Review: The Solar System

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What is a rocky planet?

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A rocky planet, also known as a terrestrial planet, is a planet that is primarily composed of silicate rocks or metals. Examples include Earth, Venus, Mars, and Mercury.

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Which planet is known as the 'Red Planet'?

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Mars is known as the 'Red Planet' due to its reddish appearance, which is caused by iron oxide (rust) on its surface.

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What is the solar nebula theory?

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The solar nebula theory explains the formation of the solar system from a giant cloud of gas and dust, which collapsed under its own gravity to form the Sun and planets.

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What are planetesimals?

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Planetesimals are small bodies from which a planet originated in the early stages of solar system formation. They are formed from the dust and gas in the solar nebula.

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What are gas giants?

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Gas giants are large planets that are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. They have thick atmospheres and lack a well-defined solid surface. Examples include Jupiter and Saturn.

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What is the significance of the asteroid belt?

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The asteroid belt is a region between Mars and Jupiter that contains numerous rocky bodies. It is believed to be remnants from the early solar system that never coalesced into a planet.

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What is the Kuiper Belt?

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The Kuiper Belt is a region of the solar system beyond Neptune, populated with small icy bodies, including dwarf planets like Pluto.

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What is a protoplanet?

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A protoplanet is a large body of matter in orbit around a star that is in the process of forming into a planet.

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What are the main components of the solar system?

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

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

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A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star and has cleared its orbit of other debris, while a dwarf planet is a celestial body that orbits a star but has not cleared its orbit.