The Solar System Flashcards
Roughly how long ago was the solar system formed?
About 5000 million years ago
What did the solar system start as?
Dust and gas clouds
What pulled them together?
Gravity
What did this create?
Intense heat
What began and what was born?
Nuclear fusion began and the Sun (a star) was born
What happened to the remaining dust and gas?
They formed smaller masses, which were attracted to the Sun
What is the Sun in comparison to other planets?
It is massive and contains over 99% of the mass in the solar system
What are smaller masses in our solar system?
Planets, moons, asteroids, comet and dwarf planets
How many planets are there?
8 large masses that orbit the Sun
What are moons?
Small masses that orbit planets
What are asteroids?
Small, rocky masses that orbit the Sun
What are comets?
Small, icy masses that orbit the Sun
What are dwarf planets?
Small masses (eg. Pluto) orbiting the Sun
What do planets, moons and asteroids all move in?
Elliptical (slightly squashed, circular) orbits
What do comets move in?
Highly elliptical orbits
