Solar System Basics

Planets that are small, rocky (terrestrial), and closer to the sun

• outer planets

• asteroids

• meteorites

• inner planets

Pieces of rock and dust in space that are smaller than asteroids (they can be made of rock, metal, or both)

• asteroids

• meteoroids

• meteorites

• meteors

The largest planet in the solar system. It is a gas giant. It has a thin set of rings and at least 26 moons. The planet has a large red spot-huge storm raging on the planet.

• Mercury

• Saturn

• Neptune

• Jupiter

These planets have more mass, they are large and gaseous, and farther from the sun.

• inner planets

• outer planets

• asteroids

• meteors

The region of the solar system that is between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are located

• outer planet belt

• meteoroid belt

• asteroid belt

• inner planet belt

The distance that light travels in 1 year; about 9.4 trillion kilometers

• light-year

• inertia

• time year

• astronomical unit

The scientific law that states that every object in the universe attracts every other object

• astronomical unit

• solar system law

• law of universal gravitation

• kepler's law

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

Small bodies made up of ice, dust, and rock particles. The Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt may be filled with billions or even trillion of _____________ (sometimes referred to as " dirty snowballs"

• Meteoroids

• Meteors

• Asteroids

• Comets

The force that controls the motion of all objects in the universe (mass and distance of the objects determine the strength of gravitational attraction)

• gravity

• inertia

• mass

• distance

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Large pieces of space rock with irregular shapes, most are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

• meteoroids

• asteroids

• meteors

• meteorites