Solar System Overview and Characteristics

Questions and Answers

Describe the solar system.

Place full of planets.

What is the Sun's diameter?

1.4 million kilometers.

How does the Sun's mass compare with the mass of the entire solar system?

Sun's mass is 99% of the solar system.

What is the most abundant element in the Sun? What is the second most abundant element in the Sun?

Helium Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which the Sun produces energy? Explain briefly how it works.

The Sun gets energy from nuclear fusion. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three criteria of all planets?

<ol> <li>Orbits around the Sun, 2. The shape is spherical, 3. The mass of a planet must be much larger than the total mass of its surroundings.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

How are planets different from dwarf planets?

Dwarf planets do not have more mass than objects in nearby orbits. Signup and view all the answers

List five types of objects that orbit the Sun.

<ol> <li>Planets, 2. Dwarf planets, 3. Moons, 4. Comets, 5. Asteroids.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Contrast the relative distance to the Sun of the inner and outer planets.

The inner planets are closer to the Sun; the outer planets are farther from the Sun. Signup and view all the answers

Contrast the composition of inner and outer planets.

The inner planets are solid and rocky, while the outer planets are composed of ice and gas. Signup and view all the answers

Contrast the relative size of inner and outer planets.

The inner planets are smaller than the outer planets. Signup and view all the answers

Name the inner planets in order (starting with the one closest to the Sun).

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Signup and view all the answers

What are four important facts about dwarf planets?

<ol> <li>Only some classify as dwarf planets, 2. Are not moons, 3. A dwarf planet does not have more mass than objects in nearby orbits.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Name the outer planets in order (starting with the one closest to the Sun).

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Signup and view all the answers

Define asteroid. What are three important facts about asteroids?

Millions of small rock objects, there is an asteroid belt, range in size from less than a meter to several million kilometers. Signup and view all the answers

Define comet. What are three important facts about comets?

Small rocky objects, long glowing tail, made of gas, dust and ice; moves around the Sun in an oval shaped orbit. Signup and view all the answers

Name four dwarf planets and state what region of space they are each located in.

Ceres, Eros, Pluto, and Makemake. Signup and view all the answers

Define astronomical unit. State its length and explain why it is used.

The average distance from Earth to the Sun, about 150 million kilometers. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'rotation'.

The time that it takes to complete one rotation. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'revolution'.

The time it takes to travel around the Sun once. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the relationship between a planet's speed and its distance from the Sun.

When a planet is closer to the Sun it is slower, but when it is farther it is faster. Signup and view all the answers

Define asteroid. Where are most of the asteroids located?

Asteroids are mostly located in the asteroid belt. Signup and view all the answers

What two factors determine the orbit of a planet? What would happen to a planet's orbit if it slows down? What would happen if it speeds up?

Speed and velocity; if it slows down it will fall, and if it speeds up it will fling off. Signup and view all the answers

What two factors determine the amount of gravitational pull between objects?

The Moon's gravity and the Sun's gravity. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the shape of a planet's orbit. Contrast this shape to a circle in terms of appearance and focal points. What is the focal point that all planets' orbits have in common?

Spherical or ellipses; all orbits have the Sun as a common focal point. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Solar System Overview

Contains various celestial bodies, including planets, dwarf planets, moons, comets, and asteroids.
The inner planets are closer to the Sun and composed of solid and rocky materials, while the outer planets are farther away and made of gas and ice.

The Sun

Diameter of the Sun is approximately 1.4 million kilometers.
The Sun's mass constitutes about 99% of the total mass of the solar system.
The most abundant element in the Sun is hydrogen, followed by helium.
Energy is produced through nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms collide and combine to form helium, releasing energy.

Planetary Characteristics

A planet must orbit the Sun, be spherical in shape, and its mass must be significantly greater than that of other nearby objects.
Planets differ from dwarf planets; dwarf planets do not have enough mass to dominate their orbital zones.
The four inner planets, in order, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Objects in Orbit

Types of objects orbiting the Sun include planets, dwarf planets, moons, comets, and asteroids.
Asteroids primarily reside in the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Comets are characterized by their rocky composition and long glowing tails, primarily made of gas, dust, and ice.

Astronomical Measures

An astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, approximately 150 million kilometers. It simplifies distance measurements in space.
Rotation refers to a planet's spin on its axis, while revolution pertains to the orbital travel around the Sun.

Motion and Forces in Space

A planet's orbital speed inversely correlates with its distance from the Sun; closer planets orbit more slowly while those farther away move faster.
The gravitational pull between two objects relies on their masses and distance; increasing either factor enhances the gravitational force.
If a planet slows down, it risks falling toward the Sun, while an increase in speed could propel it away.

Dwarf Planets

Not all celestial objects classified as dwarf planets are moons, and they do not have more mass than other nearby bodies. Examples include Ceres, Eros, Pluto, and Makemake.

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Description

Discover the fascinating details of our solar system, including the characteristics of celestial bodies such as planets, moons, comets, and asteroids. Learn about the Sun's formation and its vital characteristics, alongside the distinctions between planets and dwarf planets. Test your knowledge of this cosmic family and the forces that govern it.