Investigating Characteristics of the Solar System

Which of the following accurately describes the orbital path of most planets in our solar system?

• The orbital path is in an ellipse, but looks almost circular.

• The orbital path is in a large elliptical shape.

• The orbital path varies greatly from planet to planet.

• The orbital path is in a perfect circle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following represents characteristics of the four planets closest to the Sun?

• 4 or more moons

• Gas giants

• Rocky (terrestrial) planets

• Larger planets

Mars is very similar to Earth. Which of the following statements describes a property of Earth, but NOT a property of Mars?

• The planet is constantly in motion.

• An abundance of liquid water is located on the planet.

• One or more moons orbit the planet.

• The orbital path is predictable.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

All of the planets in our solar system have about the same —

• shape

• mass

• diameter

• composition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Scientists observed a rocky, rotating object orbiting in space. It was 250 km wide. The rocky object was located several times farther away from the Sun than the Earth. The object is most likely —

• Venus

• the Moon

• an asteroid

• Mars

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which planet takes 165 years to complete a single orbit, the longest revolution of any planet around the Sun?

• Uranus

• Neptune

• Earth

• Mercury

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

What movements are involved in the relationship between the Earth and Sun?

• The Earth revolves around the Sun as it rotates to cause day and night.

• The Sun revolves around the Earth as it rotates to cause day and night.

• The Earth rotates around the Sun as it revolves to cause day and night.

• The Sun rotates around the Earth as it revolves to cause day and night

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of the following represents characteristics of the four planets farthest from the Sun?

• Smaller planets

• Rocky (terrestrial) planets

• Gas giants

• 3 or less moons

Which statement below accurately describes the movement of objects in our solar system?

• The planets revolve around the Sun, and moons revolve around the planets.

• The planets rotate around the Sun, and moons revolve around the planets.

• The moons rotate around planets, and planets revolve around the Sun.

• The Sun revolves around the planets, and moons rotate around planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The Sun is the center of our solar system and creates a large amount of gravitational force. If this system lost the Sun, what would happen to the planets?

• The planets would explode.

• The planets would stop moving.

• The planets would continue on their same path.

• The planets would travel on a different path.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4