Gravity & Motion
What force keeps planets in orbit?
Gravity
Which planets are terrestrial?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
What process powers the Sun?
Nuclear fusion
What is the heliosphere?
A protective bubble created by the solar wind that shields the solar system from cosmic rays.
What causes Earth's seasons?
The tilt of Earth's axis.
What does Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation state?
All objects with mass attract each other; the force is proportional to mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
Why do gas giants have more moons than terrestrial planets?
They have stronger gravitational fields, allowing them to capture and retain more moons.
What is the photosphere?
The visible surface of the Sun.
What are the main components of the solar system?
The Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteors.
What is tidal locking?
When a moon's rotation period matches its orbit, causing the same side to always face its planet.
How does mass affect gravitational force?
More massive objects exert stronger gravitational forces.
What causes Jupiter's Great Red Spot?
A massive, persistent storm system in Jupiter's atmosphere.
What causes sunspots and solar flares?
Magnetic field fluctuations.
Why do comets develop tails?
When comets approach the Sun, their ice sublimates into gas, forming a tail that always points away from the Sun.
How old is the solar system?
About 4.6 billion years old.
What would happen if gravity disappeared?
Planets and moons would move in a straight line instead of orbiting, leading to chaos in the solar system.
What is the difference between meteors and meteorites?
Meteors burn up in Earth's atmosphere, while meteorites survive and reach earth's surface.
How do solar flares affect Earth?
They release bursts of radiation and charged particles that can disrupt satellites, communications, and power grids.
What controls planetary orbits?
The Sun's gravitational pull.
What happens when a planet is outside the habitable zone?
It is too hot or too cold to support liquid water, making it unlikely to sustain life?
How does gravity influence tides on Earth?
The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, creating tidal bulges, leading to high and low tides.
Why do terrestrial planets have higher density?
They are composed mainly of metals and silicates, while gas giants have low-density atmospheres.
What prevents a star from collapsing under its own gravity?
The outward pressure from nuclear fusion balances the inward pull of gravity.
What is the habitable zone, and why is it important?
The region around a star where conditions allow liquid water to exist is crucial for life as we know it.
What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it affect Venus?
The greenhouse effect occurs when a planet's atmosphere traps heat, preventing it from escaping into space. On Venus, a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere causes extreme heat, making it the hottest planet in the solar system.