MAP PREP #6 - Space Science

What are the differences between asteroids and planets?

• Planets orbit around the Sun and asteroids do not.
• Asteroids are able to hit Earth and planets are not.
• Planets rotate at a speed much faster than asteroids.
• Planets are larger and shaped like spheres, while asteroids are smaller and not spherical.

Which of the following statements best explains why it is warmer at the equator than at the North Pole?

• The equator has a larger area than the North Pole.
• The equator is closer to the Sun than the North Pole.
• The equator receives more direct sunlight than the North Pole.
• The equator has more hours of daylight per year than the North Pole.

The Sun appears larger than the others stars because of

• its yellow color
• its high temperature
• its distance from Earth
• the greater amount of light it gives off

Which list orders the celestial bodies from closest to farthest from the Earth?

• the Sun, Jupiter, the asteroid belt, the Moon
• the star Alpha Centauri, the Sun, Mars, the Moon
• Saturn, the Moon, the star Alpha Centauri, the asteroid belt
• the Moon, the Sun, Neptune, the star Alpha Centauri

How is Earth different from the other planets in the solar system?

• It has an atmosphere
• It has a solid surface
• It has warm temperatures
• It has liquid water on its surface

Kennedy and her mother observed the constellation Orion high in the night sky. Four hours later, they noticed that the constellation had moved to another part of the sky. Why?

• Earth’s axis is tilted.
• Earth rotates on its axis.
• The stars in the constellation Orion changed positions.
• The stars in the constellation Orion moved across the sky.

The length of one day on Earth is determined by how long it takes

• the Moon to revolve once
• the Moon to rotate once
• Earth to rotate once
• Earth to revolve once

Which of the following does not accurately compare the inner planets to the outer planets?

• The inner planets are smaller than the outer planets.
• The outer planets lack the rocky surface of the inner planets.
• Only the inner planets have atmospheres.
• The inner and outer planets differ in their distance from the Sun.

On Earth, a day lasts about 24 hours. On Saturn, a day lasts about 10 hours. Why is a day on Saturn so much shorter than a day on Earth?

• The Earth rotates on its axis more slowly than Saturn does.
• Saturn is much farther from the Sun than Earth is.
• Saturn is much more massive than Earth.
• Earth revolves around the Sun more slowly than Saturn does.

Which quality do all the planets in the solar system share?

• They all have moons.
• They all rotate in 24 hours.
• They all have rings.
• They all orbit the Sun in about the same plane.