8.1.1

The Solar System

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The Solar System

Our solar system is a small part of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is made up of:

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The Sun

  • The Sun is the only star in our solar system.
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Planets and dwarf planets

  • Planets and dwarf planets orbit around the Sun.
    • There are eight planets in our solar system (Pluto is a dwarf planet).
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Moons

  • Moons are in orbit around many of the planets.
  • Moons are called natural satellites.
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Comets and asteroids

  • Comets and asteroids also orbit around the Sun.

The Sun

The Sun was formed from a cloud of dust and gas (called a nebula). The forces of gravity pulled the dust and gas together.

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Cloud of gas and dust

  • The gas and dust collapsed.
    • The cloud suddenly decreased in volume as the pressure in the cloud increased.
    • This formed a protostar.
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Main sequence

  • Materials continued to collide (come together) until the temperature and pressure were high enough for hydrogen nuclei to start fusing and form helium (in nuclear fusion).
  • The star then went into a stable period, called a ‘main star sequence’.
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Nuclear fusion

  • The energy released from the nuclear fusion in the Sun keeps the Sun’s core hot.
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Stable

  • The Sun is still in its stable main sequence phase.
  • In this phase, the outward force of the energy released by nuclear fusion is balanced by the force of gravity pulling the Sun inwards.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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