Solar system
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The features of the solar system that pupils should be aware of:
Contents
The Sun
- All pupils will understand that our Sun is the result of a giant nuclear fusion reaction.
- All pupils will understand that the heat and light of the Sun is the source of all life on Earth.
- Most pupils will understand that the Earth orbits around the Sun due to the Sun's strong gravitational pull.
- Some pupils may understand that the Sun emits a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation including high-energy UV light that causes tanning.
Inner (Terrestrial Planets
- All pupils will understand that the inner terrestrial planets have solid surfaces and are significantly smaller that the larger gas planets.
Mercury
Venus
Earth
- Mostly harmless
Earth's Moon
Mars
Ceres
Asteroid Belt
Outer Planets (Gas Giants)
Jupiter
Jupiter's moons
Saturn
Saturn's rings
Uranus
Neptune
Comets
Outer Planets
Pluto
- Which Pluto IS a planet)
Eris
Comets
Oort Cloud
Pupils should also be aware of how orbital period varies with distance from the Sun and that Pluto is not always the furthest planet from the Sun due to its odd orbit.
