Gravity and Scale in Space

What force is responsible for keeping the planets in orbit around the Sun?

• Friction

• Gravity

• Magnetism

• Electricity

Answer explanation

The force responsible for keeping the planets in orbit around the Sun is gravity. It is the attractive force between the Sun and the planets that maintains their orbits, unlike friction, magnetism, or electricity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which of the following is the largest object in our solar system?

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Sun

• Moon

Answer explanation

The Sun is the largest object in our solar system, containing about 99.86% of its total mass. In comparison, Jupiter is the largest planet, but it is significantly smaller than the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Why do all of the planets orbit the Sun rather than Earth?

• The Sun has more mass

• The Sun is a star

• The Earth is heavier

• The Sun is in the middle of the Milky Way

Answer explanation

The Sun has more mass than Earth, which creates a stronger gravitational pull. This is why all planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun instead of each other.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

What does a light year measure?

• Temperature

• Distance

• Brightness

• Time

Answer explanation

A light year measures distance, specifically the distance that light travels in one year, which is about 5.88 trillion miles. It is not a measure of temperature, brightness, or time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What keeps the Moon in orbit around Earth?

• Speed

• Gravity

• Weight

• Friction

Answer explanation

Gravity is the force that attracts the Moon towards Earth, keeping it in orbit. While speed is important for maintaining the orbit, it is gravity that primarily governs the Moon's path around our planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which of the following is the largest?

• The Milky Way Galaxy

• A red giant star

• The Moon

• Jupiter

Answer explanation

The Milky Way Galaxy is the largest among the options, as it contains billions of stars and spans about 100,000 light-years in diameter, while a red giant star, the Moon, and Jupiter are significantly smaller in comparison.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

How does gravity change from Earth to the Moon?

• It increases

• It decreases

• It stays the same

• There is no gravity on the Moon

Answer explanation

Gravity decreases from Earth to the Moon because the Moon has only about 1/6th the gravitational pull of Earth. This means objects weigh less on the Moon than they do on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Order from smallest to largest:

• Planet, solar system, galaxy, universe

• Universe, galaxy, solar system, planet

• Planet, galaxy, solar system, universe

• Solar system, planet, universe, galaxy

Answer explanation

The correct order from smallest to largest is: planet (smallest), solar system, galaxy, and universe (largest). This reflects the hierarchical structure of astronomical entities.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which force keeps the planets moving in their orbits around the Sun instead of flying off into space?

• Frictional force

• Electrical force

• Magnetic force

• Gravitational force

Answer explanation

The gravitational force is the key force that keeps the planets in their orbits around the Sun. It pulls them towards the Sun, preventing them from flying off into space.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Is the Moon bigger or smaller than the Earth?

• Bigger

• The same

• Smaller

Answer explanation

The Moon is smaller than the Earth. In fact, the Moon's diameter is about 3,474 km, while Earth's diameter is about 12,742 km, making the Moon roughly one-fourth the size of Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3