THE SOLAR SYSTEM

By Dante Paterson

INQUIRY QUESTIONS
1.) What is a solar system? 2.) How many planets are in our solar system and what are they? 3.) How do the planets and asteroids orbit the sun? 4.) What are moons? 5.) What are gas giants? 6.) How do we study the solar system?

WHAT IS A SOLAR SYSTEM?

A solar system is a collection of one or more stars with multiple planets and asteroids/ orbiting it. Some Solar systems have more than one star meaning that they become binary and trinary systems.

HOW MANY PLANETS ARE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND WHAT ARE THEY?
There are 8 planets in our solar system and one dwarf planet. Before 2009 there where 9 planets but scientists decided that Pluto was a dwarf planet due to its small size. In order from our sun (sol) the planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus (not Your anus) and Neptune. Pluto is the furthest away Celestial body and it is not listed in the list of planets because it is a dwarf planet.

HOW DO THE PLANETS AND ASTEROIDS ORBIT THE SUN?

When a spacecraft is orbiting a planet, its basically falling forever. Just imagine you fly a rocket into space, but still in Earths gravity field. After you stop accelerating you would start to fall back to Earth. Now just imagine you fly up and go side ways for a bit. Now you are going down and side ways at the same time. Now keep on increasing the amount of time you go side ways and after a while you will find that you have an orbit (for this to work the side ways force has to be the same as the gravity's force)*! Same goes for planets orbiting the sun, it basically keeps on falling.
*

WHAT ARE MOONS?

Moons are a natural satellites that orbit a planet. The are usually made of Rocks or minerals and are Created when a large Collection of rocks, minerals and dust clump together and get into orbit. Our Moon was created when a large asteroid hit the earth and scended pieces of rock and dirt into space.

WHAT ARE GAS GIANTS?

Gas giants are large planets of relatively low density consisting mainly of hydrogen and helium. Gas giants do not have a surface but do have a mantel and core usually made of rock or ice. Gas giants are usually cold and far away form the sun they are orbiting because of there flammability.

HOW DO WE STUDY THE SOLAR SYSTEM?

Humans Have been fascinated by the solar system for centuries but only recently have we been able to explore it clearly and in person using telescopes, radars and space craft. One of NASAs most known and important space telescopes is the Hubble Telescope which was launched into space in April 24, 1990 by the space shuttle Discovery. The first man in space was Yuri Gagarin who when to space in the rocket Vostok. Vostok was also the first manned space craft to achieve an orbit.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question 378.htm www.google.com www.wikipedia.com www.google.com/images

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Tara Procrastinators!