Year 7 Science: The Solar System Revised August, 2021

The Solar System: Vocabulary

Word Meaning
Orbit An elliptical pathway of an object around another object

Terrestrial Planets that are small and solid

Gas giants Planets that are large and gaseous

Solar radiation Energy released from the sun

UV radiation High energy radiation from the sun, helps the human body make
vitamin D
Infrared radiation Invisible energy in the form of heat, released by the Sun

Universe The ever-expanding expanse that contains everything that exists, i.e.
galaxies, solar systems, stars and planets
Comets Balls of frozen dust, rock and ice that orbit the Sun

Meteoroid Large rock moving in the solar system that would become a meteor
upon entry to the Earth’s atmosphere
Meteor A rock from space that burns up as it passes through the Earth’s
atmosphere. Colloquially known as “shooting stars”
Meteorite Meteoroid that is large enough to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere
and reach the ground
Solar eclipse When the Moon moves in between the Earth and sun, causing a
shadow to fall on the Earth.
Total lunar eclipse When the Earth moves in between the Sun and the moon, causing a
shadow to fall on the Moon which sometimes appears red
Partial lunar When only a part of the Moon is in the shadow of the Earth
eclipse

Astronomy Study of the stars, planets and other objects that make up the universe

Asteroids Lumps of rock or metal that travel around the solar system orbiting the
Sun, mostly between Mars and Jupiter