Unit 5.1: Components of the Solar System

Front

What is the path that a body follows as it travels around another body in space?

Back

Orbit

Front

What is a spherical region that surrounds the solar system, extends from the Kuiper belt to almost halfway to the nearest star, and contains billions of comets?

Back

Oort cloud

Front

What is a region of the solar system that starts just beyond the orbit of Neptune and contains dwarf planets and other small bodies made mostly of ice?

Back

Kuiper belt

Front

Which modern scientific tool was crucial in identifying objects in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud?

Back

Detecting faint objects with an advanced telescope

Front

What is a celestial body that revolves around a body that is greater in mass than itself and is a natural satellite?

Back

Moon

Front

What is the name of the belt that contains many small icy bodies and is located beyond Neptune?

Back

Kuiper belt

Front

What is the term for a small body of ice and dust that can become a comet when it approaches the sun?

Back

Nucleus

Front

What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Back

Comets are made of ice and dust, while asteroids are primarily made of rock and metal.

Front

What is the significance of the Oort cloud in the solar system?

Back

It is believed to be the source of long-period comets.

Front

What is the main difference between the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud?

Back

The Kuiper belt is a flat region of icy bodies beyond Neptune, while the Oort cloud is a spherical shell surrounding the solar system.