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Summaries · Grade 4 Natural Sciences › The solar system
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The solar system

The Sun and the eight planets, other objects in space, and the seasons. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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The eight planets

SunMercuryVenusEarthMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptuneNot to scale
The eight planets in order from the Sun.
  • Mercury is closest to the Sun; Neptune the furthest.
  • Mercury and Venus lie between the Earth and the Sun. Venus comes closer to Earth than any other planet.
  • The distant planets are very cold, because they are far from the Sun.
  • A spacecraft cannot land on Jupiter: it has no solid surface.
The Sun and the eight planets.
The Sun and the eight planets.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Other things in space

WordMeaning
MoonThe Earth has one; it is not a planet
MeteorA rocky object that burns up in our sky
AsteroidA large rock moving through space
CometA ball of ice with a long tail
Milky WayThe group of stars our solar system lies in

Astronauts wear a spacesuit with its own air. Astronomers use a telescope.

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The seasons

SeasonMonths in South Africa
SummerDecember, January, February
AutumnMarch, April, May
WinterJune, July, August
SpringSeptember, October, November
  • In summer the days are the longest; winter days are shorter and colder.
  • When it is summer here, it is winter in England, in the northern hemisphere.
  • The Earth spins about 365 times in one year.
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Just right for life

The Sun is a huge ball of hot gas: much bigger than the Earth and very far away, but still the nearest star to us. The Earth is at just the right distance: it gets the right amount of light and heat for life. Closer to the Sun it would be too hot, and further away too cold.

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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • The Sun is at the centre of our solar system; there are eight planets.
  • Order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
  • Jupiter is the largest; Saturn has rings; Mars is the red planet.
  • A meteor burns up in our sky; an asteroid is a big rock; a comet is a ball of ice with a tail.
  • South Africa’s seasons: summer (Dec–Feb), autumn, winter (Jun–Aug), spring (from September).

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

    Now the real quiz!

    The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.

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