Solar System Unit 5 Vocab Cards for brainscape

Question 1

Solar System

Answer 1

defined as a central star (Sun) with its associated planets, asteroids, meteoroids, moons, dwaft planets, and comets that are captured in its orbit.

Question 2

Sun

Answer 2

an average sized yellow star that is the center of our solar system

Question 3

Planet

Answer 3

a celestial body that orbits the Sun in an elliptical orbit, is large enough for its gravity to make it round, and has “cleared its neighborhood” of smaller objects around its orbit.

Question 4

Dwarf Planet

Answer 4

a celestial body that orbits the Sun but its gravity is not large enough to clear its orbital region.

Question 5

Comet

Answer 5

a celestial object made of a center of ice and dust, and when near the Sun heats up and forms a “tail” of gases

Question 6

Asteroid

Answer 6

a small rocky body that obits the Sun

Question 7

Meteoroid

Answer 7

an asteriod that passes or enters Earth’s atmosphere and begins heating up

Question 8

Satellites (Moons)

Answer 8

an object that naturally revolves around a planet

Question 9

Atmosphere

Answer 9

a mixture of gases that surroud a planet, moon, or other space object.

Question 10

Gravitational Pull

Answer 10

two objects in the universe that are attracted towards each other

Question 11

Ozone

Answer 11

a protective layer of the atmosphere that contains ozone gas which blocks most ultraviolet radiation

Question 12

Ultraviolet Radiation

Answer 12

a type of solar radiation that is harmful to living organisms because it can damage the genetic material.

Question 13

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 13

solar radiation that is absorbed by earth’s atmosphere and traps heat which keeps Earth warm

Question 14

Revolve

Answer 14

one complete trip that a planet makes around the sun, or a moon makes around a planet

Question 15

Rotate

Answer 15

the spinning of a plane, moon or star on its axic

Question 16

Axis

Answer 16

an imaginary lines that passes through the center of a celestial body