A star is an extremely large sphere of hot gas that emits light.

A planet is a very large sphere of rock or gas that orbits a star.

A dwarf planet is a large round object that orbits a star, but is not big enough to be a planet.

Many smaller objects also orbit the Sun, such as asteroids.

Our solar system includes the Sun and all the objects in orbit around the Sun.

Our solar system

Science

In the Gravity in space unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn to how gravitational forces cause orbital motion and about stellar evolution and cosmology, including red-shift and the big bang. 

In primary science, pupils learnt about the cause of day and night, the movement of the Earth orbiting the Sun and the Moon orbiting the Earth, and about stars and planets we can see in the night sky.

Our solar system and beyond

Planets are usually much smaller than stars.

Which of these statements about planets is incorrect?

Which of these objects is not found in our solar system?

Which of the planets listed is small and rocky?

Between which two planets is the asteroid belt found?

If a scale model was made of our solar system, and the Sun was represented by a tennis ball, what size would the planets be?

the sizes of the planets compared to the Sun

the positions of the planets in their orbits

the relative distances of the planets from the Sun

Lucas has drawn this diagram of the solar system, but has made some mistakes. Which of the statements below identify the parts that Lucas has drawn correctly?

Which of these objects in the solar system is a planet?

Put these planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun, starting with the closest one.

Put these planets in order of increasing size, starting with the smallest.

Which of these statements is correct about Earth?

Which of these objects are not found in our solar system?

Which of these planets does not have any moons?

Starter Quiz