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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

TRUMP Part 4: Planets and Orbits

This part of the TRUMP Astrophysics resource package dealt with historical and modern observations of planets and their orbital motions. Like all other parts of the TRUMP package, this part contains study notes (self-study material for teachers), teaching notes and photocopiable student sheets.

This part drew on some material from earlier parts of the package. The authors assumed that users of Part 4 would be familiar with the content of Parts 1 to 3.

Contents of Teacher’s guide
INTRODUCTION TO PART 4
STUDY NOTES
Introduction
1.1 Studying planets
1.2 Overview of the Solar System
Summary of Section 1
2 Planetary orbits
2.1 Towards a heliocentric model
2.2 Newton explains Kepler's laws
2.3 Finding more planets
Summary of Section 2
3 The planets
3.1 Planetary masses: a matter of density
3.2 The origin and evolution of the Solar System
3.3 Moons, meteors, asteroids and comets
3.4 Radar astronomy
Summary of Section 3
Self-assessment questions
ITO answers and comments
SAO answers and comments
Glossary

TEACHING NOTES
Introduction
1.1 Studying planets
1.2 Overview of the Solar System
2 Planetary orbits
Student learning outcomes
2.1 Towards a heliocentric model
2.2 Kepler's laws
2.3 Finding more planets
3 The planets
Student learning outcomes
3.1 Planetary masses: a matter of density
3.2 The origin and evolution of the Solar System
3.3 Moons, meteors, asteroids and comets
3.4 Radar astronomy
Resources
Books
Other resources

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