Vocabulary
Characteristics of planets
Stars
More Vocabulary
Hard questions
100
What is a comet?
A comet is a ball of ice and rock that leaves a trail of gas and dust.
100
The outer planets can also be called?
Gas Giants.
100
Do all planets rotate around a star?
Yes, all planets rotate around the sun, which is a star. The sun is the center of our solar system.
100
What is a moon
A moon is a large rocky object that orbits a planet.
100
What are a few differences between Earth and the gas giant planets? What is something they have in common?
Earth is much smaller, earth has a much shorter revolution around the sun, and Earth is much closer. In COMMON, they both have an atmosphere.
200
What is a galaxy?
A galaxy is a star system that contains a large group of stars.
200
Which planets have a solid surface and which are gases?
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars have solid surfaces while the other 4 major planets in our solar system are gases.
200
How is it possible that some stars that are farther away from Earth we can see with our eyes and some that are closer to Earth we need a telescope to see?
Stars are not all the same size or temperature.
200
What is an asteroid?
An asteroid is made of rock and metal and is too small to be a planet.
200
What does a planet orbit? What does a moon orbit?
Planets orbit the sun, the moon orbits a planet
300
What is a star?
A star is a hot ball of gases that gives off light and other types of energy.
300
Which planets have a breathable atmosphere?
Earth.
300
Is the sun the biggest star?
No.
300
What is a dwarf planet?
A dwarf planet is an object that orbits the sun that is larger than an asteroid, but is too small to be a planet.
300
How long does it take Earth to revolve around the sun?
One year.
400
What is a planet?
A planet is a large nearly round space object that orbits a star.
400
Do all planets have at least one moon or have water? Do all planets spin on its axis? Do all planets spin on their axis?
No, Venus and Mercury do not have any moons. Earth is the only planet known to have water. Yes, all planets do happen to spin on an axis, some faster than others.
400
Why does the sun appear to be so big?
Because it is our closest star?
400
What is a constellation?
A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure.
400
Why is the Sun visible for so many hours during the day near the North and South Poles?
Earth tilts as it moves around the Sun. If the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, it will be sunny all the time at the North Pole. The South Pole will be dark all the time because it is tilted away from the Sun.
500
What is the universe?
The universe is everything that exists in space.
500
What is the difference between Mercury’s atmosphere and Venus’ atmosphere?
Mercury has no atmosphere to block or hold heat which causes the greatest differences in temperature. Venus has a thick atmosphere which holds heat well, making it the hottest planet on a normal basis.
500
How is it that some stars appear larger than others when on Earth even though they are actually bigger?
Some stars are closer than others so they appear larger. The Sun is our closest star.
500
Which takes longer to revolve around the sun, Mars or Neptune? Why?
Neptune, it takes planets farther from the sun longer to revolve around.
500
Is Earth’s moon or any planets larger than the sun?
No, even Jupiter which is the closest in size is still 10 times smaller.
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