Topic 11 The Solar System Flashcards
Medium sized star, which is the centre of the solar system.
Sun
Body of hot, glowing gases in space that produces its own energy
Star
Type of reaction in which the nucleus of an atom changes its characteristics and becomes something else, in the process releasing a lot of energy
Nuclear Reaction
The Sun, planets, and other objects that move around the Sun.
The solar system
A spherical object travelling around a star in a clear circular path.
Planet
Circular path that a body in space follows as it travels around another body.
Orbit
Relating to land
Terrestrial
Three criteria for a planet
1) Travel around the Sun in a regular circular path called an orbit
2) Be almost spherical in shape
3) Be able to keep its orbital path clear of other objects
The four terrestrial planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
The four gas giants
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
The four dwarf planets
Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Makemake
The eight planets in order from the Sun
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What is unusual about the planet Uranus?
It spins on its side
A spherical, icy, cloud of dust lumps and gases, that surround the solar system.
Oort Cloud
A body that revolves around a planet, and reflects light from the Sun.
Moon
Piece of rock in space
Asteroid
Small piece of rock in space
Meteroid
Meteroid when it enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up as it falls.
Meteor
Remains of a meteoroid after it crashes onto the Earth’s surface.
Meteorite
Icy body that releases gases and dust when it gets close to the Sun
Comet
Object’s natural force that pulls other objects toward itself.
Gravity
A large belt of small icy bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune.
Kuiper Belt
The body in the solar system with the most mass, and therefore the strongest force of gravity.
The Sun
A hypothetical huge cloud of icy objects (comets) surrounding the Sun at the very edge of our solar system.
The Oort Cloud
