Unit 6: The Solar System

Front

What is the Kuiper Belt?

Back

The Kuiper Belt is a region of icy bodies located beyond the orbit of Neptune, containing many small celestial objects.

Front

What are the outer planets of the Solar System commonly known as?

Back

The outer planets, which include Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, are commonly referred to as Gas Giants.

Front

What is an Astronomical Unit (AU)?

Back

An Astronomical Unit is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers.

Front

How does a meteoroid become a meteor?

Back

A meteoroid becomes a meteor when it enters Earth's atmosphere and begins to burn up due to friction with the air.

Front

What is the Fission Theory in relation to the Moon's formation?

Back

The Fission Theory suggests that the Moon was formed from a chunk of the Earth that was spun off due to the Earth's rapid rotation.

Front

What are the main components of the Solar System?

Back

The main components of the Solar System include the Sun, eight planets, their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.

Front

What distinguishes terrestrial planets from gas giants?

Back

Terrestrial planets, like Earth and Mars, are rocky and solid, while gas giants, like Jupiter and Saturn, are composed mostly of gases and have thick atmospheres.

Front

What is the significance of the Oort Cloud?

Back

The Oort Cloud is a theoretical cloud of icy bodies believed to surround the Solar System, thought to be the source of long-period comets.

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is a small celestial body made of ice, dust, and rocky material that, when close to the Sun, develops a glowing coma and tail.

Front

What is the difference between a meteoroid, meteor, and meteorite?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rock or particle in space, a meteor is the streak of light produced when a meteoroid burns up in the atmosphere, and a meteorite is a meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on Earth.