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P6.1 The Solar System - Study Notes

The Solar System consists of the Sun, which is a medium-sized yellow star and contains about 99.9% of its total mass, providing light, heat, and gravitational force. It includes eight planets, listed in order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, along with various minor planets, asteroids, comets, and moons. Moons orbit planets and vary in size, with notable examples including Earth's Moon and the numerous moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

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16 views4 pages

P6.1 The Solar System - Study Notes

The Solar System consists of the Sun, which is a medium-sized yellow star and contains about 99.9% of its total mass, providing light, heat, and gravitational force. It includes eight planets, listed in order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, along with various minor planets, asteroids, comets, and moons. Moons orbit planets and vary in size, with notable examples including Earth's Moon and the numerous moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

Uploaded by

yashna bhandari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Solar System

(a) The Sun:

The Solar System


contains one star –
the Sun.
The Sun is a medium-
sized yellow star (G-
type main-sequence).
Contains about 99.9%
of the total mass of
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CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-P6.1 The Solar System- Study Notes

the Solar System.


Source of light and heat for all planets.
Provides the gravitational force that keeps planets and other bodies in orbit.

(b) The Eight Planets (in order from the Sun):

Mercury – smallest planet, closest to the Sun, no atmosphere.


Venus – thick carbon dioxide atmosphere, hottest planet.
Earth – only known planet with life, water in all three states.
Mars – the “Red Planet”, thin atmosphere, polar ice caps.
Jupiter – largest planet, gas giant, Great Red Spot storm.
Saturn – gas giant, famous for its ring system.
Uranus – ice giant, tilted axis (rotates on its side).
Neptune – farthest planet, strong winds, ice giant.

Mnemonic: “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles”

(c) Minor Planets and Other Bodies:

Dwarf Planets: e.g., Pluto, Eris,


Ceres – smaller bodies orbiting
the Sun.
Asteroids: Rocky objects, mostly
found in the asteroid belt
between Mars and Jupiter.
Comets: Made of ice and rock;
develop tails when near the Sun
due to sublimation of ice.
Meteoroids: Small rocky
fragments that can enter Earth’s
atmosphere as meteors.

(d) Moons (Natural Satellites):

Moons orbit planets due to gravity.


Earth’s Moon stabilises Earth’s tilt and causes tides.
Jupiter has at least 79 moons (largest: Ganymede, Io, Europa, Callisto).
Saturn has over 80 moons (including Titan, larger than Mercury).
Moons vary in size from tiny asteroid-like rocks to planet-sized bodies.

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CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-P6.1 The Solar System- Study Notes

Example

Which planet is the farthest from the Sun, and what are two of its key features?

▶️ Answer/Explanation

Example

Write down the eight planets of the Solar System in order, starting from the Sun.

▶️ Answer/Explanation

Example

Pluto is no longer classified as a major planet. State its current classification and one
reason for this change.

▶️ Answer/Explanation

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