Science: The Solar System
Planets, the Sun, and objects in space
Science: The Solar System
Planets, the Sun, and objects in space
Science - Grade 4-5
- 1
What is the center of our solar system, and why is it important?
Think about the star all the planets orbit.
The Sun is the center of our solar system. It is important because its gravity holds the planets in orbit and it gives light and heat to the solar system. - 2
Name the eight planets in order from the Sun.
The eight planets in order from the Sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. - 3
Which planet is known as the Red Planet, and what gives it that color?
This planet is the fourth planet from the Sun.
Mars is known as the Red Planet. It looks red because its surface has iron-rich dust and rocks that rust. - 4
Explain the difference between a planet and a star.
A star makes its own light and heat, while a planet does not. A planet reflects light from a star and moves around it. - 5
What is an orbit?
Planets follow one around the Sun.
An orbit is the path an object follows as it moves around another object in space because of gravity. - 6
Why does Earth have day and night?
Earth has day and night because it spins on its axis. The side facing the Sun has day, and the side turned away from the Sun has night. - 7
Which planet is the largest in the solar system?
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. - 8
Describe one main feature of Saturn.
This planet is famous for its rings.
One main feature of Saturn is its large ring system made of ice, rock, and dust. - 9
What are asteroids, and where are many of them found?
Asteroids are small rocky objects that orbit the Sun. Many of them are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. - 10
What is the Moon, and how is it different from a planet?
It travels around Earth.
The Moon is a natural satellite that orbits Earth. It is different from a planet because it orbits a planet instead of orbiting the Sun on its own path as a planet does. - 11
Why is Earth able to support life?
Earth is able to support life because it has liquid water, a suitable temperature range, and an atmosphere that protects living things and contains gases needed for life. - 12
What is a comet made of, and what can happen when it gets close to the Sun?
It is sometimes called a dirty snowball.
A comet is made of ice, dust, and rock. When it gets close to the Sun, the ice can heat up and form a glowing tail of gas and dust. - 13
Which planet do we live on, and where is it located in order from the Sun?
We live on Earth, which is the third planet from the Sun. - 14
Why do the outer planets take longer to go around the Sun than the inner planets?
Think about which trip is longer, a short circle or a big circle.
The outer planets take longer to go around the Sun because they are farther away and have much larger orbits to travel. - 15
Compare an inner planet and an outer planet. Give one way they are different.
An inner planet is usually smaller and rocky, while an outer planet is usually larger and made mostly of gas or ice. For example, Earth is rocky, while Jupiter is a gas giant.