Question

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word or words. The __________ includes the Sun, planets, moons, and other objects.

Short answer

The blank is filled with 'solar system'.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Keywords

First, look at the keywords in the sentence. The keywords here are 'Sun', 'planets', 'moons', and 'other objects'. These are elements of a larger system in space.

Relate Keywords to Knowledge

Think about what system in space contains the Sun, planets, moons, and other objects. This is something you might have learned in science or astronomy topics.

Recall Vocabulary

Recall that there is a term used to describe the system that includes the Sun, planets, their moons, and other celestial objects that orbit the Sun due to its gravitational force.

Fill in the Blank

Based on the previous steps, the term that describes this system is 'solar system'. The complete sentence would be: The solar system includes the Sun, planets, moons, and other objects.

Key concepts

Planets

Planets are significant celestial bodies in the solar system. They are large, round objects that orbit around a star, in our case, the Sun. The solar system contains eight known planets, each with its own unique set of characteristics and environments.

These planets can be classified into two main categories:

• Terrestrial Planets: These are small, dense, and rocky, which include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
• Gas Giants: These are large, not very dense, and have thick gaseous atmospheres. This includes Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Planets do not produce light. Instead, they reflect the light from the Sun. Their movements around the Sun define a year on each planet, which varies due to the differing distances from the Sun.

Moons

Moons are natural satellites that orbit planets and even some dwarf planets. Each planet in the solar system may have varying numbers of moons orbiting it. For example, Earth has one moon, while Jupiter has more than 75 known moons.

Moons vary greatly in size, composition, and surface features. Some have atmospheres, some are icy, and others have active geological features. Here are some interesting facts about moons:

• The largest moon in the solar system is Ganymede, orbiting Jupiter, and it is larger than the planet Mercury.
• Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, are believed to be captured asteroids.
• Earth's Moon is influential in driving ocean tides due to its gravitational pull.

Moons are also pivotal in scientific research as they offer clues about the history and formation of their parent planets.

Celestial Objects

The term 'celestial objects' encompasses everything located outside Earth's atmosphere and visible in the sky. This includes stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. Celestial objects vary widely in their size, composition, and the light they emit or reflect.

Each type of celestial object plays a crucial role in our understanding of space:

• Stars, such as our Sun, are massive luminous spheres of burning gas that provide light and heat.
• Asteroids are smaller than planets and are made mostly of rock and metal. They mostly orbit in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
• Comets are icy bodies that release gas and dust, creating visible atmospheres or tails when close to the Sun.

Understanding celestial objects helps astronomers learn about the formation and mechanics of the universe.

Gravitational Force

Gravitational force is a fundamental force of nature responsible for the attraction between objects with mass. It is the reason why planets orbit the Sun and moons orbit their planets. Sir Isaac Newton's law of universal gravitation explains this force:\[F = G \frac{{m_1m_2}}{{r^2}}\]where:

• \( F \) is the gravitational force between two objects.
• \( G \) is the gravitational constant.
• \( m_1 \) and \( m_2 \) are the masses of the objects.
• \( r \) is the distance between the centers of the two objects.

Gravitational force holds the solar system together, keeping planets in their respective orbits around the Sun and securing the position of moons. Its influence can be observed in various phenomena, such as ocean tides and atmospheric changes. Understanding gravity is crucial in explaining the motions and interactions of celestial bodies.