gcsescience.com                                       1                                       gcsescience.com

The Solar System

What is the Solar System?

Our solar system is the name given to the Sun
and the planets that orbit it (see this picture).

The Sun is a star. There are eight planets
and many dwarf planets and asteroids that orbit
the Sun. Some of the planets have moons.

The movement of all the planets and moons
is governed by the force of gravity.

There are a very large number of solar systems
in the Universe. Some of the planets
in these other solar systems may support life.

Between the planets, stars and galaxies of the Universe
lies the vacuum of space.
A vacuum is the absence of all substance.
Space is not a perfect vacuum
but the substance that does exist is very thinly spread.

     Links      The Solar System      Revision Questions     

gcsescience.com     Physics Quiz     Index     Solar System Quiz     gcsescience.com

Home      GCSE Chemistry      GCSE Physics

Copyright © 2015 gcsescience.com. All Rights Reserved.