The Solar System MS-ESS1-2

Centripetal force

The force that causes an object to move in a circle. Centripetal force. Centripetal force is the invisible push or pull that keeps an object moving in a circular path.

Galaxy

A massive system of stars, gases, and dust held together by gravity. Galaxy. A galaxy is a giant group of stars and other materials held together by gravity.

Gravity

"The attractive force between all objects that have mass. Gravity. Gravity is the force that pulls objects toward each other, like the Earth pulling you down."

Mass

The amount of matter in an object. Mass. Mass is how much "stuff" or material makes up an object.

Moon

A natural body that revolves around a planet. Moon. A moon is a natural object that orbits around a planet, like Earth's moon.

Orbit

The path of one body around another, like Earths orbit around the Sun. Orbit. An orbit is the curved path that an object follows as it moves around a star, planet, or moon due to gravity.

Rotation

The turning of a planet on its axis. Rotation. Rotation is when a planet spins around an invisible line called an axis.

Satellite

An object that moves around a larger object in space, like the moon around Earth. Satellite. A satellite is something that orbits around a planet or star, like how the moon orbits Earth.

Solar system

A group of planets and other objects that revolve around a sun is called a solar system. A solar system is like a cosmic neighborhood where planets, moons, and other space objects orbit around a central star, like our Sun.