- Solar System: Sun + 8 planets + moons + asteroids + comets
- Milky Way: Our galaxy — 200 billion stars in a spiral shape
- Universe: All matter, energy, space, and time — ~2 trillion galaxies
- Light year: Distance light travels in one year = 9.46 × 10¹² km
Scale: Nearest star (Proxima Centauri) = 4.2 light years away. Our galaxy = 100,000 light years across!
This study notes covers Our Place in the Universe 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 5 of 8 in this topic. Use this study notes to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
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