Dwarf Planet
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A Dwarf Planet is a large lump of rock orbiting a star that has enough gravity to be round, but not enough to have cleared its orbit of other objects.
About Dwarf Planets
- There are several known dwarf planets in our Solar System. However, there may be many other dwarf planets that are too far away from The Sun to be seen.
Examples
| Ceres | Pluto |
 |
 |
| Ceres is a Dwarf Planet found in the Asteroid Belt. | Pluto is a Dwarf Planet found beyond the orbit of Neptune. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A Dwarf Planet is a large lump of rock orbiting a star that has enough gravity to become a sphere, but not enough to have cleared its orbit of other objects.
About Dwarf Planets
- There are several known dwarf planets in our Solar System. However, there may be many other dwarf planets that are too far away from The Sun to be seen.
Examples
| Ceres | Pluto |
|
|
| Ceres is a Dwarf Planet found in the Asteroid Belt. | Pluto is a Dwarf Planet found beyond the orbit of Neptune. |
References
AQA
- Dwarf planet, pages 275, 277, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Dwarf planets, page 101, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Dwarf planets, page 249, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Dwarf planets, page 320, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA