EEn 1.1.1 Explain the Earth's motion Part 1

Some constellations are more prominent in the night sky of North Carolina in winter, while other constellations are more prominent in the night sky in summer. Which best explains why this occurs?

• because of Earth’s rotation on its axis

• because of stars revolving around Earth

• because of Earth revolving around the sun

• because of the change in the barycenter of Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

If the fission theory of moon formation is true, what is also true about the motion of Earth in its formative stages?

• Early Earth rotated on its axis much more slowly than it does today

• Early Earth rotated on its axis much more quickly than it does today.

• Early Earth revolved around the Sun much more slowly than it does today

• Early Earth revolved around the Sun much more quickly than it does today

Kepler’s third law states that, for a planet orbiting the Sun, the square of the period of the planet’s orbit is proportional to the cube of the planet’s average distance from the Sun. This is written as the formula T/R = 1. For example, Saturn’s period is 29.5 Earth years, and its average distance is 9.5 astronomical units. So, like all orbiting bodies, its T/R is equal to 1.

Jupiter’s year is equal to 11.8 Earth years. What is Jupiter’s average distance to the Sun in astronomical units?

• 1

• 5.2

• 9.5

• 11.8

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The figure shows the path of a planet orbiting the Sun. The three areas shaded in gray have equal areas

According to Kepler’s second law, which conclusion is supported by the data?

• The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F are all equal.

• The time interval from A to B is twice the interval from E to F.

• The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F combine to be equal to one half of a full orbit

• The time intervals from C to D and from E to F combine to be equal to the time interval from A to B.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

A new planet is discovered orbiting a single star. The planet has one moon. According to Kepler’s first law, what do scientists know about the orbit of the planet around the star?

• The orbit is circular with the star at the center of the circle.

• The orbit is elliptical with the star at one focus of the ellipse.

• The planet takes 12 times longer to orbit the star than the moon takes to orbit the planet.

• The planet orbits the star in a direction opposite to the direction of the moon’s orbit of the planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The table above displays data about four planets in the solar system.

According to Kepler’s third law, what is the length of Neptune’s year in Earth years?

• 30.06

• 114.5

• 165

• 168

What type of galaxy is the Milky Way?

• spiral

• elliptical

• irregular

• oval

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The planet below is orbiting the Sun. The two sweeps are on opposite sides of the Sun and are labeled t. Though the orbital distance covered in each sweep is different, the time interval for each sweep is the same. Areas A and B are bounded by the arcs of the planet’s sweep in time, t, and the lines between the endpoints of the arc and the center of the Sun.

What is the relationship between Area A and Area B?

• Area A is 50% larger than Area B.

• Area A is 50% smaller than Area B.

• Area A is the same size as Area B.

• Area A is twice as big as Area B.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

In 2004 the Hubble space telescope captured images of distant star clusters, each containing about a million stars. These star clusters were MOST likely part of which structure?

• a black hole

• a galaxy

• a nebula

• a solar system

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which number is closest to the estimated number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy?

• 200 thousand

• 200 million

• 200 billion

• 200 trillion