Video Transcript
Complete the following
sentence. The solar system blank. (A) Orbits another star system. (B) Orbits the center of the
galaxy. (C) Does not orbit anything.
In this question, we’re considering
the solar system and whether it orbits anything in particular.
Now, when we talk about orbit, we
might first think of things orbiting the Earth, such as satellites or the Moon. Recall that gravity is what keeps
objects in orbit because it acts to pull any objects with mass together. For example, gravity keeps
satellites in orbit around Earth, and it also keeps Earth in orbit around the
Sun. In fact, gravity is responsible for
keeping the entire solar system together.
We should recall that the solar
system includes Earth, the seven other planets, and many moons, asteroids, and
comets, as well as the Sun, which is a star. As well as the Sun, there are
billions of other stars within the Milky Way, all of which are held together by
gravity. Gravity causes everything in the
Milky Way to orbit the center of the galaxy. This rotation is actually what
helps give the Milky Way its spiral shape. All of the starts in the Milky Way
orbit the center of the galaxy, including the Sun and therefore the entire solar
system.
Therefore, the correct answer is
option (B). Completing the sentence then, we
know that the solar system orbits the center of the galaxy.
