Review for Solar System Test

. Why do temperatures on the moon’s surface vary more there than

temperatures on Earth’s surface?

• The moon has patches of ice.

• The moon has very little atmosphere.

• The moon’s surface has many craters.

• The moon has lower density than Earth.

There are many objects that are part of our Solar System including planets,

moons, and the Sun. Which of these objects has the greatest gravitational

force?

• Sun

• planets

• Earth’s Moon

• Saturn’s moons

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

A year is the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit the Sun. If Earth is 1

astronomical unit (AU) away from the Sun, and Neptune is 30 AU away from the

Sun, how does the length of a year on Earth compare to a year on Neptune?

• .A year is the same amount of time for all planets.

• A year on Earth is shorter than a year on Neptune because Earth is closer to

  the Sun.

• A year on Earth is shorter than a year on Neptune because Earth is smaller

  than Neptune.

• A year on Neptune is shorter than on Earth, since Neptune is bigger and

  orbits the Sun faster

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The following information describes objects in the Solar System.

Saturn is much larger than Mars.

Mars is 1.5 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun.

Saturn is 9.5 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun.

Based on the information, how does the average surface temperature on Mars

compare to the average surface temperature on Saturn?

• Since Mars is closer to the Sun than Saturn, it has a higher average surface

  temperature.

• Since both planets are more than 1 AU from the Sun, their average surface

  temperatures are equal.

• Even though Saturn is further away, Saturn's rings cause it to have a lower

  average surface temperature.

• Saturn is larger than Mars and absorbs more light, so it has a higher

  average surface temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System. It has as much mass as about

300 Earths! Venus is only slightly smaller than Earth and has about the same

mass as the Earth. How would Jupiter's gravity compare to that of Venus?

• Venus is more compact than Jupiter, so Venus has more gravity.

• Jupiter is more massive than Venus, so Jupiter has more gravity.

• Venus is closer to the Sun, so Venus has more gravity than Jupiter.

• Jupiter is farther from the Sun than Venus, so Jupiter has more gravity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The planets in our Solar System orbit the Sun.

Why do the planets stay in orbit, rather than drift

off into space?

• The planets need the warmth of the Sun to maintain their

  stability.

• The gravitational pull between the planets and the Sun keep

  them in orbit.

• The gravitational pull of the outer planets keep the inner

  planets in their orbit.

• The magnetic field of the planets and the Sun keep them

  attracted to one another.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

There are many objects that are part of our Solar

System including planets, moons, asteroids, and

the Sun. Which of these objects has the greatest

gravitational force?

• asteroids

• the Sun

• moons

• planets

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The surface gravity on Mars is only about 38% of the surface gravity on Earth. This means that if you weighed 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh only 38 pounds on Mars. Which factor best describes the reason for that difference?

• Earth’s mass is greater than that of Mars.

• Mars is farther from the Sun

• Earth has one moon, while Mars has two moons.

• The atmosphere of Mars is thinner than that of Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Venus is the planet most similar to the Earth in terms of size and mass. It has a thick, dense atmosphere. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system, and the closest to the Sun. Rather than an atmosphere, Mercury has a thin exosphere made up of atoms blasted off its surface by solar winds and striking meteoroids. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system. It is even hotter than Mercury. Which of these facts is the most likely reason that Venus is hotter than Mercury?

• Venus is farther from the Sun than Mercury.

• The axis of Venus has a greater tilt than Mercury’s axis

• Venus has a denser atmosphere than Mercury

• Venus revolves around the Sun more slowly than Mercury.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Some scientists hypothesize there is no planet between Mars and Jupiter. They hypothesize that the gravitational force of Jupiter was so strong it disrupted materials in that area from ever coming together, forming its own gravitational pull and establishing an independent orbit around the Sun. Another hypothesis is that there was a planet there, millions of years ago, but something happened that made it fall out of its orbit around our Sun. Which characteristic of Jupiter is most related to a strong gravitational pull?

• Compared to Earth, Jupiter is huge and has greater force to attract objects

• The cool gases that make up Jupiter’s atmosphere increase its gravity

• Jupiter’s extreme temperatures booster its gravitational force

• The layer of hydrogen gases making up Jupiter attracts nearby objects.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4