Everyday Science · 45 sec
Solar System
The science behind something you encounter, use, or wonder about.
The useful idea
- Bound by gravity
the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the masses that orbit it
- Most mass is the Sun
The Sun accounts for 99.86% of the Solar System's total mass.
- Eight planets
most prominently its eight planets, of which Earth is one.
Why this matters
Look for Solar System the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Try this
Look for Solar System the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Solar System?
- Most mass is the Sun
- Bound by gravity — correct
- Eight planets
the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the masses that orbit it