SSA Practice

The points labeled on the chart below represent the approximate size of Earth, the Milky Way, the Moon, and the Sun. The approximate size of the Solar System is also shown.

Which point on the chart best represents the approximate size of the Sun?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which statement is true regarding measuring distances in space?

• An astronomical unit (AU) is larger than a light year.

• The time taken for light to travel through our Solar System is longer than that for light to travel through the Milky Way.

• The Earth is one astronomical unit (AU) from the Sun.

• All of the terrestrial planets are more than one astronomical unit (AU) from the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The sun is much larger than the moon. However, as viewed from Earth, the sun and moon appear to be the same size. Why do the sun and moon appear to be the same size when viewed from Earth?

• The moon is much hotter than the sun.

• The moon is much denser than the sun.

• The moon is much brighter than the sun.

• The moon is much closer to Earth than the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Gloria is at the observatory and is examining a newly discovered star through a powerful telescope. She wants to find out how bright the star actually is. What information does she need to calculate the absolute magnitude of a star?

• Color and temperature of the star

• Color and composition of the star

• Apparent magnitude and distance from Earth of the star

• Color and distance from Earth of the star

The diameter of Saturn is nearly ten times that of Earth. However, the density of Saturn is much less than that of Earth. What is the reason for this?

• Earth is father from the sun than Saturn.

• Saturn has a ring system.

• Earth is hotter than Saturn.

• Saturn is a gaseous planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Jill is creating a scale model of the Solar System. She uses a basketball to represent the Sun. Which of the following should she use to most accurately represent the size of Earth?

• Tennis ball

• Ping pong ball

• Marble

• Grain of sand

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope photographed a tiny spot in the sky for a period of ten days; 342 exposures were placed together to create an image known as the Hubble Deep Field. Although the sample is tiny, it is representative of the universe, which looks similar in all directions. The image below shows a collection of billions of stars. The Hubble Deep Field shows at least 3,000 groups of these stars.

• Moon

• Galaxy

• Universe

• Solar system

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

One physical property of a star is apparent magnitude. Which of the following is used in determining the apparent magnitude of a star?

• The constellation the star is in.

• The distance the star is from Earth.

• The number of times the star rotates.

• The number of prominences the star makes.

An astronomer uses a telescope to observe a star. She observes that the color of this star is similar to the color of the sun. Therefore, she infers that the star and the sun have similar sizes and surface temperature. Using this information, what can the astronomer conclude about the star?

• The star is a white dwarf.

• The star is medium sized.

• The star is hotter than most other stars in our galaxy.

• The star is brighter than most other stars in our galaxy.

The Sun's energy and composition is provided by which of the following?

• The burning of fossil fuels within the Sun.

• Solar power that produces electricity in the Sun.

• The Sun's magnetic field.

• The fusion of hydrogen into helium.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1