The Solar System Flashcards
Grade 4 · Science · Flashcards
Key terms and facts about the Sun, planets, and objects in our solar system.
Flashcards
- Solar system
- The Sun and all objects held by its gravity, including 8 planets, moons, asteroids, and comets
- Sun
- The star at the center of our solar system; provides heat and light to all planets
- Planet
- A large, round body that orbits the Sun and has cleared the space around its orbit
- Orbit
- The curved path an object follows as it travels around another object due to gravity
- Terrestrial planet
- A small, rocky, inner planet: Mercury, Venus, Earth, or Mars
- Gas giant
- A large outer planet made mostly of gas: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune
- Mercury
- The smallest planet and closest to the Sun; has no atmosphere and extreme temperature swings
- Venus
- The second planet from the Sun; the hottest planet due to its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere
- Mars
- The fourth planet; called the Red Planet because of iron oxide (rust) on its surface
- Jupiter
- The largest planet in the solar system; a gas giant with a famous storm called the Great Red Spot
- Saturn
- A gas giant known for its spectacular system of ice and rock rings
- Asteroid
- A rocky body smaller than a planet that orbits the Sun; most are in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
- Comet
- An icy body that develops a bright tail of gas and dust when it passes near the Sun
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