State the four types of object that make up the Solar System.

The four types of object that make up the Solar System are: The Sun Eight planets Natural and artificial satellites Minor planets, including dwarf planets

State the names of the planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun.

The planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

The Sun is the closest star to the Earth. It is found at the centre of the Solar System.

Name the two groups the eight planets can be divided into.

The eight planets can be divided into: The inner rocky planets The outer gas giants

Define dwarf planet .

A dwarf planet is an object similar to a planet, but much smaller. The gravitational field around a dwarf planet is not strong enough to pull in nearby objects.

True or False? All objects in the Solar System orbit around the Sun.

False. Planets and minor planets orbit around the Sun, whereas moons orbit around planets and artificial satellites orbit around the Earth.

What is the difference between natural and artificial satellites?

A natural satellite is an object that orbits a planet; a moon is a type of natural satellite. An artificial satellite is a manmade object that orbits another object in space, such as the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting the Earth.

True or False? Light travels instantaneously across large distances.

False. Light travels at a constant speed of 3 × 10^8^ m/s , therefore, it takes time for light to travel any distance.

Why are objects in the Solar System visible from Earth?

Objects in the Solar System are visible from Earth because they reflect light from the Sun.

It takes ______ minutes for light from the Sun to reach the Earth.

It takes eight minutes for light from the Sun to reach the Earth.

What causes orbital motion ?

Orbital motion is a result of the gravitational force of attraction acting between two bodies. This force causes the orbiting body to move in a circular path .

In which direction does the gravitational force on an orbiting body act?

The gravitational force on an orbiting body always acts towards the centre of the larger body it is orbiting.

Why do objects in the Solar System orbit the Sun?

The Sun contains most of the mass (over 99%) of the Solar System. Therefore, the Sun's gravitational attraction keeps objects in orbit around it.

True or False? The strength of the Sun's gravitational field increases as the distance from the Sun increases. (Extended Tier Only)

False. The strength of the Sun's gravitational field decreases as the distance from the Sun increases.

What provides the centripetal force that keeps a planet in orbit around the Sun? (Extended Tier Only)

The Sun's gravitational attraction provides the centripetal force on a planet. The centripetal force depends on the strength of the Sun's gravitational field and the distance of the planet from the Sun.

What happens to the orbital speed of a planet as the distance from the Sun increases? (Extended Tier Only)

The orbital speed of a planet decreases as the distance from the Sun increases.

What happens to the orbital period of a planet as the distance from the Sun increases? (Extended Tier Only)

The orbital period of a planet increases as the distance from the Sun increases, because the further a planet is from the Sun, the smaller its orbital speed.

Define orbital speed . (Extended Tier Only)

Orbital speed is the average speed of an object as it orbits around a larger object.

True or False? When planets and satellites orbit larger bodies, they move in approximately circular paths. (Extended Tier Only)

True. When a planet orbits the Sun or a moon orbits a planet, they move in circular orbits .

Define orbital period . (Extended Tier Only)

The orbital period is the time taken for an object to complete one orbit.

True or False? The orbital radius is measured from the surface of the object being orbited. (Extended Tier Only)

False. The orbital radius is always taken from the centre of the object being orbited to the orbiting object.

IGCSEScienceCambridge (CIE)Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)PhysicsFlashcards6. Space PhysicsThe Solar System

The Solar System (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award): Physics): Flashcards

Exam code: 0654 & 0973

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FrontThe Solar System
State the four types of object that make up the Solar System.
BackThe Solar System
The four types of object that make up the Solar System are:
The Sun
Eight planets
Natural and artificial satellites
Minor planets, including dwarf planets
BackThe Solar System
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Cards in this collection (27)

