Patterns in The Universe review

You see a drawing of the solar system where all the planets are the same size and spaced equally apart. What is one reason this model is not accurate?

• The model is right because the planets are in the correct order.
• The model is right because the planets are the same size and distance apart.
• The model is not right because planets are different sizes and are not spaced evenly.
• The model should only show the gas planets so the distances are correct.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

A student says all moons are much smaller than planets. But Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is 5,268 km wide, and Mercury is only 4,879 km wide. What is the best way to fix the student’s claim?

• All moons are still smaller than big planets.
• Some moons can be bigger than small planets like Mercury.
• Ganymede is not really a moon because it’s too big.
• Mercury should be called a moon instead of a planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Why do we see different phases of the Moon from Earth?

• The Moon’s shadow covers Earth.
• The Moon makes its own light.
• The Earth blocks the Sun’s light from the Moon during each phase.
• The Moon moves around Earth, and we see different parts of the lit side.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why don’t we see a lunar eclipse every month?

• The Moon moves too fast to be blocked.
• The Moon’s path is tilted, so it usually misses Earth’s shadow.
• The Moon doesn’t always reflect sunlight.
• Earth doesn’t always go between the Sun and Moon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere?

• Earth is closer to the Sun in summer.
• The Sun gets hotter in the summer.
• Earth is tilted so the Northern Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight.
• Earth spins faster in summer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What does gravity do in our solar system?

• It pulls planets toward the Sun and keeps them in orbit.
• It makes stars spin fast.
• It doesn’t affect planets.
• It pushes planets away from the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which statement best explains why Pluto is no longer classified as a major planet?

• Pluto is smaller than some moons.

• Pluto has no moons.

• Pluto is too far from the Sun.

• Pluto does not clear its orbit of other objects.

What causes a solar eclipse to occur?

• The Moon reflects more sunlight than usual.

• The Sun moves behind the Moon.

• Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon.

• The Moon moves between Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why do planets stay in orbit around the Sun?

• The planets push each other into orbit.

• The Sun’s gravity pulls them while their motion keeps them moving around it.

• The planets are attached to the Sun by invisible strings.

• The Sun spins and throws the planets outward.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which term describes how bright a star looks when observed from Earth?

• Absolute magnitude
  

• Apparent magnitude

• Constellation

• Galaxy