Game Smartz

Solar System

Science

Solar System Chapter Video

Solar System Chapter Video

asteroid

a body of rock and metal that orbits the Sun
asteroid Simple Definition

asteroid belt

the region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where many asteroids are found
asteroid belt Simple Definition

astronomical unit

the average distance between Earth and the Sun, about 150 million km, or 93 million miles
astronomical unit Simple Definition

chromosphere

the middle layer of the Sun's atmosphere
chromosphere Simple Definition

coma

the fuzzy head of a comet, made of ice and comet dust
coma Simple Definition

comet

a body of ice, rock, and dust that orbits the Sun
comet Simple Definition

ellipse

an ellipse is an oval shape, the orbit of planets are shaped like an ellipse
ellipse Simple Definition

gas giant

a large planet made up mostly of gases, like Jupiter or Saturn
gas giant Simple Definition

meteor

a streak of light created when a meteoroid is heated by Earth’s atmosphere
meteor Simple Definition

meteorite

a meteoroid that lands on the surface of Earth, a moon, or a planet
meteorite Simple Definition

meteoroid

a small piece of rock or metal that orbits the Sun
meteoroid Simple Definition

nuclear fusion

the combining of two nuclei to form a single nucleus, this releases energy
nuclear fusion Simple Definition

nucleus solar system

the solid inner core of a comet
nucleus solar system Simple Definition

photosphere

the surface layer of the Sun that gives off light
photosphere Simple Definition

prominence

a huge reddish loop of plasma that protrudes from the Sun’s surface
prominence Simple Definition

ring

a flat, thin disk of ice and rock particles that orbit a planet, like Saturn
ring Simple Definition

solar flare

an eruption of gas from the Sun's surface, that occurs when loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect
solar flare Simple Definition

solar system

a group of planets and other objects that revolve around a sun
solar system Simple Definition

sunspot

a spot on the Sun which appears darker because it is not as hot as other areas
sunspot Simple Definition

terrestrial planet

one of the four rocky planets of the inner solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth or Mars
terrestrial planet Simple Definition

Related Chapters