1. Chapter 3 Our Solar System
Vocabulary Review

2. the process of molten material moving from a planet’s hot interior to its surface
volcanism

3. a small, solid, rocky body that orbits close to the Sun
asteroid

4. the process of change in a crust due to hot material underneath
tectonics

5. a small, icy body in the outer solar system, which can or does produce a coma of gas and dust
comet

6. a planet that has a rocky surface
terrestrial planet

7. a brief streak of light produced by a small particle entering Earth’s atmosphere at a high speed
meteor

8. an oval or flattened circle
ellipse

9. a large planet that consists mostly of gases in dense form
gas giant

10. a wide, flat zone of particles that orbit around a planet’s equator
ring

11. Earth’s average distance from the Sun, which is approximately 150 million kilometers (93 million miles)
astronomical unit

12. a small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface
meteorite