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GCSE Physics · key term
A naturally occurring body that orbits a planet, such as the Moon orbiting Earth.
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Specification 7.2P, 7.5P · Paper 1
A natural body that orbits another body in space, such as the Moon orbiting Earth.
Revise: Solar System CompositionMany planets have natural satellites, often called moons. Earth’s Moon is one example: it travels around Earth, while Earth travels around the Sun. Natural satellites can also orbit some dwarf planets and asteroids, so “moon” does not mean only a satellite of a planet.
Paper 1, Paper 2
An object, such as a moon, that naturally orbits a planet.
Revise: Structure and Orbits of the Solar SystemA moon is a natural satellite: it orbits a planet rather than the Sun directly. Some planets have several moons, while others have none. An artificial satellite is made by people and placed in orbit; the International Space Station, for example, orbits Earth.
Include dwarf planets, asteroids and comets as well as the Sun, eight planets and natural satellites when listing the Solar System’s contents.
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