Our Solar System

How many total natural satellite do the inner planets have?

• 1

• 0

• 2

• 3

Answer explanation

The inner planets, namely Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, have a total of 3 natural satellites or moons. Earth has 1 moon and Mars has 2 moons, while Mercury and Venus do not have any natural satellites.

What type of galaxy is our Milky Way galaxy?

• Irregular

• Nebula

• Spiral

• Elliptical

Answer explanation

The Milky Way galaxy is classified as a Spiral galaxy. Spiral galaxies have disc-like structures with arms that spiral outward, and the Milky Way fits this description. Irregular, Nebula, and Elliptical are other types of galaxies, but they don't accurately depict the structure of our galaxy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Put the objects in order from the Sun

• Mars

• Venus

• Earth

• Astroid Belt

• Mercury

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What takes up 99.8% of the mass in the solar system?

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Sun

• Astroid Belt

Answer explanation

The sun is the heaviest object in the solar system, accounting for 99.8% of its total mass. Although Earth and Jupiter are also heavy bodies within the solar system, their combined mass falls significantly short when compared to the Sun. The asteroid belt is made up of numerous small bodies and is not massive enough to be considered.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Another name for outer planets.

• Volcanic Giants

• Jovian

• Terrestrial

• Dense Giants

Answer explanation

The outer planets, also known as the gas giants, are often referred to as 'Jovian' planets. This term originates from Jupiter, which is the largest of the outer planets. The options 'Volcanic Giants', 'Terrestrial', and 'Dense Giants' do not correctly describe the group of outer planets.

Match the following

• Rotate

• Around another object (orbit)

• Revolve

• Terrestrial Planets

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

• Jovian Planets

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

• Spin on axis

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

What determines the length of a planet's year?

• the time it takes to rotate on its axis

• the time it takes to revolve around the

  Earth

• the time it takes to revolve around the sun

• the time it takes to rotate around the sun

Answer explanation

The length of a planet's year is determined by the time it takes to revolve around the sun. Other factors, like the planet's rotation on its axis or its relationship to the Earth, do not have an effect on the length of its year. Therefore, the correct answer is 'the time it takes to revolve around the sun'.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What determines the length of a planet's day?

• the time it take to revolve around the sun

• the time it takes to revolve around the Earth

• the time it takes to rotate on its axis

• the tilt of its axis

Answer explanation

The length of a planet's day is determined by the time it takes for the planet to complete one full rotation on its axis. This is why the correct answer is 'the time it takes to rotate on its axis'. Rotation is the spin of a planet about its axis. The Earth, for example, takes roughly 24 hours to rotate once on its axis, which is why an Earth day is 24 hours.

What do all the planets in our solar system have in common?

• they all have liquid water

• they all have elliptical orbits

• they all have dense atmospheres

• they all have moons

Answer explanation

The correct answer to the question, 'What do all the planets in our solar system have in common?' is that they all have elliptical orbits. This is in accordance with Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion which states that the planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus. Other options such as having liquid water, dense atmospheres, or moons do not apply to all planets in our solar system.

Which planet would most likely have a longer year - the one closer or farther from the sun?

• the closer to the sun, the longer the year

• the farther away, the longer the year

• neither, it depends on the rotation

• the distance from the sun would not matter

Answer explanation

The year length of a planet is determined by its orbital period around the sun. The farther a planet is from the sun, the longer it takes to complete one orbit, leading to a longer year. Hence, a planet farther from the sun would most likely have a longer year.