Scale of the Solar System

Which definition accurately describes the Astronomical Unit (AU)?

• The average distance between the planets. 

• The average distance between Earth and Mars.

• The average distance between the Earth and the Sun. 

• The average size of the Earth compared to the Sun. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Our solar system is made up of the Sun, 8 planets, and other bodies such as asteroids orbiting the Sun. The solar system is very large compared to anything we see on Earth. The distance between planets is measured in astronomical units (AU). One AU is equal to 149.6 million kilometers, the average distance between the Sun and Earth. Scale models are useful for helping us understand the size of the solar system. Mr. Wilson’s science class made a scale model of the solar system. They went out to the school’s football field, and they used the chart shown below to mark out the scale distance from the Sun to each planet. Choose the most correct answer about what the model of the solar system on the football field shows.

• the model shows the distances of the planets compared to each other

• the model shows the size of the planets compared to each other

• the model shows the composition of the planets compared to each other

• the model shows none of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The sun looks small in the sky because...

• It is small compared to Earth

• It is really far away

• It is not very bright

• The moon redirects the light

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Why do scientists use scale models to study the Solar System?

• The solar system is too large to study without using models

• The solar system is too small to study without using models

• Scientists don't need to use models because we have satellites

• All of these options are true

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Describe how the distances between the orbits of the inner planets (1st four from the sun) compare to the distances between the orbits of the outer planets (four farthest from the sun).

• The distances between orbits of the outer planets are much smaller.

• The distances between orbits of the outer planets are much larger.

• The distances between orbits of the inner planets are much larger.

• There is no difference between the distances of the orbits of the inner planets and the outer planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

This model shows...

• the size differences among the planets accurately.

• the distances between the planets accurately.

• both the sizes of the planets and the distances between them accurately

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What percentage of the mass of the entire solar system is due to the Sun?

• 27%

• 54%

• 77%

• 98%

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

If you were to make a scale model of the Solar system what planets in the solar system should be most similar in size?

• Earth and Venus

• Mars and Mercury

• Uranus and Neptune

• Jupiter and Saturn

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which unit of measurement is used to measure distances within our solar system?

• inches

• kilometers

• miles

• Astronomical units

What is the approximate distance from the Sun to the edge of the Solar System, known as the heliopause?

• 10 Astronomical Units

• 100 Astronomical Units

• 1,000 Astronomical Units

• 10,000 Astronomical Units

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3