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Unit 3: The Solar System and energy

The Solar System — HIA International - Grade 6 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 9 parts Lesson 2 of 14 1 quiz

📚 HIA International - Grade 6 Hub / Topical Revision
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Lesson summary

The Solar System — HIA INTERNATIONAL notes: Describe the structure of the Solar System, the order of the planets and the motion of Earth and Moon.Sun — a star at the centre that gives out its own light and heat.Planets — eight planets orbit the Sun.Dwarf planets — small planet-li…

  • Asteroids and comets
  • Reflected light
  • Inner planets
  • Outer planets
  • Asteroid belt
  • Day and night

Section 1 of 9Members of the Solar System

Members of the Solar System
Sun
  • Sun a star at the centre that gives out its own light and heat.
Planets
  • Planets eight planets orbit the Sun.
Dwarf planets
  • Dwarf planets small planet-like bodies such as Pluto.
Moons
  • Moons natural satellites that orbit planets.
Asteroids and comets
  • Asteroids and comets asteroids are rocky and comets are ice and dust.
Reflected light
  • Reflected light planets and moons are seen because they reflect light from the Sun.

Section 2 of 9Order of the planets

Order
  • Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
  • Memory aidMy Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming.
Inner planets
  • Inner planets the first four are small and rocky.
Outer planets
  • Outer planets the last four are large gas giants, with Uranus and Neptune called ice giants.
Asteroid belt
  • Asteroid belt it lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Section 3 of 9Key features of the planets

PlanetTypeFeature
MercuryRockySmallest; no atmosphere and many craters
VenusRockyHottest planet; thick carbon dioxide clouds
EarthRockyLiquid water and life
MarsRockyCold; red iron oxide dust
JupiterGas giantLargest planet; Great Red Spot storm
SaturnGas giantBright ring system
UranusIce giantTilted on its side
NeptuneIce giantColdest; strongest winds

Section 4 of 9Orbits

Force
  • Force planets stay in orbit because of the gravitational attraction of the Sun.
Shape
  • Shape orbits are almost circular but slightly elliptical.
Distance
  • Distance planets further from the Sun take longer to orbit it and are colder.

Section 5 of 9Earth's motion

1Day and night
  • Day and night the Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours.
2Year
  • Year the Earth orbits the Sun once in about 365¼ days.
3Seasons
  • Seasons they are caused by the 23.5° tilt of the axis, not by the Earth's distance from the Sun.

Section 6 of 9Moon and eclipses

1Moon
  • Moon a natural satellite that orbits the Earth about once every 27.3 days.
2Phases
  • Phases a full cycle takes about 29.5 days, as we see different amounts of the sunlit half.
3Solar eclipse
  • Solar eclipse the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth.
4Lunar eclipse
  • Lunar eclipse the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.

Section 7 of 9Distances in space

1Size
  • Size distances in space are huge.
2Light-year
  • Light-year the distance light travels in one year, and it is a distance, not a time.

Section 8 of 9Key terms

TermMeaning
Solar SystemThe Sun and everything that orbits it.
PlanetA large body that orbits a star and has cleared its orbit.
OrbitThe curved path of one object around another.
MoonA natural satellite that orbits a planet.
AsteroidA rocky body orbiting the Sun.
Dwarf planetA small planet-like body, such as Pluto.

Section 9 of 9Exam technique

1
Calling Pluto the ninth planet — it is a dwarf planet.
2
Saying planets give out their own light — they reflect sunlight.
3
Saying seasons depend on distance from the Sun — they depend on tilt.
4
Saying a light-year is a time — it is a distance.

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