Download The Solar System – Gravity, Orbits, Comets, Asteroids and Meteors

The Solar System– Gravity, Orbits, Comets, Asteroids and Meteors
Review Sheet
Indicator:
Explain that gravitational force is the dominant force determining motions in the Solar
System and in particular keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun.
Learning Target #1 – I can create a diagram of the solar system which includes the sun,
the planets and asteroid belt in the correct order
Learning Target #2 – I can explain how our understanding of the solar system
developed through the contributions of the following astronomers: Ptolemy, Copernicus,
Galileo, Kepler, and Newton.
Learning Target #3 – I can tell the difference between the two models of the solar
system.
Learning Target #4 – I can define the terms gravity, inertia and orbit.
Learning Target #5 – I can tell how basic changes in mass and distance effect gravity.
Learning Target #6 – I can diagram how inertia and gravity work to create an orbit.
Learning Target #7 – I can theorize about what would happen to our solar system’s
structure if the sun were to suddenly disappear.
Indicator:
Compare the orbits and composition of comets and asteroids with that of Earth
Learning Target #1 – I can tell what a comet is made of.
Learning Target #2 – I can tell what an asteroid is made of.
Learning Target #3 – I can discuss how the composition of comets and asteroids
compares to the make up of Earth.
Learning Target #4 – I can identify an ellipse and describe the orbits of planets, comets
and asteroids as elliptical
Learning Target #5 – I can discuss how the orbits of comets and asteroids compare to
the orbit of earth.
Indicator
Describe the effect that asteroids or meteoroids have when moving through space and
sometimes entering planetary atmospheres (e.g., meteor-"shooting star" and meteorite).
Learning Target #1 – I can explain the effects that occur when an asteroid or meteor
strikes the Earth.
Learning Target #2 – I can discuss mass extinctions and their possible connection to an
asteroid or meteor impact.
Learning Target #3 – I can interpret a graph of a mass extinction and identify that the
extinction may have been caused by an asteroid or meteor impact.
Learning Target #4 – I can tell the difference between a meteoroid, meteor and
meteorite.
Vocabulary
 planet
.

Newton

orbit

comet

gravity

asteroid

inertia

ellipse

gravitational force

elliptical

solar system

meteoroid

asteroid belt

meteor

geocentric

shooting star

heliocentric

meteorite

Ptolemy

mass extinction

Copernicus

impact event

Galileo

crater

Kepler