Quiz about Solar System In Motion

Question 1

A planet's rotation determines the length of its day and its revolution determines the length of its year. A day on Earth is 24 hours, and a year on Earth is 365 days. In contrast, a day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus. Which is the best reason for why this is true?

Accepted Answer

It takes Venus longer to rotate on its axis than to orbit the Sun .

Answer

The orbit of Venus takes it too close to the Sun .

Answer

The orbit of Venus takes it too far away from the Sun .

Answer

It takes Venus longer to orbit the Sun than to rotate on its axis.

Question 2

What causes one body to orbit another in space?

Accepted Answer

A body's inertia is balanced by another body's pull of gravity.

Answer

A body's inertia attracts other bodies with the same inertia.

Answer

A body's gravity is overpowered by the inertia of another body.

Answer

A body will orbit another body when their gravities are equal.

Question 3

Column A: Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury

Column B: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Students created a chart to compare and contrast the planets.

Which BEST describes how the planets are grouped?

Accepted Answer

Column A planets are rocky, while Column B planets are mostly gas.

Answer

Column A planets can support life, while Column B planets cannot.

Answer

Column A planets are farther from the Sun, while Column B planets are closer to the Sun.

Answer

Column A planets have thick atmospheres, while Column B planets have thin atmospheres.

Question 4

The average temperature of the planets

Accepted Answer

decreases with greater distance from the Sun

Answer

has no relationship to the distance from the Sun

Answer

depends only on the chemical composition of the atmosphere of each planet

Answer

increases with greater distance from the Sun

Question 5

Day & night are caused by the ______________ of earth on its axis

Accepted Answer

rotation

Answer

revolution

Answer

orbit

Answer

tilt of the axis

Question 6

Which of these experiments would best replicate the big bang theory?

Accepted Answer

exploding a tightly packed substance inside a vacuum

Answer

dropping fragments of metal into a magnetized box

Answer

turning on an underwater speaker in a water tank

Answer

shaking sand particles in a mixture of oil and water

Question 7

The varying theories of the universe's eventual end all depend on what about the current universe?

Accepted Answer

Its mass

Answer

Its rate of expansion

Answer

Its volume

Answer

Its energy

Question 8

Read the passage "Stars and Planets" below.
STARS AND PLANETS

Scientists have been looking for planets outside of the solar system for a long time. Twenty years ago, someone found the first planet around a faraway star. Today, astronomers have found many planets around stars like the Sun. Some of these planets are like Earth and could have intelligent life. One day in the future, human scientists may meet organisms from another planet!

What does this passage NOT have that all scientific explanations need?

Accepted Answer

evidence to support the ideas

Answer

ideas about something in nature

Answer

a map to the new planets

Answer

detailed pictures of planets

Question 9

The currently recognized theory for the origin of the universe is referred to as the big bang theory. Correctly order the steps of the big bang theory from earliest to most recent.

Answer Choices:

A. production of elements

B. formation of stars

C. big bang expansion

D. rapid inflation and cooling

E. appearance of galaxies

Accepted Answer

C,D,A,B,E

Answer

A,B,C,D,E

Answer

E,A,C,D,B

Answer

C,A,B,D,E

Question 10

How have models of Earth's position in the solar system changed over time?

Accepted Answer

Original models showed Earth in the center of the solar system, and current models show the Sun at the center, orbited by Earth.

Answer

Original models showed the Moon in the center of the solar system, and current models show Earth at the center, orbited by the Sun and Moon.

Answer

Original models showed Earth in the center of the solar system, and current models show the Moon at the center, orbited by the Sun and Earth.

Answer

Original models showed the Sun in the center of the solar system, and current models show Earth at the center, orbited by the Sun.

Question 11

Astronomers study many different kinds of objects in our Solar System. Which of the following best describes a difference between comets and asteroids?

Accepted Answer

Comets are made mostly of ice, and asteroids are made mostly of rocks.

Answer

Comets orbit planets, and most asteroids orbit the Sun.

Answer

Comets are hot balls of gas, and asteroids are made mostly of ice.

Answer

Comets orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, and asteroids form patterns in the sky.

Question 12

Amanda's younger brother tells her that he saw a comet with a long and bright tail move rapidly across the sky. Amanda tells him that it was not a comet.

Which statement explains why Amanda is correct?

Accepted Answer

Comets do not move rapidly across the sky.

Answer

Comets do not have tails

Answer

Comets are not ever visible from Earth.

Answer

Comets are not a part of our Solar System.

Question 13

Which shows a comet, meteorite, and meteor in order from smallest to largest?

