Planet Earth And Beyond Flashcards
what is the sun?
- the sun is our most important star
- centre of solar system
- body of hot glowing gas
- produces energy
what does the solar system consist of?
- sun
- planets
- other bodies that move around in space
what is a planet?
rounded body traveling around a star in a clear circular path.
name three conditions to determine wether object is a planet?
- travel around a star
- be almost spherical in shape
- be able to keep its orbital path clear of other objects
name the eight planets that orbit the sun
mercury
venus
earth
mars
jupiter
saturn
uranus
neptune
name the two groups planets can be classified in
1.inner rocky planets
mecury, venus, earth, mars
2.outer gas giants
jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune
what is a dwarf planet?
a planet that is not able to keep its path clear of other objects
what is a moon?
a body that revolves around a planet
doen’t have own light source - reflect light from sun
each planet has own moon or moons except mecury + venus
what is an asteroid?
asteroids are too small to be planets
made of similar material to terrestrial planets
iron cores
what is a meteoroid?
small pieces of rock in space smaller than asteroids
what is a meteor?
a meteoroid when it enters earths atmosphere, it burns when it falls
what are meteorites?
remains of the meteoroid after it crashes on the earth’s surface
what are comets?
bodies made up of gas and frozen rock
where is earth’s position?
third planet from the sun and only planet to support life as we know it
name conditions that allow life to happen on earth
temperature: ideal distance from sun
water: in 3 phases or states, solid liquid and gas. essential for life
light: needed by plants for photosynthesis and by all living organisms for food and energy
oxygen: a gas essential for life (21 % air)
