Investigating Characteristics of the Solar System

Earth appears to be the only body in the solar system that can support life. Which of the following are unique characteristics of the Earth that allow life to exist?

• all of these

• the presence of water

• the composition of Earth's atmosphere

• Earth's distance from the Sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What would change about life on Earth if this planet were as far away as Jupiter is from the Sun?

• It would be too cold to live on Earth.

• It would snow a lot more.

• All of the icecaps would melt.

• There would be an ice age.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The Earth is located about 1 au (astronomical unit) from the Sun. Suppose astronauts from Earth travel to another star system. This star is about the same size and temperature as the Sun. Where should the astronauts start looking to see if the star has a planet they could live on?

• between 1 au and 2 au from the star

• between 1 au and 10 au from the star

• between 2 au and 3 au from the star

• between 0 au and 1 au from the star

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field, called a magnetosphere, that protects organisms on Earth from some types of solar radiation. Since Mars and Venus do not have magnetospheres, which of the following statements is most likely true?

• Mars and Venus are unable to support life.

• Mars and Venus are too cold to support life.

• Mars and Venus are able to support life.

• Mars and Venus will support life in the future.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

On which body in the Solar system would some life forms from Earth be most likely to survive?

• Mars, because its environment is most similar to Earth's

• the moon, because it is the closest to Earth

• Venus, because its size is most similar to that of Earth

• Saturn, because its surface gravity is most similar to Earth's

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Temperatures on Mars are generally cooler than on Earth, but they are warm enough to potentially support life. The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than Earth's and is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. Which of the following is a reason that Mars' atmosphere cannot support human life?

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it does not contain abundant oxygen.

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it does not contain abundant carbon monoxide.

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it contains carbon dioxide.

• The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it contains argon.

Earth is the only planet that is known to support life. Almost two-thirds of Earth's surface is covered with water. It has a rocky terrain consisting of deep valleys and high mountains. Earth is neither too far nor too near to the Sun. This ensures that there is enough sunlight to maintain moderate temperatures on Earth. Which three factors would be most important for a body in the Solar System outside of Earth to support life?

• water, moderate temperatures, and sunlight

• water, mountains, and soil

• hydrogen, moderate temperatures, and carbon dioxide

• carbon dioxide, moderate temperatures, and soil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Comets are made up of rocks, dust, gas, and ice. Many comets orbit the Sun, but their orbits take them both much closer to and much farther from the Sun than planets' orbits. Why are comets unlikely to be able to support life?

• all of these

• A comet does not have a reliable energy source.

• A comet does not have an atmosphere.

• A comet's environment is not stable.

Titan is one of the moons of Saturn. It has a thick atmosphere rich in organic compounds. The image shows a lake and channels on the surface of Titan. Titan is one of the coldest places in the solar system. Its lakes are probably made of methane, the main ingredient in natural gas, which is a liquid at low temperatures. Unexpected chemical reactions taking place on Titan have led some scientists to hypothesize that life may have evolved there. How would finding life on Titan change scientific ideas about what conditions are necessary to support life?

• It would prove that liquid water is not necessary for life.

• It would prove that nutrients are not necessary for life.

• It would prove that a source of energy is not necessary for life.

• all of these

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-7

Which of the following reasons for the absence of life on the gas giants is a direct result of their distances from the Sun?

• They are too cold to support life.

• Their atmospheres have too little oxygen.

• They have no solid surfaces.

• Their gravities are too strong.