Embedded Files
Interactive Vocabulary
Gravity: force by which a planet or other body draws objects toward its center
Habitable zone: the distance from a star at which liquid water could exist on orbiting planets' surfaces
Kuiper Belt: in a region of space located past Neptune
Meteor: a small piece of matter from outer space that becomes a streak of light when it falls through Earth’s atmosphere and burns up
Oort Cloud: most distant region of our solar system
Revolution: one complete trip of a planet around the Sun
Rotation: the spinning motion of a planet around its axis
Related Vocabulary
Related Vocabulary
Atmosphere: the layer of gases that surrounds Earth
Composition: the elements that make up a thing.
Debris: Loose natural material consisting especially of broken pieces of rock.
Earth: third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life
Gravitational forces: the force by which a planet or other body draws objects toward its center
Jovian Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
Moon: The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite
Motion: when an object changes its position with respect to a reference point in a given time
Orbit: the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star.
Planet: a large, rounded astronomical body that is generally required to be in orbit around a star
Proximity: nearness in space, time, or relationship.
Solar System: a group of celestial objects bound together by the Sun's gravity
Sun: the star at the center of the Solar System
Terrestrial: of or relating to the earth or its inhabitants
What are the physical properties, locations, and movements of the different objects in our solar system?
Mini Lessons
7.9 : Earth and space. The student understands the patterns of movement, organization, and characteristics of components of our solar system. The student is expected to:
7.9.A: describe the physical properties, locations, and movements of the Sun, planets, moons, meteors, asteroids, comets, Kuiper belt, and Oort cloud;
7.9.B: describe how gravity governs motion within Earth’s solar system; and
7.9.C: analyze the characteristics of Earth that allow life to exist such as the proximity of the Sun, presence of water, and composition of the atmosphere.
Page updated
Report abuse