If you are looking for the answers to the Nova “The Pluto Files” worksheet, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explore some of the key questions and provide detailed responses to help you better understand the content of the worksheet.
The Nova “The Pluto Files” worksheet focuses on the controversy surrounding the reclassification of Pluto from being the ninth planet in our solar system to being a dwarf planet. One of the first questions on the worksheet asks why Pluto was demoted. The answer to this question lies in the changing understanding of what constitutes a planet. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) revised its definition of a planet in 2006, which led to the reevaluation of Pluto’s status.
The worksheet also asks about the role of the public in the debate over Pluto’s classification. The answer to this question highlights the significance of public opinion and activism in shaping scientific decisions. When it was announced that Pluto would no longer be considered a planet, there was a public outcry, with many people expressing their disappointment and disagreement. This prompted further discussions and debates within the scientific community.
Nova the Pluto Files Worksheet Answers
If you are looking for answers to the Nova the Pluto Files worksheet, you have come to the right place. This worksheet is designed to test your understanding of the documentary “The Pluto Files” by Nova. It explores the controversy surrounding the reclassification of Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet and the public’s reaction to this decision.
The answers to the worksheet questions can be found by watching the documentary and paying close attention to the information presented. Here are some possible answers to the questions:
- Question 1: What did the New Horizons spacecraft discover about Pluto?
- Answer: The New Horizons spacecraft discovered that Pluto has a complex and diverse surface, with mountains, glaciers, and a thin atmosphere.
- Question 2: Why was Pluto reclassified as a dwarf planet?
- Answer: Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet because it did not meet the criteria set by the International Astronomical Union for a full planet. It did not clear the area of its orbit and was not the dominant gravitational force in its region.
- Question 3: How did the public react to the reclassification of Pluto?
- Answer: The public had mixed reactions to the reclassification of Pluto. Some people were upset and felt that Pluto should still be considered a planet, while others understood the scientific reasons behind the decision.
- Question 4: What is the controversy surrounding the status of Pluto?
- Answer: The controversy surrounding the status of Pluto revolves around the definition of what constitutes a planet. Some scientists argue that Pluto should be considered a planet because of its size and composition, while others believe that it should be classified as a dwarf planet.
These are just a few possible answers to the Nova the Pluto Files worksheet questions. It is important to watch the documentary and use your own understanding to come up with accurate and complete answers.
What are the Pluto Files?
The Pluto Files refer to a collection of documents and records associated with the controversy surrounding the reclassification of Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006. The term “Pluto Files” was coined by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and science communicator, in reference to the extensive public response and backlash that occurred following the decision made by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Following the IAU’s decision, Neil deGrasse Tyson received numerous letters and emails from people expressing their discontent and confusion over the reclassification. In response to this overwhelming public reaction, Tyson compiled these documents into what he called the “Pluto Files,” which served as an archive of the public’s opinions on the matter.
The Pluto Files include a wide range of correspondence, including letters from young children, teachers, and even politicians. These documents provide insight into the emotional attachment many people have to Pluto and their resistance to accepting its new classification. They also highlight the public’s fascination with space and its ability to provoke passionate discussions about scientific definitions and classifications.
Through the Pluto Files, Neil deGrasse Tyson aimed to shed light on the public’s perception of science and the role of public engagement in scientific decision-making processes. This collection of documents has become a valuable resource for scientists, educators, and researchers interested in understanding the intersection of science, public opinion, and the challenges of communicating complex scientific concepts to the general public.
Why was Pluto considered a planet?
Pluto was considered a planet for many years due to its discovery, size, and orbit.
When Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, it was a groundbreaking moment in astronomy. At the time, there were only eight known planets in our solar system, and the discovery of the ninth planet was met with great excitement.
Pluto’s size also played a role in its classification as a planet. While significantly smaller than the other planets, it was still considered large enough to be classified as a planet based on the knowledge available at the time.
Furthermore, Pluto’s orbit around the Sun was another factor that supported its classification as a planet. It followed a similar elliptical path to the other planets in the solar system, further solidifying its status as a member of the planetary club.
However, as our understanding of the solar system grew and advancements in technology allowed for more detailed observations, scientists began to question Pluto’s planetary status. Its small size and irregular orbit led to debates about whether it truly fit the criteria to be considered a planet.
This eventually led to the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union. This decision was based on a new definition of a planet, which required it to clear its orbit of other debris, a criterion that Pluto did not meet.
While some people may still consider Pluto a planet out of sentimental attachment, the scientific community now recognizes it as a dwarf planet, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of scientific knowledge and understanding.
Why was Pluto reclassified?
Pluto, once considered the ninth planet of our solar system, was reclassified in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as a “dwarf planet.” This decision was made after years of debate and scientific research.
One of the main reasons behind Pluto’s reclassification is its size and location. Unlike the other eight planets, Pluto is significantly smaller and is located in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune where many other icy objects exist. Its small size and location raised questions about whether it should be considered a full-fledged planet or not.
The discovery of other similar objects in the Kuiper Belt, such as Eris, further fueled the debate. Eris is nearly the same size as Pluto and shares many characteristics, leading astronomers to question the definition of a planet. The IAU eventually decided to reclassify Pluto and define a planet as a celestial body that has cleared its orbit of debris, which Pluto does not meet.
Although Pluto’s reclassification was met with disappointment by some who grew up learning it as a planet, it has helped scientists refine their understanding of the solar system. The ruling brought clarity to the definition of a planet and sparked further exploration and research into the Kuiper Belt and other celestial bodies in our cosmic neighborhood.
