Orbits & Bodies
Name the star at the center of our solar system
Main Sequence Star (The Sun)
What do we call small, rocky objects that mostly orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter?
Asteroids.
What is the name of the region beyond Neptune that contains many small icy bodies and includes dwarf planets like Pluto?
The Kuiper belt
What force keeps the planets orbiting the Sun?
Gravity
Give one reason why Earth supports life:
Proximity to the Sun keeps temperatures suitable and the presence of liquid water.
Which planet is known for its prominent ring system and is the second-largest planet in our solar system?
Saturn
What is a meteoroid called once it enters Earths atmosphere and produces a streak of light?
A meteor
What distant spherical shell of icy objects is thought to surround the solar system far beyond the Kuiper belt?
The Oort Cloud
Describe how gravity affects the path of a planet around the Sun (use simple terms like “pull” and “orbit”).
Gravity pulls planets toward the Sun; they move forward so they keep circling (orbit) instead of falling in
Why is liquid water important for life on Earth? Give one simple reason
Water is a solvent that allows chemical reactions and carries nutrients needed for life.
Which planet is the smallest and closest to the Sun?
Mercury
What name is given to small icy bodies that develop tails when they approach the Sun?
Comets
True or False: Most Kuiper belt objects orbit the Sun in roughly the same plane as the planets.
True
If the Suns gravity were suddenly weaker, what would likely happen to the planets orbits (short prediction)?
Orbits could become wider or planets could drift away; planetary motions would change.
Name one thing in Earths atmosphere that protects life from harmful solar radiation.
The ozone layer (or atmosphere in general) blocks much harmful ultraviolet radiation.
What is the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet?
Planets clear their orbits of other debris; dwarf planets do not clear their orbit.
Explain how a meteorite is different from a meteoroid and a meteor (one clear sentence).
A meteoroid is a small rock in space; a meteor is the streak of light when it enters the atmosphere; a meteorite is the piece that reaches Earths surface.
Describe one major difference between objects in the Kuiper belt and objects in the Oort cloud.
Kuiper belt objects are relatively closer and lie in a flattened disk beyond Neptune; Oort cloud objects are much farther away and form a spherical shell.
Explain why moons orbit their planets rather than flying off into space.
The planets gravity pulls the moon toward it; the moons forward motion plus this pull keeps it in orbit.
Explain how Earths distance from the Sun helps keep the planet at temperatures suitable for life.
Earth is at a distance where sunlight provides enough warmth for liquid water but not so hot that water boils away; this “just right” distance is sometimes called the habitable zone.
Describe where the asteroid belt is located relative to the major planets.
The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter.
Give one reason why studying asteroids and comets helps scientists learn about the early solar system.
They are remnants from the early solar system and preserve ancient material.
Explain why objects from the Oort cloud are more likely to appear from any direction in the sky compared to Kuiper belt objects.
Because the Oort cloud is roughly spherical and surrounds the solar system, objects can be perturbed into orbits that send them inward from many directions.
Using the idea that stronger gravity pulls more strongly, explain why a comet that passes very close to the Sun may change speed and path.
As a comet passes close to the Sun, the Suns gravity increases its speed and can change its trajectory, making it move faster and altering its path
Combine two characteristics to explain why Earth is more habitable than a planet that is much farther from the Sun.
Earths distance from the Sun keeps temperatures moderate so water can remain liquid; combined with an atmosphere that traps heat and blocks harmful radiation, these allow stable climates and protection for life.