State the four types of object that make up the Solar System.
The four types of object that make up the Solar System are:
1. The Sun
2. Eight planets
3. Natural and artificial satellites
4. Minor planets, including dwarf planets
State the names of the planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun.
The planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun are:
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What is the Sun?
The Sun is the closest star to the Earth. It is found at the centre of the Solar System.
Name the two groups the eight planets can be divided into.
The eight planets can be divided into:
1. The inner rocky planets
2. The outer gas giants
Define dwarf planet.
A dwarf planet is an object similar to a planet, but much smaller. The gravitational field around a dwarf planet is not strong enough to pull in nearby objects.
True or False?
All objects in the Solar System orbit around the Sun.
False.
Planets and minor planets orbit around the Sun, whereas moons orbit around planets and artificial satellites orbit around the Earth.
What is the difference between natural and artificial satellites?
A natural satellite is an object that orbits a planet; a moon is a type of natural satellite.
An artificial satellite is a manmade object that orbits another object in space, such as the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting the Earth.
True or False?
Light travels instantaneously across large distances.
False.
Light travels at a constant speed of 3 × 10^8^ m/s, therefore, it takes time for light to travel any distance.
Why are objects in the Solar System visible from Earth?
Objects in the Solar System are visible from Earth because they reflect light from the Sun.
It takes ______ minutes for light from the Sun to reach the Earth.
It takes eight minutes for light from the Sun to reach the Earth.
What equation can be used to calculate the time taken for light to travel a certain distance?
The equation that can be used to calculate the time taken for light to travel a certain distance is:
$t i m e = \frac{d i s t a n c e}{s p e e d o f l i g h t}$
Mars is 227.9 million km from the Sun and the speed of light is 3 × 10⁸ m/s. How long does it take light to travel from the Sun to Mars?
It takes light 760 s or 12.6 min to travel from the Sun to Mars
- distance from the Sun to Mars = 227.9 million km = 227.9 × 10⁹ m
- $t i m e = \frac{d i s t a n c e}{s p e e d o f l i g h t}$
- $t i m e = \frac{227.9 \times 10^{9}}{3 \times 10^{8}} = 759.6 s$
- $t i m e = \frac{759.6}{60} = 12.6 m i n$
What causes orbital motion?
Orbital motion is a result of the gravitational force of attraction acting between two bodies. This force causes the orbiting body to move in a circular path.
In which direction does the gravitational force on an orbiting body act?
The gravitational force on an orbiting body always acts towards the centre of the larger body it is orbiting.
Why do objects in the Solar System orbit the Sun?
The Sun contains most of the mass (over 99%) of the Solar System. Therefore, the Sun's gravitational attraction keeps objects in orbit around it.
True or False?
The strength of the Sun's gravitational field increases as the distance from the Sun increases. (Extended Tier Only)
False.
The strength of the Sun's gravitational field decreases as the distance from the Sun increases.
What provides the centripetal force that keeps a planet in orbit around the Sun? (Extended Tier Only)
The Sun's gravitational attraction provides the centripetal force on a planet. The centripetal force depends on the strength of the Sun's gravitational field and the distance of the planet from the Sun.
What happens to the orbital speed of a planet as the distance from the Sun increases? (Extended Tier Only)
The orbital speed of a planet decreases as the distance from the Sun increases.
What happens to the orbital period of a planet as the distance from the Sun increases? (Extended Tier Only)
The orbital period of a planet increases as the distance from the Sun increases, because the further a planet is from the Sun, the smaller its orbital speed.
Define orbital speed. (Extended Tier Only)
Orbital speed is the average speed of an object as it orbits around a larger object.
True or False?
When planets and satellites orbit larger bodies, they move in approximately circular paths. (Extended Tier Only)
True.
When a planet orbits the Sun or a moon orbits a planet, they move in circular orbits.
State the equation for calculating orbital speed in terms of distance and time. (Extended Tier Only)
The equation for calculating orbital speed is:
$s p e e d = \frac{d i s t a n c e}{t i m e} = \frac{c i r c u m f e r e n c e o f o r b i t}{o r b i t a l p e r i o d}$
Define orbital period. (Extended Tier Only)
The orbital period is the time taken for an object to complete one orbit.
What is the distance travelled by an object moving in a circular orbit in one complete orbit? (Extended Tier Only)
In one complete orbit, an object travels a distance equal to the circumference of a circle, $2 π r$ , where r is the radius of the circular path.
State the equation for orbital speed v, in terms of orbital radius r and orbital period T. (Extended Tier Only)
The equation for orbital speed is:
$v = \frac{2 π r}{T}$
Where:
- $v$ = orbital speed, measured in m/s
- $r$ = average radius of the orbit, measured in m
- $T$ = orbital period, measured in s
True or False?
The orbital radius is measured from the surface of the object being orbited. (Extended Tier Only)
False.
The orbital radius is always taken from the centre of the object being orbited to the orbiting object.
True or False?
The orbital radius of a satellite in orbit around the Earth is equal to the height of the satellite above the Earth's surface. (Extended Tier Only)
False.
The orbital radius of a satellite orbiting the Earth is $r = R + h$
Where:
- $r$ = orbital radius of the satellite, measured in m
- $R$ = radius of the Earth, measured in m
- $h$ = height above the Earth's surface, measured in m

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