Abstract
This paper attempts to explain the nature of the solar system. Starting with the inner solar system, the paper explores the make-up of the sun, central to the system, followed by Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The paper then explores what is known as the outer system, beginning with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The paper then offers a three-point conclusion, beginning with the sun and then dividing into the outer and inner solar systems.

From the Paper
"Many theories have been formulated by scientists and scholars that help explain the nature and origin of the solar system, which gave birth to the planets in it, which includes the planet Earth. Among these formation theories, the most widely-accepted theory is the Nebular Theory of Solar System Formation. This theory states that the solar system was formed as a result of the collapse of an interstellar cloud, which eventually became the solar system and all the planets and elements within it. This space phenomenon happened 4.7 billion years ago, and as the interstellar cloud collapsed under the force of gravity, it rotates at a fast rate, eventually forming a ball of hot gas and dust, called the protosun."

Tags:planets, space, science, mercury, plato, venus, earth, mars, uranus, saturn, jupiter, neptune

Abstract
This paper discusses how the Earth compared to the sun, its moon, and the nine planets in its solar system is extremely unique. Not only does it have unique surface features, but its weather, atmosphere, and size is original when compared to other bodies in space. Then, through an examination of the different properties of the other celestial bodies, the paper also attempts to show how the Earth has similarities to the nine planets when describing how the planets and their atmospheres were formed.

From the Paper
"The Earth is the third planet from the Sun being about 93 million miles from the Sun and in one planetary year circles the Sun 365 days of 24 hours each. Its diameter is 7,926 miles and has one moon. Earth is the densest planet in our solar system. It has an iron core, a mantle, and crust with an atmosphere made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. The temperature of Earth ranges from -127 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in Antarctica, to 136 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in Africa. The surface features of Earth consist of mountains, faults, volcanoes, cliffs, oceans, rivers, and ice caps. The hydrosphere is the water on or near the Earth's surface. The Earth is unique among the planets because 70% of its surface is covered by oceans. The main difference between Earth and other planets is its ability to support life. Vegetation and organisms are prominent all over the globe. This is possible because of the climate, atmosphere, and general living conditions. "

Tags:mercury, venus, pluto, jupiter

Abstract
This paper begins with a definition and description of the planets within our solar system and then goes on to discuss extra-solar planets and the ongoing search for them. The paper describes some of the technology and techniques employed in this search, a discovery of an extra-solar planet by scientists at the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland, and recent advances in locating extra-solar planetary objects.

From the Paper
"The word planet means "wanderer" in Greek. It derives from the fact that planets within our solar system seem generally to wander eastward about the so-called fixed stars across the zodiac constellations (Kolb). There is no clear consensus precisely defining what constitutes a planet, as distinguished from brown dwarfs, which are the material remnants of burned out ancient stars whose masses where too small to form white dwarfs or collapse completely, forming black holes in the manner that stars much larger than ten solar masses, or ten times the mass of our sun (Hawking)."

Tags:body, emits, light, energy, orbits, star, reflecting, size, mass, jupiter, mars, pluto, terrestrial

Abstract
The paper examines the importance of solar energy as a sustainable energy source and a brief discussion of the origins of the current energy crisis and is followed by a discussion concerning how solar energy is collected and used. An assessment of the potential impact of widespread solar energy use in the United States is followed by an analysis of what types of changes will need to take place for this type of alternative energy initiative to succeed. Finally, a discussion of the short- and long-term goals for solar energy is followed by a summary of the research and important findings. The paper includes photographs and a number of diagrams and tables.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Why Do We Need Solar Energy?
What Does Solar Energy Do?
How Does Solar Energy Help People, Businesses, Environment, Etc?
What/Who/How Caused The Need For This?
How Do We Go About Getting This Resource?
How Are We Going To Harness This Power?
What Is Going To Happen Once Solar Power Is Widespread?
Are There Other Types Of Energy That Can Be Used?
How Are We Going To Have To Change To Embrace This New Type Of Energy?
What Are The Short Term Goals For This?
What Are the Long Term Goals For This?
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Anyone who has purchased a tank of gasoline, a sack of groceries or paid an electric bill in the past few months can readily testify to the need for cheaper and more reliable sources of energy for the United States today. The nation's continuing reliance on fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal have created a dilemma for consumers and businesses alike as energy prices continue to skyrocket and the country's security is threatened by uncertain foreign suppliers that can play havoc with the national economy by reducing production, raising prices, or imposing an embargo. History has shown time and again that the OPEC and like-minded energy producers are not reluctant to use these tactics when they believe the situation calls for them, and the need for alternative energy sources has never been greater than today.
"What does solar energy do?
"Solar energy is responsible for virtually all forms of the life on earth, providing both the power source and warmth needed to sustain life in an otherwise sterile and harsh universe. Solar energy also drives or contributes to global weather systems."

Tags:solar energy, alternative energy, environment

Abstract
This paper provides a full explanation about the way in which solar energy is created. The paper looks at the process in details and then discusses what benefits solar energy may have in the future.

From the Paper
"Solar Energy comes from Solar cells which today are mostly made of silicon, one of the most common elements on Earth. The crystalline silicon solar cell was one of the first types to be developed and it is still the most common type in use today. They do not pollute the atmosphere and they leave behind no harmful waste products. Photovoltaic cells work effectively even in cloudy weather and unlike solar heaters, are more efficient at low temperatures. They do their job silently and there are no moving parts to wear out. It is no wonder that one marvels on how such a device would function. To understand how a solar cell works, it is necessary to go back to some basic atomic concepts. In the simplest model of the atom, electrons orbit a central nucleus, composed of protons and neutrons."

Tags:alternative, cells, electricity, energy, fuels, photovoltaic, power, solar

Abstract
This paper takes an in-depth look at the opportunity available through using solar panels. According to the paper, with the demand for energy increasing, and the pressure this puts on prices combined with the effort to provide cleaner sources of energy, this makes the move toward solar energy stronger. Government incentives have enable increased technological breakthroughs in terms of solar panels.

From the Paper
"Current solar energy usage accounts for several tenths of a percent of the total electricity generation world wide which is a negligible fraction compared to fossil fuel consumption. However, the growth rate of solar energy is the most rapidly growing alternative energy source with demand far exceeding capacity. Statistics show that new global capacity in 2004 exceeded the new capacity in 2003 (574 megawatt) by no less than 62%. (Ronna Kelly, 2008) Still with all of the growth there still is plenty of opportunity within the solar..."

Tags:technology, solar panels, government incentives

Abstract
The paper relates that the focus on global warming and greenhouse gases has been more prevalent today than any time in world history, therefore, the need for discovering alternate fuels has been in the forefront of print, broadcast, and even Hollywood media. The paper looks at how Al Gore's Academy Award winning documentary film, "An Inconvenient Truth," brought the dangers of using carbon and other polluting substances into the world spotlight ("An Inconvenient Truth"). The paper discusses how petroleum and solar energy have gained massive popularity due to the interest and concern of individuals who desire to find alternative fuel sources. The paper describes how advances in the generation and implementation of solar energy have moved forward at a very rapid pace in recent years. Nevertheless, the paper shows how alternative sources of fuel can be expensive and this may hinder its use. Yet, the paper asserts that solar energy is still a viable technology that can solve much of the world's energy needs.

From the Paper
"The focus on global warming and greenhouse gases has been more prevalent today than anytime in world history, therefore, the need for discovering alternate fuels has been in the forefront of print, broadcast, and even Hollywood media. For instance, Al Gore's Academy Award winning documentary...."

Tags:solar, energy, cost

Abstract
This paper examines the difficulties of converting solar energy to useful energy that people can use. The paper begins by discussing the costliness of the process of converting solar energy and then discusses how vast amounts of space are necessary to collect sunlight. The paper also examines the different materials and technology necessary to make the conversion, which are also costly. Lastly the paper addresses the issue of getting people to adjust their lifestyles to accommodate the more energy efficient, solar powered appliances.

From the Paper
"Scientists at General Motors in 1949 were working on ways to turn plant energy into force that could run cars. They wanted to turn solar power into horsepower. The bomb at Hiroshima had been dropped and compared to the research on atomic powered cars, solar energy was much safer and did not require shielding car passengers from the same types of radiation. The scientists estimated that a radiation shield would weigh twenty-five tons, so energy from plants seemed a worthwhile area to investigate. John Campbell, chief of the organic chemistry department at General Motors explained, 'In a single day the average amount of solar energy falling on one acre of ground in the temperate zone is equivalent to 700 gallons of gasoline, or enough to operate the average automobile for a year.' Plants do not absorb much of the solar energy that reaches the earth. Campbell mentions, 'in performing the miracle of photosynthesis, green plants generally absorb less than 1 per cent of the solar energy which strikes their leaves.' C.F. Kettering, also a scientist at General Motors, was working on ways to harness solar energy. Kettering concern was that 'in order to produce significant mechanical power from solar energy, we are going to have to devise greatly improved means of converting solar energy into useful power.'"

Tags:science disadvantages, plant energy, photovoltaic cells, sun, solar power

Abstract
This paper focuses on the history and the discovery of the ninth planet in the Solar System, Pluto, and its lone moon, Charon. The paper discusses various theories about what originally propelled astronomers to search for this mysterious planet, known as Planet X, and how its name Pluto finally came about after its discovery.

From the Paper
"John Murray, an astronomer from Open University in the U.K. proposes a theory in which two large objects may gravitationally affect the orbits of long period comets. These two objects would have to be about 32,000 AU from the Sun and extremely massive, about the size of Jupiter. John J. Matese of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette proposes a similar theory. His involves two to three Jupiter sized objects orbiting at about 2.3 trillion miles from the Sun. He says that their gravity is responsible for the deflection of roughly 25% of the known 82 Oort Cloud comets into the inner solar system. Matese says that these massive objects do not necessarily have to be planets; they may be undetected brown dwarfs undetected because the IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) of the 1980s was not sensitive enough to distinguish an individual brown dwarf against the galactic plane."

Tags:astronomy, hershel, outer, physics, space, Camille, Flammarian

Abstract
The paper relates that the qualities that identify the planets have been given much consideration recently with news of the discovery of several far-distant planets of different types and because of the recent astronomy meeting at which Pluto was demoted from a planet to a different category. The paper reveals that currently, the solar system has eight full-fledged planets and several smaller planetoids, now including Pluto. The paper explains that the solar planets orbit the Sun, generally in the same orbital plane, while Pluto is eccentric in the angle of its orbit. The paper notes that planets also have a certain size, which is why the many other objects that orbit the sun are not planets. The paper adds that the makeup of the planets differs considerably, from the rocky inner worlds to the gas giants in the middle region to the frozen worlds in the outer region.

From the Paper
"The qualities that identify the planets have been given much consideration recently with news of the discovery of several far-distant planets of different types and because of the recent astronomical meeting at which Pluto was demoted from a planet to a different category. Currently, then, the solar system has eight full-fledged planets and several smaller planetoids, now including Pluto. The solar planets orbit the Sun, generally in the same orbital plane, while Pluto is eccentric in the angle of its orbit. Planets also have a certain size, which is why the many other objects that orbit the sun are not planets. The makeup of the planets differs considerably, from the rocky inner worlds to the gas..."

Tags:planets, earth, compared