Questions: Which of the following is not a general difference between a planet and a star? Planets orbit stars, and stars orbit the center of the galaxy. Planets are smaller than stars. Planets are dimmer than stars. Planets are made of rock and stars are made of gas.

Solution Steps

To determine which statement is not a general difference between a planet and a star, we need to evaluate each option based on our understanding of planets and stars:

1. Planets orbit stars, and stars orbit the center of the galaxy.

   • This is generally true. Planets orbit stars due to gravitational attraction, while stars, including our Sun, orbit the center of their respective galaxies.

2. Planets are smaller than stars.

   • This is generally true. Stars are typically much larger than planets. For example, the Sun, a medium-sized star, is significantly larger than any planet in our solar system.

3. Planets are dimmer than stars.

   • This is generally true. Stars emit their own light due to nuclear fusion occurring in their cores, making them much brighter than planets, which only reflect the light of their stars.

4. Planets are made of rock and stars are made of gas.

   • This statement is not entirely accurate. While many planets, like Earth, are rocky, there are also gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. Additionally, stars are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium gas, but not all planets are made of rock.

Based on the analysis above, the statement "Planets are made of rock and stars are made of gas" is not a general difference between planets and stars because it inaccurately categorizes all planets as rocky, ignoring the existence of gas giants.

Final Answer