Solar System Basics
What is a solar system?
The solar system is a collection of the sun, planets, comets, asteroids, meteors, and space debris.
A natural rock object that orbits a planet
What is a moon
Name one benefit of space exploration.
Possible benefits:
New technology
Scientific discoveries
Learning about planets
What force pulls objects toward a planet?
Gravity
What was the first animal to orbit Earth?
A dog
Name the closest planet to the Sun.
What is Mercury
This is a small piece of an asteroid or comet that enters Earth’s atmosphere.
What is a meteor
Name one cost of space exploration.
Possible costs:
Expensive
takes away money for other resources
can hurt the environment
Mercury’s gravity is one‑third of Earth’s. What happens to your mass on Mercury?
Your mass stays the same on Mercury.
What country was the Chelyabinsk meteor event in?
Russia
What is the largest planet in our solar system?
What is Jupiter
What is a comet made of?
A comet is made of frozen gas and dust.
Why do humans send satellites into space?
Satellites are used for communication, weather, GPS, and research.
What happens to your weight on Mercury if the gravity is 1/3 of what it is on Earth?
Your weight becomes lighter (one‑third of Earth).
What made the Chelyabinsk meteor event important for scientists studying space objects, and what did it teach them about meteors entering Earth’s atmosphere?
The Chelyabinsk meteor was important because it showed how a meteor can explode in the atmosphere with powerful shockwaves. It taught scientists that even smaller meteors can cause damage and need to be monitored to keep people safe.
What is the Sun made of?
What is hot gas
Which planet is known for its rings?
What is Saturn
What is the International Space Station?
The International Space Station is a space research lab shared by many countries.
Which planet is not a gas giant: Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, or Mars?
Mars
Name one Canadian Astronaut
Marc Garneau
Chris Hadfield
Roberta Bondar
David Saint-Jacques
Jenni Sidey-Gibbons
Explain the difference between mass and weight.
Mass = amount of matter (stays the same).
Weight = force of gravity pulling on you (changes on different planets).
What is a satellite?
A satellite is an object that orbits a planet.
What are the names of the first astronauts to walk on the moon?
The first astronauts to walk on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
Explain why your mass stays the same but your weight changes on different planets.
Mass doesn’t change because it’s the amount of matter in your body. Weight changes because different planets have different gravity.
Explain how space exploration has changed life on Earth.
Better communication (GPS, satellites)
Weather forecasting
Medical technology
New materials and inventions