Interactive revision built for YOU. Click through sections, watch videos, take quizzes, and test yourself. Use the tools above to make it comfortable.
Start with this video. It explains everything you need — just sit back and watch.
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National Geographic — Solar System 101 Crash Course — Introduction to the Solar SystemThe Sun is at the centre of our solar system.
The Sun is a star. It is a huge ball of hot gas.
It gives us light and heat.
The Sun makes energy through something called nuclear fusionTiny atoms join together inside the Sun. This releases huge amounts of energy — light and heat. It is NOT burning like a fire..
GravityAn invisible force that pulls objects towards each other. Bigger objects have stronger gravity. The Sun's gravity holds all the planets in orbit. is an invisible force that pulls things towards each other.
The Sun is MASSIVE — so it has very strong gravity.
This gravity pulls the planets and keeps them moving around the Sun.
The path a planet takes around the Sun is called an orbitThe curved path an object takes around another object. Like running around a track — you keep going round and round..
There are 8 planets in our solar system. They go around the Sun.
Mercury · Venus · Earth · Mars · Jupiter · Saturn · Uranus · Neptune
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Small. Made of rock and metal.
Think: hard like a cricket ball
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Huge. Made of gas and ice.
Think: soft like a big bouncy ball
It's not just planets! There are other objects too:
You need to know these words. Tap each one to see what it means.
Have a go! If you get one wrong, the right answer lights up green so you can learn from it.
1. How many planets are in our solar system?
2. What force keeps the planets going around the Sun?
3. The Sun is a...
1. Which are the 4 rocky planets?
2. Where are most asteroids found?
3. What happens to a comet when it gets near the Sun?
Use the word bank below. Type the correct word into each gap.
The Sun makes energy through .
The Sun's keeps the planets in orbit.
Most asteroids are in the between Mars and Jupiter.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called .
Balls of ice and dust that grow tails near the Sun are called .
Click the planets in the correct order, starting from the one closest to the Sun.
The Earth rotates (spins) on its axis once every 24 hours. The side facing the Sun gets daylight. The side facing away is in darkness (night). This is why we have day and night.
The Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees. As Earth orbits the Sun (which takes 365.25 days — one year), different parts of the Earth are tilted towards or away from the Sun. This causes the seasons.
When the UK is tilted towards the Sun, we get summer (longer days, Sun higher in the sky). When tilted away, we get winter (shorter days, Sun lower in the sky).
The Moon orbits the Earth roughly every 28 days. It does not produce its own light — it reflects sunlight.
As the Moon orbits, we see different amounts of its lit side. These are called phases: new moon, crescent, half moon (quarter), gibbous, and full moon.
1. How long does it take Earth to rotate once?
2. What causes the seasons?
3. The Moon produces its own light. True or false?
Click the phases in the correct order, starting from New Moon.
Why do we have summer and winter? It's NOT because we're closer to the Sun! It's all about Earth's tilt. In this section you'll learn exactly how the 23.5° tilt causes our seasons.
Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees. This tilt NEVER changes direction — it always points the same way in space.
As Earth orbits the Sun over one year, different parts of Earth are tilted towards or away from the Sun.
These short videos explain exactly how Earth's tilt causes seasons. Watch at least one!
It's easy to think summer happens because Earth is closer to the Sun — but that's a common mistake! Earth's orbit is nearly circular, so distance barely changes.
What really matters is the angle of sunlight:
1. What causes the seasons on Earth?
2. When the UK is tilted towards the Sun, what season is it in the UK?
3. At what angle is Earth's axis tilted?
Use the word bank to complete the sentences.
Earth's axis is tilted at degrees.
It takes one year for Earth to the Sun.
When your hemisphere is tilted the Sun, you experience .
When your hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, it is and the days are .
Click the seasons in the correct order, starting from the beginning of the year.
10 questions covering the Solar System, Earth's tilt, seasons, and the Moon. Take your time. You get instant feedback on each one.