Earth and Space practice Unit 8/9

The moon, the sun, and Earth have different physical characteristics. Which of these best describes a physical characteristic of the sun?

• It is solid and has many layers.

• It rotates on its axis every 24 hours.

• It is mostly made of hydrogen and helium.

• It is smaller and has less gravity than Earth or the moon.

One of the brightest objects in the night sky is a planet that is closer to the sun than Earth is. What is the name of this planet?

• Mars

• Saturn

• Jupiter

• Venus

Which of these cycles is a direct result of Earth’s rotation?

• Day and night

• Moon phases

• Rainfall and evaporation

• Seasons

A shadow moves during the day because of-

• Strong winds

• The Moon’s gravity

• Falling temperatures

• The rotation of Earth

Which picture shows how the tree’s shadow most likely looked at 9:00 A.M.?

• A

• B

• C

• D

A student is looking for evidence that Earth is always rotating on its axis. Which of the following would provide the best evidence?

• The different amount of rain that falls each day

• The appearance of shadows changing throughout the day

• The presence of other planets in the night sky

• The different phases of the moon in a month

A student builds a model of the solar system that includes a sphere representing Earth. The sphere turns in a full circle on its axis. By using a model of Earth that spins on its axis, the student can best demonstrate —

• the cycle of the four seasons

• the aging of a star

• the passing of a year

• the cycle of day and night

Which statement best explains why the sun appears to move across the sky during the day?

• The Earth is closest to the sun in the winter.

• The Earth is revolving around the sun.

• The Earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees.

• The Earth is rotating on its axis.

Students make a solar system model on the playground. The school building represents the sun. They label round objects for each planet. Which planet should they place at the greatest distance from the school building?

• Jupiter

• Neptune

• Mercury

• Saturn

In the early 1600s, the astronomer Galileo used a telescope to make observations of Mercury and Venus. What are the positions of these planets in relation to the sun?

• Mercury is the planet closest to the sun, and Venus is the 2nd planet from the sun.

• Mercury is the 2nd planet from the sun, and Venus is the 3rd planet from the sun.

• Venus is the planet closest to the sun, and Mercury is the 2nd planet from the sun.

• Mercury is the 3rd planet from the sun, and Venus is the planet closest to the sun.