The Earth And Solar System

Question 1

What is a planet? What does it not produce?

Answer 1

A spherical body that orbits a star. It does not produce its own light but reflects light from the sun.

Question 2

What is the name given to the path the planets take around the sun?

Answer 2

Orbits!

Question 3

Characteristics of a planets orbit?

Answer 3

Elliptical and move anti-clockwise.

Question 4

What are the four inner rocky planets?

Answer 4

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars

Question 5

What are the four gas giant planets?

Answer 5

Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

Question 6

What is a moon?

Answer 6

A natural satellite of a planet.

Question 7

What is a comet?

Answer 7

A small lump of ice, dust and gas. As it approaches the sun it vaporises and develops a distinctive tail.

Question 8

What is an asteroid?

Answer 8

A small rocky body that orbits the sun.

Question 9

What is gravity?

Answer 9

It provides the force needed for the orbital movement of planets, comets, moons and artificial satellites.

Question 10

What can artificial satellites be used for?

Answer 10

Communications-satellite television and phone calls.
Earth observation-weather forecasting, tracking storms and pollution, spying and satellite photography.
Navigation-GPS
Astronomy-looking into outer space from our solar system.

Question 11

What is a star?

Answer 11

A ball of gas (mostly hydrogen and helium) that produces its own energy by nuclear fusion.