Worksheet # 9
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Dara compared her still-damp watercolor of Uranus with the planet itself, visible through the window. Brenn sat at the computer, finishing a report on the exploration of Uranus.

SAM's voice synthesizer clicked on. "The report cannot be accepted. Please delete non-factual statements."

"What non-factual statements?" asked Brenn. He read from the computer screen. "Uranus has a diameter of 31,600 mi (50,800 km) and is 1,780,000,000 mi (2,867,000,000 km) from the Sun. It has 11 thin, faint rings and 15 moons. The planet rotates in about 17 hours and revolves around the Sun every 84 Earth years.

"The planet spins vertically rather than horizontally. Perhaps it collided with another planet long ago and was knocked over. As the planet orbits, first one pole, then the equator, then the other pole, then the equator again, face the Sun. Each pole has a 42-year day or time of light followed by a 42-year night or time of darkness. "Uranus is very cold. Temperatures there are about -350ºF (-210 I@0&oC), cold enough to freeze-dry human flesh instantly. Gravity there is about the same as Earth's.

"Like Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune, Uranus is a Gas Giant. Its outer layer, the atmosphere, is mostly hydrogen and helium with some ammonia and methane gas. The methane gives the planet a blue-green color. As with other Gas Giants, there is no place to land on Uranus."

SAM interrupted. "This part of the report is factual. Direct your attention to the last few pages."

Dara jumped up. "We have to report what we think about life forms on Uranus, SAM, even if we have no evidence. I will never forget what happened today. There we were . . ."

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QUESTIONS

Which of the following statements are factual? Write True or False beside each sentence.

1. _____ Uranus is covered with craters and canyons.

2. _____ The atmosphere on Uranus is mostly hydrogen and helium, with some ammonia and methane gas.

3. _____ Uranus is the smallest planet in the solar system.

4. _____ Uranus is a Gas Giant.

5. _____ It is very cold on Uranus.

6. _____ Uranus has gravity about the same as Earth's.

7. _____ Because of the large amounts of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere, human visitors do not have to carry their own air supplies.

8. _____ Uranus spins vertically rather than horizontally.

Writing Assignment: What do you think Brenn and Dara saw on Uranus? On the back of this sheet, describe a life form you think would be able to survive on Uranus. Use descriptive words to help a reader envision the life form. As you write, explain why this life form is well suited to Uranus' environment.