Planets and Orbit

Observe the path of Voyager 2 satellite . Why did the route of Voyager 2 change, without firing its thrusters, as it passed Jupiter?

• Gravitational force between Jupiter and Voyager 2 pulled it into a new route.

• Solar winds pushed Voyager 2 into a new path.

• Jupiter blocked the sun’s gravitational pull on Voyager 2.

• The gravity of Jupiter caused Voyager 2 to become its satellite.

Answer explanation

Large planets have enough mass to exert a significant pull on an object traveling near them. Scientists used the gravitational forces of the large planets to give Voyager a “boost” so that it moved faster.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following did engineers need to know to plan Voyager 2’s path through the solar system? Choose *ALL* that apply.

• the positions of the planets

• the masses of the planets

• the mass of Voyager 2

• Newton's laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation

Answer explanation

Designers needed to know the masses of all the planets, the mass of the spacecraft, and where the planets would be as Voyager 2 traveled. Additional knowledge of Newton’s laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation were needed to predict how the masses of planets would affect the satellite’s motion.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Do planets affect the sun? Why?

• No. The Sun pulls on the planets and keep them in orbit.

• Yes. Sun pulls on planets; planets pull on Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The Earth doesn't totally get sucked into the Sun, because ___

• it's moving too slowly around it

• it's moving fast enough around it

• it's too heavy too pull in

• it's too far away

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which of the following best describes the formation of the solar system?

• The Sun ejected rocky material which formed the planets due to magnetic attraction forces.

• A rotating disk of gas and dust was drawn together by the force of gravity.

• One very large planetary body broke apart into several smaller planets.

• Several stars of different masses cooled and formed the planets and the Sun.

Why do some planets have moons in our solar system?

• They are close to the sun

• They have enough gravity to hold a moon in orbit

• They are special

• All planets have moons

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

What force played a major role in the formation of the solar system?

• Magnetism

• Push

• Pull

• Gravity

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which planet would have the largest gravitational pull?

• Venus

• Mars

• Jupiter

• Neptune

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

How does changing the distance between objects affect the force of gravity?

• Decreasing distance increases gravity

• Increasing distance increases gravity

• Mr. Deem knows, but he's not telling

• Distance does not affect gravity

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Which of the following best describes the formation of the solar system?

• The sun ejected rocky material which later went on to form the planets.

• A rotating disk of gas and dust was drawn together by the force of gravity.

• One very large planetary body broke apart into several smaller planets.

• Several stars of different masses cooled and formed the planets and the sun.