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GCSE Physics · key term
A natural object that orbits a star; Earth is a planet orbiting the Sun.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.8.1.3 · Paper 2
Revise: Orbital motion, natural and artificial satellitesEarth is a planet: a natural object orbiting a star, the Sun. The Moon is a natural satellite orbiting Earth. People also place artificial satellites in orbit, commonly around Earth.
Specification 7.2P · Paper 1
One of the eight major bodies that orbit the Sun.
Revise: Solar System CompositionThe Solar System includes the Sun and the bodies associated with it. It has eight planets, including Earth. Planets travel around the Sun; they do not produce their own light as stars do.
Specification P8.3e · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
A large, nearly spherical body that orbits a star and has cleared most other objects from the neighbourhood of its orbit.
Revise: Solar systemThe Sun is a star. Its gravity holds the solar system together: eight planets orbit it, as do smaller bodies such as dwarf planets, asteroids and comets. A planet may also have objects orbiting it.
Include dwarf planets, asteroids and comets as well as the Sun, eight planets and natural satellites when listing the Solar System’s contents.
Do not count Pluto among the eight planets; it is a dwarf planet.
Give all eight planets in order from the Sun; Pluto is a dwarf planet, not a ninth planet.
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