🌟 Part 1: Solar System Knowledge

1. What is an orbital period?

The time it takes a planet to spin once on its axis

The time it takes a planet to complete one orbit around the Sun

The distance between a planet and the Sun

The size of a planet compared to Earth

2. Which planet has the shortest orbital period (shortest "year")?

Mercury

Earth

Jupiter

Neptune

3. What keeps planets moving in regular orbital paths around the Sun?

4. Fill in the blanks:

A planet ________ the Sun in a predictable path called an ________. The time for one complete orbit is called the ________ ________.

5. Which of these are major components of our Solar System? (Tick all that apply)

The Sun

Eight planets

Moons

Other galaxies

Asteroids and comets

📋 Part 2: Planet Sequencing Activity

6. Put these planets in order from shortest to longest orbital period (1 = shortest year, 4 = longest year):

_____ Earth (1 year)

_____ Mercury (88 Earth days)

_____ Jupiter (12 Earth years)

_____ Mars (687 Earth days)

7. Based on the information above, explain the pattern between a planet's distance from the Sun and its orbital period:

🎨 Part 3: Timeline Drawing Task

8. In the space below, draw a simple timeline showing the orbital periods of Mercury, Earth, and Jupiter. Label each planet and show how their "years" compare in length.

9. Extension Challenge: If you lived on Jupiter, how many birthdays would you have celebrated by the time you turn 12 on Earth? Show your working.

10. Explain why planets have regular, predictable orbital paths using evidence from your Solar System model: