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Vocab
The science vocab need to know
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Rotation | - the spin of an object in space ( Note: Period of rotation is the amount of time it takes for an object to make one complete rotation.) |
Revolution | – the elliptical motion of a around another object.) as it travels around another more massive body in space (Note: Period of revolution is the amount of time it takes for one object to revolve |
Orbit | – the elliptical PATH an object takes in space while revolving around another object |
Gravity | -attracting force due to mass or rotation |
Atmospherre | – mixture of gases that surrounds a planet |
Sun | – a medium sized star; the center of our solar system |
Planet | – body that orbit around the sun or a star and does not produce its own light |
Terrestrial Planet | – a small, dense, rocky planet similar to Earth (Inner planets) |
Gas Planet | – a large, gaseous planet of the outer solar system with no known solid surface (Outer planets) |
Natural Satellite | – smaller body that orbits around a larger body |
Artificial Satellite | – any human made object placed in orbit around a body in space |
Comet | – a small body of ice, rock, and cosmic dust loosely packed together |
Asteroid | – a small, rocky body that revolves around the sun |
Meteoroid | - a very small, rocky body found in space HINT: mini asteroid |
Meteorite | - a meteoroid that reaches Earth’s surface without burning up completely HINT: It 16. meteorite – a meteoroid that reaches Earth’s surface without burning up completely HINT: It |
Meteor | – a bright streak of light caused when a meteoroid or comet dust burns up in the atmosphere NOTE: Many people call this a “shooting star”, but it is not) |
Thrust | – the force that accelerates a rocket |
Orbital Velocity | – the speed and direction a rocket must have in order to orbit Earth |
Escape Velocity | – the speed and direction a rocket must have in order to completely break away from a planet’s gravitational pull |
Centripetal Force | – the force that causes an object to follow a curved path |
Moon | – a natural satellite of a planet (Note: satellites are natural or artificial bodies that revolve around more massive bodies such as planets) |