Solar System Vocabulary 6.2

Multiple Choice

The study of the moon, stars, and other objects in space.

• Asteroids

• Astronomy

Multiple Choice

A scientist who studies the universe beyond Earth.

• Meteorite

• Astronomer

Multiple Choice

The region of the solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where many asteroids are found.

• Gravity

• Asteroid belt

Multiple Choice

Objects that revolve around the sun that are too small and too numerous to be considered planets.

• Asteroids

• Orbit

Multiple Choice

A ball of ice and dust whose orbit is usually a long, narrow ellipse.

• Comet

• Satellite

Multiple Choice

A system of millions or billions of stars held together by gravitational attraction.

• Galaxy

• Retrograde Rotation

Multiple Choice

The name given to the first four outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

• Gas Giants

• Meteor

Multiple Choice

A description of the solar system in which all of the planets revolve around Earth.

• Meteorite

• Geocentric

Multiple Choice

The attractive force between two objects; its magnitude depends on their masses and the distance between them.

• Gravity

• Asteroids

Multiple Choice

A description of the solar system in which all of the planets revolve around the sun.

• Geocentric

• Heliocentric

Multiple Choice

A streak of light in the sky produced by the burning of a meteoroid in the Earth's atmosphere.

• Meteor

• Nuclear Fusion

Multiple Choice

A meteoroid that has hit Earth's surface.

• Galaxy

• Meteorite

Multiple Choice

A chunk of rock or dust in space.

• Meteoroid

• Satellite

Multiple Choice

The combining of two atomic nuclei onto a single larger nucleus, as when two hydrogen atoms join together to form helium, releasing energy.

• Nuclear Fusion

• Gravity

Multiple Choice

The path of an object as it revolves around another object in space.

• Satelite

• Orbit

Multiple Choice

The spinning motion of a planet from east to west, opposite to the direction of rotation of most planets and moons.

• Retrograde Rotation

• Gas Giants

Multiple Choice

Any object that revolves around another object in space.

• Meteorite

• Satelite

Multiple Choice

The name given to the four inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

• Terrestrial Planets

• Geocentric