Accepted Answer

meteorite, meteor, comet

Answer

meteor, comet, meteorite

Answer

comet, meteorite, meteor

Answer

meteor, meteorite, comet

Question 14

Luis draws a picture of Earth and the Moon to illustrate the forces that govern the movements of each. If his model is correct, what is his model likely to show? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

inertia pulling on the Moon as it moves around Earth

Accepted Answer

gravity pulling on the Moon as it moves around Earth

Answer

drag pulling on Earth as it moves around the Moon

Answer

friction pulling on Earth as it moves around the Moon

Question 15

The average temperature of the planets

Accepted Answer

decreases with greater distance from the Sun

Answer

has no relationship to the distance from the Sun

Answer

depends only on the chemical composition of the atmosphere of each planet

Answer

increases with greater distance from the Sun

Question 16

A student is creating a model to represent the different levels of organization in the universe. If the student wants to put them in order by size from smallest to largest, how should they be arranged? (Arrange from top to bottom)

Answer Choices:

a. the Milky Way galaxy

b. the universe

c. the Local Group

d. the solar system

e. Earth

Accepted Answer

e,d,a,c,b

Answer

a,b,c,d,e

Answer

c,a,e,d,b

Answer

a,c,d,b,e

Question 17

What makes up a galaxy?

Accepted Answer

a massive collection of star systems orbiting a central point

Answer

a group of stars that together form a visible pattern

Answer

a collection of planets orbiting a central star system

Answer

any object that has smaller bodies caught within its gravity

Question 18

Why does Georgia have warmer temperatures in the summer?

Accepted Answer

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun during summer.

Answer

Earth is closer to the Sun during summer.

Answer

The Sun is closer to the horizon during winter.

Answer

The Moon blocks the Northern Hemisphere during winter.

Question 19

Tin lives in Atlanta and observes the moon as a waxing gibbous. Her cousin lives halfway around the world in China. Do Tin and her cousin see the same phase of the moon at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because the phase of the Moon does not change as the Earth rotates.

Answer

No, because the phase of the Moon changes as the Earth rotates.

Answer

Yes, because the Moon quickly rotates around the Earth and will appear in the same phase to everyone on Earth.

Answer

No, because the Earth quickly rotates around the Moon and will appear in different phases to everyone on Earth.

Question 20

Rachael observed the pattern of the Moon. She observed that the shape of the Moon is not the same every day. What could be the reason for her observation?

Accepted Answer

The Moon reflects the Sun's light, and the part of the Moon facing the Sun is visible.

Answer

The Moon produces its own light, and the part of the Moon away from the Sun is visible.

Answer

The Moon reflects the light of Earth, and the part of the Moon facing Earth is visible.

Answer

The Moon produces its own light, and the part of the Moon facing Earth is visible.

Question 21

What would an observer standing on the Moon see during a solar eclipse if she was looking back towards Earth?

Accepted Answer

The Earth is partially covered by the Moon's shadow.

Answer

The Sun partially covered by the Moon's shadow.

Answer

The Sun is fully covered by the Moon's shadow.

Answer

The Earth fully covered by the Moon's shadow.

Question 22

During the summer months, the sun warms an area of tropical ocean water and a large amount of water evaporates into the air. Which of these weather events will MOST LIKELY occur?

Accepted Answer

Hurricane

Answer

Blizzard

Answer

Tornado

Answer

Tsunami

Question 23

The angle of the Sun's apparent path relative to an observer at noon in the Northern Hemisphere is largest at which time of year?

Accepted Answer

summer solstice

Answer

autumnal equinox

Answer

vernal equinox

Answer

winter solstice

Question 24

Which relationship between Earth and the Sun explains the changing of the seasons during a year?

Accepted Answer

The tilt of Earth's axis causes changes in the angle of the Sun's rays during a year.

Answer

During a year, the Sun expands to cause summer, and then contracts to cause winter.

Answer

As Earth travels closer to the Sun, summer occurs, and as it gets further away, winter occurs.

Answer

Yearly increases in solar activity cause summer, and decreases in solar activity cause winter.

Question 25

Which of the following statements BEST explains why it is warmer at the equator than the North Pole?

Accepted Answer

The equator receives more direct sunlight than the North Pole.

Answer

The equator has more daylight hours per year than the North Pole.

Answer

The equator has a larger area than the North Pole.

Answer

The equator is closer to the Sun than the North Pole.

Question 26

Which climate conditions are typical of regions near the North Pole and the South Pole?

Accepted Answer

low temperature and low precipitation

Answer

low temperature and high precipitation

Answer

high temperature and low precipitation

Answer

high temperature and high precipitation

Question 27

Which of the following data would be MOST useful for describing the climate of a specific area?

Accepted Answer

Average high and low monthly temperatures for 20 years.

Answer

Average weekly wind speeds for 1 month.

Answer

Daily relative humidity levels for 18 months.

Answer

Total annual precipitation amounts for 2 years.

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