![]() |
Learn Through English |
![]() |
Natural Science |
The Solar System |
On this page you are not going to learn how many planets there are in our solar system or what their names are. These are things you should have learnt long ago. We propose a pair of exercises about a few more difficult things to turn you into an amateur astronomer.
Take a look at the exercises below and, before you answer them in your worksheet, click on the links if you want to try the games offered here.
This is a summary in three steps of the way our solar system was formed. Read the information on the website carefully and then try to put it in the correct order. |
|
? |
At the centre, where it was densest, the heat was great enough to cause hydrogen atoms to fuse together to form helium. |
? |
This nuclear reaction began to give off vast amounts of energy, stopping any further contraction, and blowing away all the remaining hydrogen and dust clouds...and leaving behind the 'clumps' of heavier material, the planets. |
? |
A vast cloud of interstellar matter contracted under gravity and began to heat up. |
How long will our planet last? Human beings have usually wondered about what may happen to us in the future. It all depends on our favourite star: the Sun. Do the following exercise and learn all about the end of our system.
|
||
THE MISSING WORDS |
|
|
Collapse |
||
Dwarf |
||
Heavy |
||
Helium |
||
Hydrogen |
||
Light |
||
Nova |
||
Shine |
After these activities navigate this website and then take a trip to the solar system, read the instructions carefully and then visit the different bodies in our solar system. Find some information about them.
After that, try and put the planets and other bodies in the correct order. Learn about their orbits. Which one is different?
Finally have a look at this space map and answer this question: Why is there life on Earth?
If you want to learn more about your planet click here.