Science Quiz

What role did gravity play in the formation of the planets?

• The gravitational forces inside small asteroids pushed outward, causing the asteroids to swell to the size of planets.

• The gravity of the Sun was too weak to hold it together, and large pieces of the Sun broke off to form the planets.

• Planet-sized bodies passing by the solar system were pulled in by Earth's gravity and fell into orbit around the Sun.

• Gravitational forces brought together several moon-sized bodies, called planetesimals, to form larger bodies that became planets.

Which of the following best describes the big bang theory?

• Most of the Universe was formed as a result of a massive explosion that occurred after other galaxies had already formed.

• The Universe was formed as a result of a massive explosion sending out material in all directions at a great speed.

• Large explosions occur frequently in the Universe and allow it keep expanding.

• When a large star grew old and ran out of fuel, it resulted in a massive explosion of all types of material in all directions at a great speed.

Which of the following physical processes is most frequently responsible for changes in oceanic tides?

• volcanic eruption

• deposition

• gravity

• erosion

The regular rising and falling of ocean water due to the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon is called

• the tide.

• the Doppler effect.

• a tsunami.

• a hurricane.

The big bang theory states that the Universe began by expanding from a small point nearly 14 billion years ago. Since that time, the Universe has continued to expand, and it is still expanding today. In 1964, two scientists, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, were studying electromagnetic radiation emitted from space. During their research, they detected background radiation coming from all directions in the sky. This background radiation was found to be microwaves created during the big bang. What does this information demonstrate?

• Scientific data can be used to help show that theories of the Universe's origin should always remain the same.

• The origin of the Universe should be explained by stating a theory is correct before collecting data.

• Most scientific theories of the Universe's origin remain the same even if scientific data fails to support them.

• Scientific data can be used to help support a theory of the origin of the Universe.

Planets in the Solar System revolve around the Sun because

• the Sun is the slowest object in the Solar System.

• the Sun is the brightest object in the Solar System.

• the Sun is the hottest object in the Solar System.

• the Sun is the most massive object in the Solar System.

In stars, hydrogen nuclei combine with each other to form helium and other heavier elements. What is this process called?

• fusion

• fission

• convection

• wave motion

Why does the Moon have a greater influence on Earth's tides than the Sun does?

• because the Moon is more massive than the Sun

• because the Moon is less massive than the Sun

• because the Moon is farther away from Earth than the Sun is

• because the Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun is

The tides of the ocean result from the gravitational pull on the Earth by the Sun and _______.

Which of the following theories describes the formation of the Universe as a gigantic explosion from a single point that threw out all of the material in the Universe in all directions?

• big bang theory

• theory of evolution

• heliocentric theory

• geocentric theory