The planets
Characters:
Theme: Integers and decimal.
Competencies
Mathematical competence in science, technology and engineering
Personal, social and learning to learn competence
Competence in cultural awareness and expressions
Subjects and year by Educational System
Spain > Mathematics > 2nd ESO > Number sense
Spain > Mathematics > 2nd ESO > Socio-affective sense
Enunciation
Maria Cunitz, the famous astronomer of the 17th century, has a geographical feature on planet Venus named Cunitz Crater in her honour.
Venus is a planet which forms part of the Solar System along with Jupiter, Earth, etc.
The following table shows different features of the planets of the Solar System.
| Planet |
Distance from the Sun (in millions of km) |
Sidereal period (*) | Daytime temperature in ºC |
| Jupiter | 778.3 | 11.86 years | -148 |
| Mars | 227.9 | 687 days | -23 |
| Mercury | 57.9 | 88 days | +430 |
| Neptune | 4504 | 163.73 years | -218 |
| Saturn | 1429 | 29.42 years | -179 |
| Earth | 149.6 | 365.26 days | +22 |
| Uranus | 2875 | 83.75 years | -215 |
| Venus | 108.2 | 224.7 days | +460 |
* The sidereal period is the time it takes for a planet to complete one revolution around the Sun, also known as the planet's year. Units of earth days and years are given here. Now:
1- Order the table from lowest to highest according to the sidereal period.
2- Order it according to the daytime temperature from highest to lowest.
3- What can you see? Draw your conclusions.
Observations and context
- She is studied in mathematics.
- Because of her great knowledge and her later contributions to science and culture, she was known as the "Silesian Pallas" (Pallas was the god of wisdom in Greek mythology). Apart from showing some talent for painting, music and poetry, she learned mathematics, medicine and history. She also mastered a great number of languages.
- Since ancient times there were women like Maria who were passionate about astronomy and mathematics, such as Enheduanna (c.-2285 -c.-2250 BC), considered the first astronomer in history, Aglaonice of Thessaly (c.-500-c.-400 BC), Hypatia of Alexandria (c.370-c.416 AC), Fatima de Madrid (c.900-c.1100 AC) and Ana Comneno (1083-1153).
- Contemporaries of hers were renowned astronomers and mathematicians such as Sophia Brahe (1556-1643), Elisabeth Hevelius (1647-1693) and Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia (1646-1684), philosopher and mathematician; and many others dedicated to other sciences such as Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673), prolific writer on natural philosophy (now physics); Martine Bertereau (1590-1642), specialist in mining engineering and mineralogist; or Marie Meurdrac (1610-1680), alchemist and chemist.
Description
Ordering of integers and decimals. Relate, deduce and draw conclusions from the results obtained.