The Solar System Vocab

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Gravity

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A force that attracts two bodies towards each other, typically noticeable as the force that gives weight to objects with mass.

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Force

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An influence that can change the motion of an object, often described by its magnitude and direction.

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Mass

Back

A measure of the amount of matter in an object, typically in kilograms or grams.

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Weight

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The force exerted on an object due to gravity, calculated as mass times the gravitational acceleration.

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Solar System

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The collection of the Sun and the celestial bodies that are bound by its gravity, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.

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Sun

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The star at the center of our solar system, providing light and heat to the planets orbiting it.

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Planet

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A celestial body orbiting a star, large enough to be rounded by its own gravity, and having cleared its orbit of debris.

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Moon

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A natural satellite that orbits a planet.

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Asteroid

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A small rocky body orbiting the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

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Meteor

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The streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.