solar system flashcards

Question 1

asteroid

Answer 1

small, rocky object that orbits the sun in the asteroid belt (between mars and jupiter)

Question 2

astronomical unit

Answer 2

average distance from earth to the sun (150 million km)

Question 3

comet

Answer 3

object made of gas, dust, and ice that moves around the sun in an oval shaped orbit

Question 4

orbit

Answer 4

path an object follows as it moves around another object

Question 5

period of revolution

Answer 5

time it takes an object to travel around the sun once

Question 6

period of rotation

Answer 6

time it takes an object to complete one rotation

Question 7

star

Answer 7

object made of gases in which nuclear fusion reactions occur that emit energy

Question 8

greenhouse effect

Answer 8

when a planets atmosphere traps solar energy & causes the surface temp to increase

Question 9

terrestrial planet

Answer 9

inner planet made of rock and metallic materials & has a solid outer layer

Question 10

galilean moons

Answer 10

4 largest moons of jupiter

Question 11

probe

Answer 11

examination

Question 12

impact crater

Answer 12

a round depression formed by the impact of meteorite on the surface of a planet, moon, etc

Question 13

meteor

Answer 13

streak of light in earths atmosphere made by glowing meteoroid

Question 14

meteorite

Answer 14

meteoroid that strikes a planet/moon

Question 15

meteoroid

Answer 15

small, rocky particle that moves through space