The Solar System
What is the solar system?
A. The planets and smaller bodies that orbit the Earth
B. The planets and smaller bodies that orbit the Sun
C. Millions of stars held together by gravity, slowing orbiting a central black hole
D. Everything in outer space (stars, planets, galaxies, and all other celestial debris)
B. The planets and smaller bodies that orbit the Sun
How is the Milky Way Galaxy (the galaxy we live in) shaped?
A. spiral
B. irregular
C. elliptical
D. Both A and B are true, but not C.
A. spiral
What is a light year?
A. A measurement of distance (the distance being how far light travels in a year)
B. A measurement of time (how long it takes light to travel between two points)
C. A measurement of density (how much light fills an empty space within a year's time)
D. A measure of temperature (how hot a beam of light can get in a year's time)
A. A measurement of distance (the distance being how far light travels in a year)
Fallen space rock on Earth's surface.
A. Meteoroid
B. Meteorite
C. Meteor
D. Comet
E. Asteroid.
B. Meteorite
Which of the following statements is true?
A. Jovian planets (gas giants) are larger than the terrestrial planets.
B. Terrestrial planets are made of a solid, rocky surface; Jovian planets are not.
C. Both A and B are true.
D. Neither A nor B is true.
C. Both A and B are true.
What is the most massive object in our solar system?
A. The Asteroid Belt
B. Jupiter
C. The Sun
D. A black hole
C. The Sun
Where is our solar system's location within the Milky Way Galaxy?
A. Inside a black hole
B. In the very center of the bright central bulge
C. On the very outer edge, beyond the galaxy's gravitational pull
D. In one of the spiral arms
D. In one of the spiral arms
The Universe is mostly
A. clusters of stars
B. clouds of gas and dust.
C. rocky planets, moons, and other extraterrestrial objects such as asteroids.
D. empty space
D. empty space
A comet is largely made up of
A. iron and nickel
B. rock
C. petroleum
D. water and ice.
D. water and ice.
Which of the following is the hottest planet due to the large amounts of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere?
A. Mercury
B. Venus
C. Earth
D. Jupiter
B. Venus
How many stars are in a solar system?
A. 0
B. 1
C. millions
D. billions
B. 1
Our Sun is best described as
A. located at the center of the Milky Way
B. one of billions of stars in the Milky Way
C. the largest star in the Milky Way
D. the only star in our galaxy
B. one of billions of stars in the Milky Way
Which of the following would have the most evidence to back it up?
A. an inference
B. a hypothesis
C. a theory
D. an error
C. a theory
Found in Earth's atmosphere, often referred to as a "shooting star."
A. Meteoroid
B. Meteorite
C. Meteor
D. Comet
E. Asteroid.
C. Meteor
Put the following in order from smallest to largest:
The Universe, Jupiter, the Milky Way, the Sun
Jupiter, The Sun, The Milky Way, The Universe
____ is a force that pulls objects with mass towards each other. While ____ is a property of matter that keeps objects moving on their path at a steady speed. They both work together to keep our planets moving in their predictable ____.
A. gravity, orbits, inertia
B. inertia, gravity, orbits
C. orbits, inertia, gravity
D. gravity, inertia, orbits
D. gravity, inertia, orbits
Which statement correctly compares the Milky Way and the universe?
A. The universe is inside the Milky Way.
B. The Milky Way is larger than the universe.
C. The Milky Way is one galaxy within the much larger universe.
D. The Milky Way and universe are two names for the same thing.
C. The Milky Way is one galaxy within the much larger universe.
Which of the following is evidence of the Big Bang Theory?
A. Cave paintings around the world depict a large explosion.
B. The universe is not moving, and all matter within it remains in a permanently locked position.
C. The distance between galaxies is constantly increasing, demonstrating that the universe is expanding.
D. Some stars have been dated as being older than other stars, showing they formed at different times.
C. The distance between galaxies is constantly increasing, demonstrating that the universe is expanding.
Made of the same material as terrestrial planets, most are located in a belt between Mars and Jupiter.
A. Meteoroid
B. Meteorite
C. Meteor
D. Comet
E. Asteroid
E. Asteroid
Which of the following formed first?
A. The Sun
B. Earth
C. The Milky Way
D. The Universe
D. The Universe
In order for a celestial object to be considered a planet, it must
A. orbit a star
B. be spherical in shape due to its own gravity.
C. have cleared its orbital path around the star it revolves.
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Why can scientists see only part of the Milky Way from Earth?
A. Earth is outside the universe.
B. The Milky Way is made only of dark matter.
C. We are inside the Milky Way, so we cannot see the entire galaxy from the outside.
D. The Sun blocks half of the galaxy.
C. We are inside the Milky Way, so we cannot see the entire galaxy from the outside.
In 1609, Johannes Kepler accurately demonstrated that planetary orbits were ___ in shape.
A. perfect circles
B. elliptical
C. linear
D. rectangular
B. elliptical
Which sequence correctly shows what a space rock can be called as it moves toward and reaches Earth's surface?
A. Meteoroid → meteor → meteorite
B. Meteor → meteoroid → meteorite
C. Meteorite → meteor → meteoroid
D. Meteoroid → meteorite → meteor
A. Meteoroid → meteor → meteorite
Which of the following statements is NOT true about moons?
A. A moon is a "natural satellite" of the planet it orbits.
B. Moons are rocky.
C. All planets have at least 1 moon orbitting them.
D. Moons are usually round, but can also be egg shaped.
C. All planets have at least 1 moon orbitting them.