Solar System Vocabulary

Front

What is the asteroid belt?

Back

The asteroid belt is a region in our solar system located between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are found.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is a small, icy body made of gas and dust that orbits the Sun, consisting of a main body and a tail.

Front

What happens to gravity as mass increases?

Back

An object with more mass will have more gravity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Front

What is mass?

Back

Mass is the amount of matter in an object.

Front

Why does the Moon have a greater influence on Earth tides than the Sun?

Back

The Moon is closer to the Earth than the Sun, which gives it a greater gravitational pull on Earth's tides.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Front

What is the difference between a meteor and a meteoroid?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space, while a meteor is the streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere.

Front

What is the main body of a comet called?

Back

The main body of a comet is called the nucleus.

Front

What is the role of gravity in the solar system?

Back

Gravity is the force that keeps planets, moons, and other celestial bodies in orbit around the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Front

What is the definition of a planet?

Back

A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other debris.

Front

What is the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet?

Back

A dwarf planet is similar to a planet but has not cleared its orbit of other debris.