Gravity and the Solar System Flashcard

Front

What is the name of the imaginary line around which a planet rotates?

Back

Axis: The imaginary line that passes through the center of a planet, around which it rotates.

Front

What is the name of the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?

Back

Gravitational Force: The attractive force that pulls objects toward each other, keeping planets in orbit around the Sun.

Front

Which planet in our solar system has the greatest surface gravity?

Back

Jupiter: The largest planet in our solar system, known for its strong gravitational pull.

Front

How did the solar system form according to the widely accepted theory?

Back

The Solar Nebula Theory: The theory that the solar system formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust.

Front

What property of gravity is shown by the fact that it depends on the mass of an object?

Back

Gravity depends on mass: The greater the mass of an object, the stronger the gravitational pull it exerts.

Front

What is the relationship between gravity and distance?

Back

Gravity depends on distance: The force of gravity decreases as the distance between two objects increases.

Front

What is the term for the path a planet takes around the Sun?

Back

Orbit: The curved path that an object follows as it moves around another object in space.

Front

What is the primary reason we experience day and night on Earth?

Back

Rotation: The spinning of Earth on its axis, causing different parts to face the Sun and experience daylight.

Front

What is the term for the force that opposes the motion of an object through space?

Back

Drag: The resistance force that acts opposite to the direction of motion of an object moving through a fluid.

Front

What is the significance of the Sun's gravitational pull in the solar system?

Back

The Sun's gravitational pull keeps the planets in their orbits, maintaining the structure of the solar system.