Year 11 - Science
The solar system
Gravity in space
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers the solar system's features, including planets, moons, and satellites. It explains gravity's effect on orbits, the sun's formation from dust and gas, and fusion equilibrium. It also explores red-shift, evidence of an expanding universe, and the link to the Big Bang model.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the main features of the solar system.
Key Notes
- The solar system includes the Sun, eight planets, dwarf planets and bands of smaller rocks.
- The planets, dwarf planets and bands of smaller rocks all move the same way around the Sun as they orbit it.
- Most planets in the solar system are orbited by one or more moons.
- Each moon orbits a planet because of the gravitational attraction between it and the planet.
- Each planet in the solar system orbits the Sun because of the gravitational attraction between it and the Sun.
Vocabulary To Learn
- solar system: the Sun and the collection of objects in orbit around it
- planet: a very large, spherical object in orbit around a star that has cleared the path of its orbit of other objects
- dwarf planet: a large object in orbit around a star that has not cleared the path of its orbit of other objects
- moon: a natural object in orbit around a planet
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Gravity only acts close to the surface of a planet.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
The solar system includes the Sun, eight planets, dwarf planets and bands of smaller rocks. The planets, dwarf planets and bands of smaller rocks all move the same way around the Sun as they orbit it.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'solar system'
the Sun and the collection of objects in orbit around it. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Gravity only acts close to the surface of a planet. Correction: Provide examples of motions caused by gravitational forces acting over huge distances of space, such as the orbits of planets.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Science guide library.