Planets of the Solar System

Question 1

What is an astronomical unit?

Answer 1

An astronomical unit is equivalent to the distance from earth to the sun

Used as a standard measure in astronomy.

Question 2

What does the solar system consist of?

Answer 2

Everything with the sun’s gravitational pull

Includes planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other celestial bodies.

Question 3

Define a planet.

Answer 3

A round shape that orbits a star and has enough mass to dominate its path around its orbit

Characteristics include spherical shape and orbital stability.

Question 4

What is a dwarf planet?

Answer 4

Like a planet but has not been able to clear its orbit of debris

May also include large asteroids and comets.

Question 5

List the eight planets in the solar system.

Answer 5

• Mercury
• Venus
• Earth
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune

These are classified as the major planets in our solar system.

Question 6

List the five dwarf planets.

Answer 6

• Ceres
• Pluto
• Haumea
• Makemake
• Eris

Dwarf planets are distinct from regular planets due to their inability to clear their orbits.

Question 7

What is the mass of the sun compared to everything else in the solar system?

Answer 7

The sun is over 500 times the mass of everything else in the solar system combined

This signifies the sun’s dominance in the solar system’s gravitational structure.

Question 8

What are the inner planets characterized by?

Answer 8

Located before the asteroid belt, rocky, and generally smaller

The inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Question 9

What are the outer planets characterized by?

Answer 9

Located after the asteroid belt and made out of gasses

The outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Question 10

True or False: Everything in our universe was born from the death of a star (supernova).

Answer 10

True

Supernovae are critical for the creation of new stars and planets.