Solar System Facts 1
Solar System Facts 2
Solar System Facts 3
Rotation and Revolution
Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
500
What things make up the solar system? Name at least four objects.
A Star (the Sun), planets, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids
500
What planet has a similar size to Earth
Venus
500
What is the term to describe the shape of the planets' orbit in our solar system?
Elliptical
500
What two things keep the planets in orbit around the Sun?
Gravity and inertia
500
Where do we think that comets come from?
The Oort Cloud
1000
What is a revolution and what does it determine in the solar system?
It is one full orbit around the Sun. It determines how long the year is for the planet.
1000
Which planet or planets have no moons
Mercury and Venus
1000
How many astronomical units (AU) is Earth from the Sun?
1
1000
What two things affect the strength of gravity's force?
Distance and mass
1000
Where do most asteroids come from?
The asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter
1500
What is the closest planet to the sun?
Mercury
1500
What planet has a day similar in length to Earth?
Mars
1500
Name the planets in order
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
1500
What is the relationship between a planet's distance from the Sun and the length of the orbit around the Sun?
As distance increases, the length of the orbit increases
1500
What are comets made of? (3 things!)
Ice, dust,and gas
2000
What is the hottest planet?
Venus
2000
What is a light-year?
The distance that light travels in a year. It is used to measure great DISTANCES.
2000
Which planet has a day longer than its year?
Venus
2000
If you reduce gravity between the Sun and the Earth, what would happen to the distance between them?
The distance would increase because the force of gravity is lower.
2000
What is the difference between meteor and meteorite?
A meteorite is a meteor that has survived Earth's atmosphere and fallen to the ground
2500
What planet spins sideways?
Uranus
2500
What is the biggest planet in the solar system?
Jupiter
2500
Why was Pluto downgraded to a dwarf planet?
Pluto does not clear its orbit of all objects or debris
2500
What does the time it takes for a planet to rotate relate to?
The length of the planet's day.
2500
Why do comets' tails point away from the Sun?
Solar winds