[Formative Assessment] The Sun, Planets and Solar System Quiz

_____ Is a phenomenon that takes place as a result of the Earth’s rotation

• The Seasons

• Day & Night

• An Eclipse

Answer explanation

The Earth is a sphere, so when it orbits around the Sun, one half faces the sun (day) and the other half is in darkness (night), (Victoria Department of Education and Training, [s.a.]).

_____ is the study of space and objects in outer space

• Astronomy

• Astrology

• Meteorology

• Planetology

Answer explanation

Astronomy is the study of all the objects outside Earth’s atmosphere, including the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, galaxies, and all other matter in the universe. People known as astronomers study these objects (Britannica Kids, 2021).

The layer of gas around a planet is called the ____

Answer explanation

The atmosphere is a layer of gas that surrounds our planet. Other planets, and some of their larger moons, also have atmospheres (Britannica Kids, 2021).

Pluto is the smallest planet in our solar system

• True

• False

Answer explanation

As of 2006, Pluto was demoted and became a 'dwarf planet'. Therefore, Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, it is only slightly larger than Earth's Moon (NASA, 2021). 

Attraction between the sun and a planet

• Electromagnetism

• The strong force.

• Gravity

• Natural Chemistry

Answer explanation

Gravity is an invisible force that pulls objects toward each other. The Earth's gravity is what keeps us on the ground and what makes things fall (NASA, 2021).

____ is also known as the evening star.

• The Sun

• The Moon

• Venus

• Saturn

Answer explanation

Venus is known as the evening star because it is the brightest in the evening before the Sun has gone down (Space, 2021).

What are the two gases that mostly make up Saturn?

• Oxygen & Helium

• Oxygen & Nitrogen

• Hydrogen & Helium

• Hydrogen & Nitrogen

Answer explanation

Saturn is a massive planet made up of 75% hydrogen and 25% helium, with traces of other substances like methane and water ice.

Asteroids are rocks that fall through Earth’s atmosphere

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Asteroids are large rocks that orbit around the sun.

Meteors are smaller rocks that fall through Earth’s atmosphere.

The orbits of the planets are _____

• Elliptical

• Circular

• Diaginal

Answer explanation

Orbits come in different shapes. The planets orbits in our Solar System are elliptical, which means they are in a shape similar to an oval (NASA, 2021).

The Main Asteroid Belt is found between these two planets

• Mars & Earth

• Saturn & Uranus

• Jupiter & Saturn

• Mars & Jupiter

Answer explanation

Most bits and pieces of space rock left over from the beginning of the solar system can be found orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter within the Main Asteroid Belt (NASA, 2021).