GCSE Physics (AQA)

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Planets, Dwarf Planets & Moons

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Space physics Solar system; stability of orbital motions; satellites

Planets, Dwarf Planets & Moons

4:18 Stars and the Solar System
Spec 4.8.1.1 4.8.1.3
Previous The Solar System Next Gravitational Orbits
  • There are eight planets orbiting the sun in our solar system.
  • The sun is a star that planets orbit due to its gravitational field.
  • For exams, understanding the similarities and differences between planets is required, not naming them.
  • The four closest planets to the sun are rocky (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and have solid surfaces.
  • The four furthest planets from the sun are gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) and are made up of gas, making them unsuitable for standing on.
  • Gas planets are the largest in the solar system, though their sizes vary.
  • Planets must meet three criteria: be roughly spherical, orbit a star, and have cleared their orbital path of similarly sized objects.
  • Dwarf planets, like Pluto, orbit the sun and are nearly spherical but haven't cleared their orbital paths of debris, distinguishing them from regular planets.
  • Moons are natural satellites that orbit planets or dwarf planets, with Earth having one moon.
  • Planets orbit stars, while moons orbit planets, and planets can have multiple moons, e.g., Uranus has 27 moons.
  • Specific numbers of moons for each planet are not required knowledge for exams.

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