The Solar System is made up of the sun (a star), the planets, and their moons (over 162). There are also other bodies like dwarf planets, comets, asteroids and other space rocks, which make up the Solar System. It is believed that the Solar System has over one hundred (100) worlds. The word solar refers to the sun.
Our Solar System is part of a galaxy known as the Milky Way, and the sun is the centre of the Solar System. The Sun contains about 98% of all the materials in the Solar System. The larger an object is, the more gravity it has. Because the sun is so large, its powerful gravity attracts all the other objects in the Solar System towards it.
Everything in the Solar System orbits or revolves around the sun. This is done in an orderly way. Each planet revolves around the sun on its own path called the orbit. Each planet's orbit is elliptical in shape. There are eight planets in the Solar System. These are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
The planets in the solar system are categorized as inner planets and outer planets. The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The asteroid belt separates the inner planets from the outer planets.
Get more information on the planets. Take a look at earth as it orbits the sun.
Get more information on the planets. Take a look at earth as it orbits the sun.
Other bodies in the Solar System
Apart from the planets and their moons, there are other bodies which revolve around the sun. Some of these are listed below.
(A) Asteroids
Asteroids are a class of small solar bodies which orbit the sun, They have been referred to at times as planetoids, especially the larger ones. They are made of rocks. Asteroids Belt separate the inner planets (terrestrial bodies) from the outer planets.
(B) Comets
A comet is an object of frozen gases, dust and rocks, which travel around the sun in a huge elliptical orbit. Comets are named after the people who discovered them. Example Halley Comet, which appeared in 1986. Comets are distinguished from asteroids by the presence of a tail.
(C) A meteor
A meteor is commonly referred to as a 'Shooting Star' or a falling star.
(D) Meteoroids
A meteoroid can be defined as a solid object moving in space. It is said to be much smaller than an asteroid.
A little test for you
1. What is the centre of the solar system?
2. List the planets in order.
3. How many planets are further from the sun than earth?
4. Why do you think the planets do not fall out of their orbits?
5. Which planet is called the giant planet?
6. What separates the inner planets from the outer planets
7. Which of the bodies in the solar system has the greatest
mass?
8 Which is the coldest planet and why?
9. Why is Earth considered special and unique?
10. What is the shape of each orbit?
11. Which of the planet is spherical in shape, has only one moon
and is a terrestrial body?
Try this game
While earth is revolving around the sun it is also rotating on its axis.
The rotation of the earth causes day and night.
The revolution of the earth brings about seasonal changes.
Earth quakes and volcanoes also come about because of earth's movement.
This clip shows how an earthquake happens.
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