☀️ Solar System Formation
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What force caused gas and dust in the solar nebula to move toward each other?
A. Friction
B. Gravity
C. Magnetism
D. Electricity
Gravity
Which object is made largely of ice, dust, and rock and may develop a coma and tail near the Sun?
A. Asteroid
B. Planet
C. Comet
D. Meteorite
C. Comet
Which Earth system includes rocks, soil, and land?
A. Geosphere
B. Atmosphere
C. Hydrosphere
D. Biosphere
A. Geosphere
What force keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?
A. Friction
B. Electricity
C. Gravity
D. Magnetism
C. Gravity
Which force keeps the Moon in orbit around Earth?
A. Friction
B. Magnetism
C. Electricity
D. Gravity
D. Gravity
What is a solar nebula?
A. A newly formed planet
B. A group of asteroids
C. A large cloud of gas and dust
D. A crater on the Moon
C. A large cloud of gas and dust
A relatively small rocky or metallic object is traveling through SPACE. What is it called?
A. Meteor
B. Meteoroid
C. Meteorite
D. Comet
B. Meteoroid
Which Earth system includes all of Earth's water?
A. Biosphere
B. Atmosphere
C. Hydrosphere
D. Geosphere
C. Hydrosphere
What is a trajectory?
A. The composition of an asteroid
B. The path a moving object follows
C. The temperature of an object
D. The age of an object
B. The path a moving object follows
Which Moon-formation model says Earth's gravity captured a Moon that formed somewhere else?
A. Fission Theory
B. Capture Theory
C. Giant Impact Theory
D. Multiple-Impact Theory
B. Capture Theory
What is accretion?
A. The breaking apart of planets
B. The gradual buildup of larger objects as smaller particles collide and stick together
C. The movement of planets away from the Sun
D. The burning of gases inside a planet
B. The gradual buildup of larger objects as smaller particles collide and stick together
A meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere and produces a visible streak of light. What is this phenomenon called?
A. Meteor
B. Meteorite
C. Asteroid
D. Comet
A. Meteor
An asteroid strikes Earth and creates a large crater. Which Earth system is MOST directly affected by the crater formation?
A. Biosphere
B. Atmosphere
C. Geosphere
D. Hydrosphere
C. Geosphere
Why do scientists calculate the trajectories of near-Earth asteroids?
A. To determine their names
B. To make them move faster
C. To predict where they will travel and whether they could approach Earth
D. To determine their color
C. To predict where they will travel and whether they could approach Earth ✅
Which model proposes that Earth and the Moon formed together from early solar-system material?
A. Capture Theory
B. Fission Theory
C. Co-Formation Theory
D. Giant Impact Theory
C. Co-Formation Theory
Which sequence correctly represents planetary formation?
A. Protoplanet → planetesimal → solar nebula
B. Planetesimal → solar nebula → protoplanet
C. Solar nebula → accretion → planetesimal → protoplanet
D. Accretion → planet → solar nebula → planetesimal
C. Solar nebula → accretion → planetesimal → protoplanet ✅
Material from a meteoroid survives its trip through the atmosphere and reaches Earth's surface. What is it called?
A. Meteor
B. Asteroid
C. Meteorite
D. Planetesimal
C. Meteorite
An asteroid impact sends large amounts of dust and particles into the air. Which system is directly affected?
A. Hydrosphere
B. Atmosphere
C. Biosphere
D. Geosphere
B. Atmosphere
Scientists determine that an asteroid's orbital path crosses Earth's orbital path. Does this automatically mean the asteroid will hit Earth?
A. Yes, any crossing guarantees an impact.
B. No, the objects would also need to reach the same location at the same time.
C. Yes, because Earth's gravity attracts every asteroid.
D. No, because asteroids cannot hit planets.
B. No, the objects would also need to reach the same location at the same time.
Which statement BEST describes the Giant Impact Theory?
A. Earth captured the Moon using gravity.
B. The Moon separated from a rapidly spinning Earth.
C. A Mars-sized body collided with early Earth, sending material into orbit that contributed to Moon formation.
D. Earth and the Moon formed independently in different regions.
C. A Mars-sized body collided with early Earth, sending material into orbit that contributed to Moon formation.
Two regions of a protoplanetary disk contain solid material. Region A has frequent collisions and particles sticking together. Region B has very few collisions. Which region is more likely to form planetesimals?
A. Region A because more accretion is occurring
B. Region B because less gravity is present
C. Region B because particles must remain separated
D. Both regions will form them at exactly the same rate
A. Region A because more accretion is occurring
Scientists discover an object composed mainly of rock and metal that orbits the Sun and is located in the region between Mars and Jupiter. What is it most likely?
A. Comet
B. Asteroid
C. Meteor
D. Planet
B. Asteroid
A large ocean impact disturbs ocean water, sends particles into the atmosphere, and damages marine habitats. Which systems are affected?
A. Hydrosphere only
B. Atmosphere and geosphere only
C. Biosphere only
D. Hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere
D. Hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere
Which statement BEST compares gravity's role in the early solar system with its role today?
A. Gravity only became important after planets formed.
B. Gravity formed the Sun but does not affect asteroids.
C. Gravity helped bring material together during formation and continues to influence the motion and orbits of solar-system objects.
D. Gravity caused accretion but no longer affects planets.
C. Gravity helped bring material together during formation and continues to influence the motion and orbits of solar-system objects.
Scientists find important similarities between Earth and Moon materials along with evidence that the early Moon experienced intense heating. Which model is most consistent with this evidence?
A. Capture Theory
B. Fission Theory
C. Giant Impact Theory
D. Co-Formation Theory
C. Giant Impact Theory