called?
Which are the outer planets and why are they so called?
With the exception of Pluto, how are the inner planets different from the outer planets?
Which are the two largest planets?
Which is the smallest planet?
Turn to page 274. Why do we say that the solar system is an orderly arrangement of heavenly bodies?
What are the two opposite and equal forces that keep each of these planets in orbit?
Differentiate centrifugal from centripetal force.
(Demonstrate the two forces by swinging around a ball tied to a string. Activity 2, page 275). Observe that the
ball is moving around me in a circular orbit. What keeps this ball in orbit?
The string pulls the ball towards me. What do you call that force?
Observe what happens if I release the string. Why did the ball fly away from me?
What does Newtons Law of Inertia tell about centrifugal force?
The centripetal force of the string is like the gravity of the sun that attracts all the planets and keeps them in
their respective orbits.
What does Newtons Law of Gravitation tell about gravity?
Gravity is the force that rules the universe. Sir Isaac Newton suggested that it is a force that two bodies exert on
each other. In activity 3 on page 277, we will investigate the relationship between mass and gravity.
(Demonstrate the Gravity simulator)
Based on your observations, what is the relationship between gravity and mass of the heavenly body?
Enhancement Activities

What are the nine planets of the solar system? page 273
What keeps the planets in their respective orbits? page 275
How is mass related to gravity? page 277

5.

Generalizations
How was the solar system formed?

Why do we say that the solar system is an orderly arrangement of heavenly bodies?
What forces keep the planets in their respective orbits?
Application/Integration

6.

We are always humbled by the knowledge that we are not even a tiny speck compared to the planets and the
sun in the vastness of space. But at the same time, we feel very important because in spite of our size, we are God's
center of creation.

All forces in nature always come in pairs...equal and opposite. Do not be alarmed by opposition. Opposition
is important especially in politics. It is a form of check-and-balance.

If one person stole ten pesos from a beggar and another person stole the same amount from a rich man,
should both persons be given the same penalty for the same offense? The offense in this example is like MASS and
the WEIGHT of the penalty depends on the GRAVITY of the offense. Surely, stealing from a beggar is a much
graver offense that requires a heavier penalty.
Evaluation.

7.

Question and Answer Test

1.
2.
3.

Give a brief description of the origin of the solar system.

Name the planets in order of their position from the sun.
Explain the forces that keep planets in their respective orbits.
Assignment

8.
1.
2.
3.

How did the solar system originate?

State the composition of the solar system.
Describe the orbits of planets and their distances from the sun.