CH 7: Solar System Big Idea Questions Class Set
What is the gravitational pull?
Gravitational pull is a force that all objects have on each other. The closer and bigger an object is, the stronger the pull. the smaller and more distant the object the weaker the pull.
What is gravity?
Gravity is the gravitational attraction of Earth or any body in space , on objects and/or near its surface. Basically in it the force that lets us stay on the ground.
Where is the Sun in it's life cycle?
The Sun is a main sequence star. It is about 4.6 billion years old. It should burn for about 5 billion more years. So it is about half way through its life.
What is at the center of the Solar System?
The Sun, which is the only star in our Solar System is the center. Everything in the Solar System orbits around it.
Where is the asteroid belt?
The asteroid belt orbits between Mars and Jupiter.
What Keeps Planets in Their Orbit?
Two forces: gravitational pull and forward motion.
What is the Sun Like?
the Sun is an ordinary main-sequence star. not too big. not to small. not too cold. not too hot.
How and where is energy made in a star?
Energy is made in the core using nuclear fusion, a process of turning hydrogen into helium to keep the star burning.
How did the view of the Solar System change? (From geocentric to heliocentric)
It changed by people thinking that Earth was the center (geocentric theory) . Scientist discovered that it was actually the Sun that is the middle of the Solar System. This is called the Heliocentric model.
How does a planet's distance from the Sun affect the speed of its orbit?
If the planet is closer to the sun, like Mercury is, it will take shorter time to orbit. The path is shorter, and it moves faster. Planets that are farther form the sun (like Uranus) have a longer orbit and they orbit slower.
What are considered the outer planets?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are all outer planets.
What are the Planets like?
Lesson 3: they are rocky or gassy objects that orbit stars and usually have moons
What are considered the inner planets?
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are all inner planets.
What are the planet's names from closest to the sun to farthest away?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
What galaxy do we live in?
Our Solar System is in the Milky Way Galaxy. Our Sun is just one of the billions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Why is our Sun an average star?
Our Sun is an average star because it is a pretty typical star. It is not the oldest star in our Galaxy, but it is not the youngest either it is at an average age. It is not the hottest star in our galaxy, but it is not the coldest. It is not the biggest, but it is not the smallest. It is a typical star, similar to all the others in the galaxy.
What are some of the bodies that orbit the Sun?
Planets, moons, comets, meteoroids, and asteroids are some of the bodies that orbit the Sun.
How does size affect an object's gravitational pull?
The bigger an object the stronger the pull. This is why all of the planets orbit the Sun. It is the biggest object in the Solar System. So we get pulled into its gravitational pull.
What is the general size of the inner planets? What are they generally made of?
The inner planets are smaller than the outer planets, and are generally made of rocks.
What is the general size of the outer planets? What are they generally made of?
The outer planets are larger than the inner planets and are mostly made of gas.
How many stars are in our Solar System?
There is only one star in our Solar System. We call it the Sun!
Why do planets continue to orbit around the sun (and not 'crash into the sun or fly out into space)?
This is because of two forces. 1. Forward Motion 2. Gravitational pull. All of the planets are being pulled to the Sun by it's gravitational pull. But we do not go crashing into the sun because all things in space are not sitting still. They are moving forward. This causes the planets to curve (orbit) around the sun. These two forces also keep moons in orbit around their planets.
