Gravity's Role in the Solar System

Our Solar System began as a cloud of gas and dust, called a nebula.

Most of the material that was originally in the nebula collapsed to form

• the sun

• the planets

• the moon

• dark matter

The planets in our solar system are thought to have come from

• Clumps of rocky material that existed between the stars

• The remaining material from the same cloud of gas and dust that formed the sun

• A fast spinning young sun that flung them out over time

• the sun capturing them as they wandered into the sun's gravitational path.

What is mass?

• Mass is how much matter (stuff) something is made of.

• Mass is how much weight an object has.

• Mass depends on the shape of an object.

• I know Mass. He's a cool guy.

Gravity can be defined as the –

• force of attraction between two or more masses.

• friction created when two objects are in contact.

• energy given off by stars due to nuclear reactions.

• path an object follows as it moves through space.

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Which of the following components of the universe is best described as a system with a group of planets, moons, and other objects that orbit around a star?

• A nebula

• A galaxy

• A meteor

• A solar system

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Which of the following best describes the role of gravity in the solar system?

• It repels planets away from the Sun.

• It is one of two factors that keep planets in orbit around the Sun.

• It has no effect on the motion of planets.

• It only affects the motion of comets.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

What is the best description of the gravitational interaction within our Earth-Moon-Sun system?

• The Earth and Moon orbit around the Sun.

• The Sun and Moon orbit around Earth.

• The Moon orbits the Earth as the Sun orbits the Earth

• The Moon orbits the Earth as the Earth orbits the Sun

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The motions of planets, moons, comets and asteroids in our solar system are predictable because they are

• Smaller than the Sun

• Nearly spherical in shape

• In orbit (revolution) around the Sun

• Controlled by Earth’s gravity

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What two factors are primarily responsible for keeping the planets in orbit around the Sun?

• the forces of Friction and Gravity

• Distance and the force of Gravity

• Friction force and forward motion

• Forward motion and the force of Gravity

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What would happen to the Earth's orbit if the gravitational force between the Earth and the Sun were to suddenly disappear?

• The Earth would continue in a straight line into space.

• The Earth would spiral into the Sun.

• The Earth would stop moving altogether.

• The Earth would start orbiting the Moon.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4