HMH Solar System Quiz 7.9B

A student creates a model of the solar system. Complete the sentence to explain the motion of the planets around the Sun. The force of ______ from the ______ keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun.

(a)  

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The diagram below models Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury orbiting the sun. What is the main force that causes Mars to travel along a curved orbit around the Sun instead of moving in a straight line out of Earth's solar system?

• The force of gravity between Mars and the Sun

• The magnetic force between Mars and Earth

• The force of gravity between Mars, Venus, and Earth

• The magnetic force between Mars, the Sun, and Mercury

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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The picture below shows one of Jupiter’s moons, Io, taken by the space probe Cassini. Similar to the reason that planets in Earth's solar system orbit the Sun, Io maintains a constant orbit around Jupiter because —

• the gravitational pull from Jupiter is much greater than any other forces acting on Io.

• the magnetic forces between Jupiter and Io repel these two masses at a perfect distance, causing Io to travel on a curved path.

• Jupiter is the closest planet to the Sun; therefore, the force of gravity from the Sun pushes Io around Jupiter.

• high pressures and gases on Jupiter pull Io toward Jupiter.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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The picture below shows Halley's Comet, which has an elliptical orbit around the Sun and can be seen from Earth every 75 to 76 years. Halley's Comet orbits the Sun because —

• the force of gravity between the comet and the Sun influences the comet’s motion.

• it has a negative magnetic field that is attracted to the Sun's positive magnetic field.

• it is attracted to the outer planets that sling it toward the Sun.

• the rotation of the solar system creates winds that push it around the Sun.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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The diagram below shows how Mercury and Venus orbit the Sun. Which dotted line indicates the force which plays the largest role in curving Mercury's orbit?

• W, the gravitational force pulling Mercury toward the Sun

• X, the electromagnetic force pushing Mercury out of the Sun's orbit

• Y, the gravitational force pulling Mercury toward Venus

• Z, the electromagnetic force pushing Mercury toward a distant star

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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The picture below shows a NASA image of the Oort cloud, a sphere of objects that are thought to surround Earth's solar system at a distance of up to one light year from the Sun.

• They are held in orbits by the Sun's gravitational force.

• They are held in Earth's solar system by Neptune's magnetic field.

• They float freely in space because the Sun's gravitational force is too weak to hold them in orbit.

• They are held in stationary positions around Earth's solar system by other stars in space.

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Based on Sir Isaac Newton's first law of motion, an object will remain moving in a constant straight path of motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. The unbalanced force with the most influence in changing the path of the planet Saturn from straight to curved is —

• the gravitational force between Saturn and the Sun.

• the electromagnetic force between Saturn and distant stars outside the solar system.

• the strong force between attractive minerals in Saturn's core and Neptune's core.

• the gravitational force between Jupiter and Saturn.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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Astronomers believe that Earth's solar system began as a rotating disc of dust because they have observed this phenomenon elsewhere in the Milky Way galaxy. Which of the following is the best explanation of how this disc of dust became Earth's solar system?

• The force of gravity attracted these particles of dust to one another; over time, these particles clustered and formed the Sun, the planets, and their orbits.

• The force of friction attracted these particles of dust to one another; over time, these particles created clumps that formed the Sun, the planets, and their orbits.

• The force of nuclear energy created a suction that formed these particles into the Sun and the planets and kept them in elliptical orbits.

• The force from strong electromagnetic fields pulled the particles together to form the Sun and the planets and kept them in elliptical orbits.

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Inertia is defined as the tendency of an object to resist a change in motion. Objects moving in space tend to move in straight lines because of inertia. If this is the case, then why do planets orbit in elliptical paths?

• The speed of the planets and the gravitational pull of the Sun cause the planets' curved paths.

• The force of gravity between planets keeps them on a path, preventing them from leaving the solar system.

• The force created by the nuclear fusion of the hydrogen in the Sun curves the planets' paths.

• The magnetic force of distant stars pushes the planets into a curved path.

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The word planet comes from the Greek word planetes, which means "wanderer." This stems from the observations of astronomers that planets, unlike stars, appeared to reverse direction in the night sky. Planets in Earth's solar system appear to wander the sky because planets are held in orbit mainly by the force of —

• gravity from the Sun.

• magnetism from Uranus.

• traveling comets that circulate in and out of the solar system.

• distant stars that push the planets into the Sun.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4