Characteristics of Celestial Bodies Chapter 4

The diagram shows the habitable zone of the Sun. The habitable zone is the zone in which planets may have some conditions necessary to support life.

• Earth

• Mars

• Mercury

• Venus

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The arrows in the diagram represent the force of gravity.

Why are the arrows in row C thicker than the arrows than the arrows in row D?

• The objects in row C are farther apart, so the force of gravity is decreased.

• 
  The objects in row C are closer together, so the force of gravity is increased.

• One object in row C has a greater mass, so the force of gravity is increased.

• One object in row D has a smaller mass, so the force of gravity is decreased.

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Meteors and asteroids are solid objects in space. Which statement describes the difference between them?

• Meteors are pieces of asteroids that are burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.

• 
  Asteroids are pieces of meteors that are burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.

• Meteors are made of solid rock, ice, and gas and asteroids are made only of solid rock.

• Asteroids are made of solid rock, ice, and gas and meteors are made only of solid rock.

The figure shows the positions of the eight planets in the solar system. Size and distance are not to scale in this figure.

At which position is the Kuiper belt?

• between numbers 4 & 5

• between numbers 7 & 8

• after number 8

• before number 1

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The Sun's gravity affects the motions of objects in the solar system.

Which objects would have the greatest gravitational pull with the Sun?

• less massive, closer objects

• more massive, closer objects

• 
  less massive, more distant objects

• 
  more massive, more distant objects

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Suppose astronomers discover a planet in a distant solar system.

Which characteristics should the planet have to support life as we know it?

• large size

• far distance from star

• presence of water

• thin atmosphere

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The arrows in the diagram represent the force of gravity.

How could the force of gravity between these objects be increased? Select two correct answers.

• 
  Increase the mass of one of the objects.

• 
  Increase the melting point of one of the objects.

• Decrease the pressure between the objects.

• Decrease the distance between the objects.

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Which statement best explains the difference between asteroids and comets?

• Asteroids are made of solid rock material and comets are made of rocks and ice.

• Asteroids are made of rocks and ice, and comets are made of solid rock material.

• Asteroids and comets are made of the same materials, but asteroids are larger than comets.

• Asteroids are completely round and comets can be different shapes.

As the solar system formed, the material that made up the planets collided and stuck together. The planets became more massive.

What happened to the gravity of the planets?

• It increased.

• 
  It decreased.

• It was not affected.

• None of the above.

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Spacecraft that travel far into the solar system use the gravity of planets to help them increase or decrease speed or change direction. This process is called gravity assist.

Which outer planet would provide the greatest gravity assist?

• 
  Jupiter

• Neptune

• Saturn

• Uranus

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