- Know the order of planets — this comes up frequently
- Distinguish between rocky planets (inner, small) and gas/ice giants (outer, large)
- Remember: moons orbit planets, planets orbit the Sun, Sun orbits galactic centre
- A light year is a distance, not a time — don't confuse this!
This exam tips covers Exam Tips within Our Solar System for GCSE Physics. Revise Our Solar System in Space Physics for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 7 of 8 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Practice questions for Our Solar System
Which of the following is NOT an inner rocky planet in our solar system?
Explain how gravity keeps a planet in a circular orbit around the Sun.
Quick recall flashcards
What is a light year?
The distance light travels in one year = 9.46 × 10¹² km. It's a DISTANCE, not a time!
What is a dwarf planet?
A planet-like object that is too small to clear its orbital path. Examples: Pluto, Ceres, Eris