The solar system is made up of the sun and all the planets, their satellites, dwarf planets, and small bodies (asteroids and comets). These all orbit around the sun which is actually a star.
Fact file
Which planet in our solar system rotates on its side?
Answer: Uranus
What keeps the planets in orbit around the sun?
Answer: the force of gravity keeps the planets in orbit
Which planet has a large mass but has a small inner core?
Answer: the planet Jupiter contains a small core and has a thick layer of gas that surrounds it.
Why is the planet mars red in appearance?
Answer: the surface of Mars contains a lot of iron oxide giving it a rusted color.
Which planet has the hottest temperature in our solar system?
Answer: Although mercury is the closest planet to the sun it does not have an atmosphere to trap the heat. Venus has the hottest temperature because it has a dense carbon dioxide atmosphere which traps the heat.
The sun is the closest star to earth. It is a massive ball of hot glowing gas. The sun is very large and its powerful gravitational field holds the planets of our solar system, keeping them in orbit. The sun’s heat and light allows life to exist on earth.
The earth is at just the right distance from the sun (around 93 million miles) to create the conditions necessary for life. The sun gives us warmth and provides the energy the plants need to grow and produce food.
The sun is mostly composed of hydrogen gas. The hydrogen atoms are squeezed tightly together inside the sun in a process known as fusion. This fusion creates Helium. In the process of splitting atoms massive amounts of energy is released. This energy is manifested as heat and light energy.
