8.0 Learning Objectives

In this chapter, students will learn how to:

• Describe the key characteristics of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, including their distances from Jupiter, sizes, compositions, surface features, and geological activities.
• Explain the concept of tidal heating and its role in shaping geological activity.
• Evaluate the potential for life on certain moons in the solar system based on the evidence of subsurface oceans and other factors.
• Compare and contrast the ring systems of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, highlighting their differences in mass, structure, and composition.
• Outline the differences between asteroids and comets and their roles in the solar system.
• Analyze the impact of asteroid collisions on planetary formation and the history of Earth.