The Solar System
Planetary Processes and Surface Features
Mass, Weight, Gravity, and Orbital Motion
Asteroids, Comets, and Meteoroids
Rocks and Fossils
100
We use a scale model to study the solar system because it is ___________________.
too large
100
What is the most common surface feature in the solar system?
Impact craters
100
The speed of a planet _______________ when it gets closer to the Sun.
increases OR gets faster
100
Which ONE is NOT evidence of an asteroid impact: shocked rock, burnt rock, rock dust, overturned rock.
Burnt rock
100
What type of rock are fossils found in?
Sedimentary rock
200
What is the theory created by Nicolaus Copernicus stating that the Earth orbits around the Sun?
Heliocentrism
200
Canyons are created by _____________.
water erosion
200
What are the two factors that affect a planet's surface gravity?
Mass and radius
200
What is the one word that can describe the difference between a meteor, meteorite, and meteoroid.
Location
200
What type of rock is formed when melting and cooling occurs?
Igneous
300
The planet's diameter _____________ as they get CLOSER to the Sun.
decreases OR gets smaller
300
The best time to observe surface features is at ____________ and ________________.
dawn (sunrise) and dusk (sunset)
300
What is the term used to describe how long it takes for a planet to go around the Sun.
Orbital period
300
A piece of extraterrestrial rock that enters into Jupiter's atmosphere is called a(n) ____________________.
meteor
300
This fossil is a replica of the original organism but is composed of minerals.
Cast
400
What does Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Earth have in common?
Rocky/terrestrial planets
400
What planetary processes can only occur WITH an atmosphere?
Water and wind erosion
400
The planets and moon stay in orbit because of Newton's ______ Law.
3rd
400
Asteroid can be knocked out of their orbit by colliding with other asteroids or by ____________________.
Jupiter's gravity
400
What are two factors that decreases the chances of fossilization?
1) Slow burial by sediment 2) Decay 3) Weathering 4) Scavengers
500
The Earth _______________ around the Sun because of the Sun's ____________________, which is a(n) _____________________ force.
orbits gravity unbalanced
500
What is one landform created by volcanism?
1) Islands 2) Mountains 3) Lava plains or fields 4) Lava rivers or channels 5) Creates new land
500
If the Sun's gravity did not keep Earth in orbit, Earth would move in a straight line. This is because of _______________.
Newton's 1st Law or Inertia
500
A comet forms its tail once it gets within the orbit of this planet.
Mars
500
An organisms chances of fossilization increases if it is rapidly buried and if it is deposited in a(n) _____________________.
oxygen poor environment
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