The Solar System

• The Solar System includes the Sun, eight planets, moons, asteroids, and comets — all held by gravity.
• Earth's place as the third planet from the Sun — neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water.
• The Sun as the light and energy source for life on Earth.
• To connect with NCERT Looking Around 5, Chapter 11 (Sunita in Space) — view of Earth from space.

Level 1 — Sun and planets

Verbal: The Sun is a star; planets orbit it in nearly circular paths.

Symbolic: Order from Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

NCERT link: Looking Around 5, Ch 11 — Sunita Williams describes Earth as a blue planet from space.

Level 2 — Gravity and Earth's uniqueness

Verbal: Gravity keeps planets in orbit and gives us weight on Earth.

Real-life: ISS astronauts appear weightless because they are in continuous free fall — not because gravity is zero (Ch 11 discussion).

Why does the Sun appear to rise and set if it is always shining?

Step 1 — Sun stays relatively fixed; Earth rotates.
Step 2 — Your location turns toward then away from Sun.
Step 3 — Appears to rise in east, set in west.
Answer: Earth's rotation creates day/night cycle.

Name two things Sunita could see about Earth from space (Ch 11).

Step 1 — Blue colour (oceans), white swirls (clouds), brown/green land.
Step 2 — No visible borders between countries.
Answer: Blue planet with clouds; one shared home.

• What is at the centre of our Solar System?
• Which planet do we live on?
• Why does the Moon look bright?
• Stretch: Order the first four planets from the Sun.

Revision tip: Build a paper model: Sun at centre, eight planet names on strings at increasing distances — recite order daily for one week.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on the Solar System.