Planet Power
Name the shape of the path that all planets take as they revolve around the Sun.
What is an elliptical (or oval-shaped) orbit?
What force pulls planets inward toward the Sun to keep them in orbit?
What is gravity (or gravitational force)?
What are asteroids primarily made of?
What are rock and metal?
What single key factor determines whether a space rock is called a meteoroid, a meteor, or a meteorite?
What is its location?
Name two non-planetary space objects that revolve around the Sun.
What are asteroids and comets?
List all 8 planets in order starting from the Sun.
What are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune?
A planet’s orbit is formed by a balance between the Sun’s inward gravity pull and what forward property of the planet?
What is forward speed / forward motion (inertia)?
What nickname is often used to describe comets because of their composition?
What are "dirty snowballs" (made of ice, dust, and rock)?
What do we call a small piece of rock or metal floating out in outer space before it enters Earth's atmosphere?
What is a meteoroid?
Why does friction occur when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere?
What is air particles rub against the fast-moving rock, producing extreme heat and light?
True or False: Planets travel around the Sun in perfect circles.
What is False (their paths are elliptical/oval)?
If the Sun’s gravity were to suddenly vanish, what path would Earth take through space?
What is a straight line?
Where in our solar system are most asteroids located?
What is the Asteroid Belt (between Mars and Jupiter)?
What do we call the streak of light ("shooting star") created when a space rock burns up in Earth's atmosphere?
What is a meteor?
Which inner planet is closest to the Asteroid Belt?
What is Mars?
How are Mars and Jupiter different in their composition and category?
What is Mars is an inner, rocky planet and Jupiter is an outer gas giant?
True or False: If gravity disappeared, Earth would immediately fall/plunge into the Sun.
What is False (it would shoot off in a straight line into space)!
How do the orbit shapes of comets compare to the orbit shapes of asteroids?
What is comets have highly elliptical (stretched oval) orbits, while asteroids have nearly circular orbits?
What is the scientific term for a space rock that survives its trip through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface?
What is a meteorite?
Compare the composition of an asteroid to the composition of a comet.
What is asteroids are rocky/metallic, while comets are icy/dusty?
Even though Neptune is much farther from the Sun and much larger than Earth, what orbital characteristic do both planets share?
What is both travel in elliptical orbits around the Sun?
Explain why dropping a tennis ball on Earth is caused by the exact same scientific principle as Earth orbiting the Sun.
What is both are caused by the pull of gravity?
Why does a comet form a glowing tail as it approaches the Sun, and in which direction does the tail always point?
What is the Sun heats the ice into gas, and the tail always points away from the Sun?
What memory trick helps us remember the locations for -oid, meteor, and -ite?
What is Space = -oid, Air/Light = Meteor, and Ground/Land = -ite?
Put these stages in correct chronological order for a space rock hitting Earth: Meteor, Meteorite, Meteoroid.
What is 1) Meteoroid (space) → 2) Meteor (atmosphere) → 3) Meteorite (ground)?