Historical Models
This model for the Solar System was developed by Nicolaus Copernicus who claimed that the center of the Solar System is not the Earth, but is instead the Sun.
What is the Heliocentric Model?
This tendency toward movement prevents object in orbit around the Sun from hurtling toward its extremely hot surface.
What is Momentum?
You shouldn't stare directly at the moon during a total solar eclipse, because you are also staring at the Sun's outermost layer which is still burning your retinas.
What is the Corona?
These objects are massive and are separated from the rocky planets by a "rocky border".
What is a Gas Giant?
This scientific explanation tells you WHY something exists, and it is justified by a LOT of evidence. An example applies to the universe being formed after a "Big Bang".
What is a Scientific Theory?
This model created by Ptolemy had its uses and strengths, but it was ultimately dismissed as outdated since it claimed that the Earth is found at the center of the Solar System.
What is the Geocentric Model?
Gravity is described as this kind of force because it pulls in other objects.
What is an Attractive Force?
The Sun has is a massive energy generator because it is capable of smashing atoms together, mostly combining hydrogens to form helium, which releases more energy every second that we can use in an entire year on Earth!
What is Nuclear Fusion?
Gas planets tend to rotate faster than rocky planets, but our hottest neighbor bucks that trend by rotating so slowly that its orbital period/year is shorter than its day.
What is Venus?
This tells you what will happen as long as the conditions remain the same. An example is what an object with mass will do to another object with the force of gravity.
What is a Scientific Law?
This scientist was able to provide further evidence supporting Copernicus's model, but was condemned by the Catholic Church for heresy because his work contradicted claims made by the church.
Who is Galileo Galilei?
The combination of gravity from a star and an object's momentum creates a path for the object to follow as it revolves around the star as long as it keeps that speed and direction.
What is an Orbit?
The energy released by the Sun's core has to be radiated outward. The light energy in this layer can take over 100,000 years to eventually reach the Earth!
What is the Radiative Zone?
In 2006, Pluto was reclassified largely because of its size and the fact that it shares an orbital path with Neptune.
What is a Dwarf Planet?
What is a Scientific Model?
The Heliocentric model states that the reason why the stars seem to move in the sky is because the planet Earth is spinning on its axis.
Orbits tend to become circular, but they are usually not circular and take on a warped oval shape.
What is an Ellipse?
Sunspots and solar flares occur due to fluctuations in this field emitted by the Sun.
What is the Sun's Magnetic Field?
We can't live on another planet if it is too hot or too cold and this has something to do with it. Venus has one that is too thick making it hotter than Mercury despite being further away. Mars has one that is too thin making it too cold. We need something right in the middle, like our own Earth.
What is an Atmosphere?
Doing one test in a scientific investigation isn't enough, since anything can happen that interferes with your data. You need to repeatedly test as much as reasonably possible so that you have lots of data to analyze and conclude from.
What is Repetition?
The Earth and the objects that make up the Solar System travel around the Sun in their orbits. We call this circling of the Sun...
What is Revolution?
The Gravity Slingshot strategy has been used by NASA for the Voyager missions as a way to conserve fuel. You can also get a good boost of speed if you can find the right _______ from the planet being used.
What is Distance?
What is Earth's magnetic field?
These objects are made of ice and dust and are usually found at the edge of the Solar System. Occasionally, one of these objects orbits closer to the sun and reveal a brilliant tail caused by the ice melting.
What is a Comet?
As you are conducting a scientific investigation, you should be recording your process. That way, another scientist can do the same experiment and see if your conclusions can be supported.
What is Replication?