Who discovered Pluto?
Pluto, the ninth planet in our solar system, was discovered in 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. At the time, he was working at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Tombaugh was assigned the task of systematically scanning the sky to search for a possible unknown planet beyond the orbit of Neptune, which was hypothesized based on irregularities in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune.
Tombaugh used a device called a blink comparator, which allowed him to compare photographs of the night sky taken at different times. By carefully examining these photographs, Tombaugh was able to identify a faint, moving object that appeared to be a planet. This object, later named Pluto, was found to be orbiting the Sun at a distance that was consistent with the predictions for the hypothetical Planet X.
Since its discovery, Pluto has been a subject of fascination and controversy. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union redefined the definition of a planet, and Pluto was reclassified as a “dwarf planet.” This decision sparked debates among scientists and the general public about what constitutes a planet. Despite its new classification, Pluto continues to captivate our curiosity, and further exploration and study of this distant world are still ongoing.
How was Pluto discovered?
Pluto, the dwarf planet located in the outer regions of our solar system, was discovered by an American astronomer named Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Tombaugh was working at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, when he made this groundbreaking discovery. The search for Pluto began after astronomer Percival Lowell predicted the existence of a mysterious “Planet X” beyond Neptune, based on irregularities in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune.
To search for Planet X, Tombaugh took photographs of the night sky in two separate nights and carefully compared them using a device called a blink comparator. He would rapidly switch between the two images, looking for any celestial object that appeared to move. After months of meticulous work, Tombaugh finally noticed a faint dot that shifted position from one image to the next.
Further observations confirmed that this tiny dot was indeed a new planet, which was named Pluto after the Roman god of the underworld. The discovery caused great excitement in the scientific community and the public, as it was the first new planet to be discovered since the 1840s. However, in recent years, Pluto’s classification as a planet has been debated, and it was eventually reclassified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006.
Characteristics of Pluto
Pluto, once considered the ninth planet of our solar system, is a dwarf planet located in the outer regions of our solar system. Despite its demotion from planet status, Pluto still possesses several interesting characteristics that make it unique:
- Size: Pluto is significantly smaller than the other eight planets, with a diameter of only about 1,473 miles (2,372 kilometers). This makes it smaller than our own moon.
- Orbit: Pluto has a highly elliptical orbit that takes it far beyond the plane of the other planets. It takes Pluto approximately 248 Earth years to complete one orbit around the sun.
- Atmosphere: Unlike the gas giants in our solar system, Pluto has a thin atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen, with traces of methane and carbon monoxide. Its atmosphere freezes and falls to the surface when Pluto moves farther from the sun.
- Surface Features: Pluto is covered in a variety of interesting surface features, including mountains, valleys, plains, and craters. One of the most prominent features is a heart-shaped region known as Tombaugh Regio.
- Moons: Pluto has five known moons, the largest of which is Charon. Charon is more than half the size of Pluto itself and is locked in a tidally-locked orbit, meaning the same face of Charon always faces Pluto.
Although Pluto’s status as a planet has been debated and changed over the years, its distinctive characteristics continue to fascinate astronomers and researchers. Its unique orbit, surface features, and composition make it an intriguing object of study within our solar system.
The controversy surrounding Pluto’s classification
The classification of Pluto as a planet has been a topic of controversy ever since its discovery in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. Initially, Pluto was considered the ninth planet in our solar system and was widely accepted as such for several decades. However, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the definition of a planet, which led to Pluto’s reclassification as a “dwarf planet.”
This reclassification sparked a heated debate among astronomers and the general public alike. One of the main controversies stems from the new definition of a planet set by the IAU, which states that a planet must clear its orbit of other debris. In other words, a planet must be the dominant gravitational force in its vicinity. Since Pluto’s orbit overlaps with that of Neptune and it shares its orbital neighborhood with numerous other small objects, it fails to meet this criterion.
The reclassification of Pluto upset many people who had grown up learning about the nine planets of our solar system. Some argued that the decision was arbitrary and that the IAU’s definition was too strict. Others contended that Pluto should be considered a planet based on its unique characteristics and historical significance. The controversy surrounding Pluto’s classification continues to this day, with ongoing discussions and debates among scientists and enthusiasts.
What is the current status of Pluto?
Pluto, once considered the ninth planet in our solar system, has had its status downgraded to a “dwarf planet” by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006. This decision was met with controversy and disagreement among astronomers and the general public. Despite no longer being classified as a planet, Pluto continues to be of great interest and research for scientists.
As a dwarf planet, Pluto is now recognized as one of the largest objects in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune that is populated by icy bodies and small worlds. It is located about 3.7 billion miles away from the Sun and takes approximately 248 years to complete one orbit.
Pluto’s unique characteristics, such as its reddish color, complex atmosphere, and moon system, have made it a fascinating target for exploration. In 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft completed a flyby study of Pluto, providing a wealth of data and images that have revolutionized our understanding of this distant world. It revealed mountains, plains, and valleys on Pluto’s surface, as well as evidence of active processes like nitrogen ice sublimation.
While the IAU’s decision may have redefined Pluto’s status, it has not diminished the scientific interest and curiosity surrounding this dwarf planet. Ongoing research and future missions aim to uncover more secrets of Pluto and shed light on the complex dynamics of our solar system’s outer regions.
In summary, Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet and is located in the Kuiper Belt. It remains a subject of scientific exploration and continues to reveal its intriguing features through spacecraft missions and ongoing research.