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Uranus

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and the third-largest planet in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a diameter of about 4 times that of Earth.

Uranus is tilted on its side, with its axis of rotation almost perpendicular to its orbital plane. This is why the seasons on Uranus are very different from the seasons on Earth.

Uranus has a faint ring system, which is made up of small, dark particles. The rings are thought to have been formed by the collision of comets or asteroids with Uranus.

Uranus has 27 moons, the largest of which are Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. The moons are thought to have formed from the same material as Uranus itself.

How can the word be used?

Uranus is tilted on its side, with its axis of rotation pointing almost perpendicular to its orbit around the Sun.

Uranus

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • Uranus (the seventh planet from the Sun in our solar system).
  • uranic (of or relating to Uranus).
  • uranian (of or relating to the sky or the heavens).

Adjective:

  • Uranian (of or relating to Uranus).

Etymology

The word "Uranus" comes from the Greek word "Ouranos", which means "sky" or "heaven". Uranus is the name of the Greek god of the sky.

The word "Uranus" was first used in English in the 17th century to refer to the planet. It was chosen by the German astronomer William Herschel, who discovered the planet in 1781. Herschel wanted to name the planet after the Greek god of the sky, because he believed that Uranus was the father of the other planets.

The word "Uranus" is also used as an adjective to describe things that are related to the planet or the Greek god. For example, "Uranian poetry" is poetry that is inspired by the sky or the heavens.

Question

What do you know about the planet Uranus?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question:

Describe the unique characteristics of the planet Uranus and explain its distinctive features compared to other gas giants in our solar system. Discuss the composition of Uranus' atmosphere and its unusual axial tilt.

Answer:

Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, possesses several intriguing and distinctive characteristics that set it apart from other gas giants in our solar system. Unlike the more well-known gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, Uranus has a bluish-green hue due to its primarily hydrogen and helium composition, with trace amounts of methane in its atmosphere. This methane absorbs red light and reflects blue and green, creating its unique colour.

One of the most notable features of Uranus is its axial tilt. Unlike other planets that have relatively upright axial tilts, Uranus rotates almost on its side, with an axial tilt of about 98 degrees. This extreme tilt results in the planet essentially rolling along its orbital path as it revolves around the Sun. This unique axial tilt likely arose from a cataclysmic collision with a large celestial body during the early stages of the solar system.

Uranus' atmosphere is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, similar to other gas giants. However, the presence of methane in its upper atmosphere gives it its distinct blue-green appearance. The upper atmosphere experiences strong winds and extreme temperature fluctuations, reaching as low as -224 degrees Celsius (-371 degrees Fahrenheit).