GCSE Physics Revision — Solar System & Orbits
Revise Solar System & Orbits for GCSE Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Solar System & Orbits?
Our solar system consists of the Sun, a star, orbited by eight planets, their moons, and other smaller bodies like dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets. The planets are held in their orbits by the Sun's gravitational force. The orbits of the planets are slightly elliptical, but are often approximated as circular for simplicity.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The role of gravity in maintaining orbits is a key concept.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
The Earth orbits the Sun at a distance of about 150 million km and takes one year to complete its orbit. As the Earth orbits the Sun, what force keeps it in its path? Solution: The force of gravity between the Sun and the Earth provides the necessary centripetal force to keep the Earth in its orbit.
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Common mistakes
- 1Forgetting the order of the planets. A common mnemonic is: 'My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets' (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
- 2Confusing planets with stars. Stars (like the Sun) produce their own light through nuclear fusion. Planets reflect the light from their star.
- 3Thinking that orbits are perfect circles. They are slightly elliptical (oval-shaped).
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Frequently asked questions
What is a satellite?
A satellite is any object that orbits another, larger object. The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth. There are also thousands of artificial satellites orbiting the Earth, used for communication, weather forecasting, and GPS.
Why do comets have tails?
Comets are balls of ice and dust. As they get closer to the Sun, the heat vaporises the ice and dust, which is then pushed away by the solar wind, forming a tail that always points away from the Sun.