Science: Inner Solar System Flashcards
What is Solar System?
A system of 8 planets and the sun, along with moons, asteroids and comets
What is a Planet?
An object that orbits the sun (but excludes comets)
What are the Inner Planets, in order from closest to the sun?
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
What is Orbit?
The curved path of an object around a star, planet or moon
What is a Moon?
A satellite made of rock and ice that orbits a planet
Why is the amount of time each planet takes to orbit the sun different?
Because each planet is a different distance from the sun
True or false: gravity keeps the Earth and its moon in orbit, but not other planets or objects in our solar system
False.
The entire solar system relies on gravity to keep planets, moons and other objects in orbit
Which 2 inner planets have moons?
Earth and Mars
What is a very important impact that our moon has on Earth?
Moon’s gravity stabilizes Earth’s wobble as it rotates on its axis
What are some important characteristics of Mercury?
Smallest of 8 planets
Rocky solid planet with virtually no atmosphere
Extremely dense, made up of 70% metals and 30% rock
What are some important characteristics of Venus?
Although its the second planet from the sun, it’s hotter than Mercury due to its thick CO2 atmosphere
Similar to Earth in size and mass
3rd brightest after the sun and the moon
What are some important characteristics of Earth?
The only planet with known life, made possible by mild and stable temperature that allows for the presence of water
Largest if the terrestrial (inner) planets
Has the 5th largest moon
What are some important characteristics of Mars?
Its red color comes from an abundance of rust (iron oxide)
It used to have liquid oceans, as evidenced by canyons and rounded rocks, but today most of it is frozen
It has an extremely thin atmosphere
What is a Kuiper Belt Object?
An icy trans-Neptunian object in the Kuiper Belt
How are Planets and Dwarf Planets similar and different?
Similar: orbits the sun, rounded by gravity
Different: only planets cleared their neighborhood
How are Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Body similar and different?
Similar: both orbit the sun
Different: only Dwarf Planets are rounded by gravity
