Galaxy + Stars
What makes up a galaxy?
A) Ice, meteoroids, and minerals
B) Orbits, cores, and eclipses
C) Gas, dust, and stars
D) Gravity, sedimentary rocks, and water
C) Gas, dust, and stars
People on Earth see the moon every night. Sometimes people also see the moon during the day. Why does this happen?
A. The moon makes its own light.
B. The moon moves closer to Earth.
C. The moon is reflecting light from Earth.
D. The moon is reflecting light from the sun.
D. The moon is reflecting light from the sun.
Patti decided to use a basketball as a model of Earth. She placed the ball on the floor and then spun it. What was Patti demonstrating with her model of Earth?
A. Earth's axis
B. Earth's orbit
C. Earth's rotation
D. Earth's revolution
C. Earth's rotation
Ming is doing a project on planets in other solar systems. She learns about a planet, called Planet Z. Planet Z is very large, has a thick atmosphere, and has a low density. Which of these planets in our solar system is Planet Z most similar to?
A. Earth
B. Mars
C. Mercury
D. Saturn
D. Saturn
What makes an asteroid different from a planet or a moon?
A. An asteroid is round and orbits a planet.
B. An asteroid is made mostly of ice and forms a tail.
C. An asteroid is small, rocky, irregular in shape, and orbits the Sun.
D. An asteroid is large, smooth, and has many moons.
C. An asteroid is small, rocky, irregular in shape, and orbits the Sun.
Kristin likes to look at the stars at night. She wonders why she can’t see the stars in the daytime. Which of the following best explains why the stars are not visible during the day?
a. The stars do not reflect any of the Sun’s light during the day.
b. The Sun positions itself directly between Earth and the stars during the day.
c. The stars are so far away from Earth that their light is too dim to see while the Sun is shining.
d. The light from the stars is traveling away from Earth, not towards it.
c. The stars are so far away from Earth that their light is too dim to see while the Sun is shining.
Kashvi likes to look out the window at the moon. She observes that it seems to change every week. Which sentence best explains why this happens?
A. The moon moves between Earth and the sun.
B. The moon rotates only once in about a month.
C. The same side of the moon always faces Earth.
D. The amount of the lighted part of the moon that faces Earth changes.
D. The amount of the lighted part of the moon that faces Earth changes.
A fourth-grader in Florida is doing an experiment in her science class. At the same time, a fourth-grader in China is getting a good night's sleep. What is responsible for it being daytime in Florida while it is nighttime in China?
A. Earth's rotation
B. Earth's revolution
C. moon's revolution
D. Earth's path as it orbits the sun
A. Earth's rotation
All the planets in the solar system orbit the sun. What is the main difference between the orbits of the inner and outer planets?
A. The inner planets travel a greater distance than the outer planets do.
B. The inner planets have almost round orbits, and the outer planets do not.
C. The outer planets rotate as they orbit the sun, and the inner planets do not.
D. The outer planets’ orbits are longer than the inner planets’ orbits.
D. The outer planets’ orbits are longer than the inner planets’ orbits.
How is a comet different from an asteroid?
A. A comet is rocky and irregular, while an asteroid is icy and forms a tail.
B. A comet is made of ice, dust, and rock and can form a tail, while an asteroid is mostly rock and does not form a tail.
C. A comet orbits a planet, while an asteroid orbits the Sun.
D. A comet is always round like a planet, while an asteroid is shaped like a perfect sphere.
B. A comet is made of ice, dust, and rock and can form a tail, while an asteroid is mostly rock and does not form a tail.
and his friend Laura were playing in the yard at night with flashlights. Each of them observed that as they walked away from each other, the other’s flashlight looked dimmer. When they walked toward each other, the other’s flashlight started looking brighter again. When they held their flashlights up side by side, they looked like they were the same brightness. What would be the best conclusion for them to draw based on their flashlight model.
a. All stars are the same size, but do not give off equal amounts of light.
b. Two similar-sized stars may vary in brightness when viewed from Earth.
c. All stars are the same brightness, but their distance from the Earth varies.
d. Two stars of different sizes may be of equal brightness.
b. Two similar-sized stars may vary in brightness when viewed from Earth.
A student observes the Moon and notices only a thin, curved portion of the left side is illuminated. What moon phase is the student most likely seeing and what moon phase will be next?
Waning Crescent. The Moon is near the end of its cycle and will soon become a New Moon.
The stars appear to move across Earth’s sky. Which statement explains why this happens?
A. The stars rotate.
B. Earth orbits the sun.
C. The moon orbits Earth.
D. Earth rotates on its axis.
D. Earth rotates on its axis.
Ganymede is a moon of Jupiter. It is larger than Mercury and has a metallic core similar to Earth’s core. Which of these statements best explains why Ganymede is classified as a moon rather than a planet?
A. It is too large to be called a planet.
B. It orbits Jupiter instead of the sun.
C. Its properties are different from Jupiter.
D. It is farther from the sun than Mercury.
B. It orbits Jupiter instead of the sun.
Which statement correctly compares moons, asteroids, and comets?
A. Moons, asteroids, and comets all orbit planets.
B. Only asteroids and comets orbit the Sun; moons orbit planets.
C. Comets and moons both form tails when they get close to the Sun.
D. Asteroids orbit planets while moons and comets orbit the Sun.
B. Only asteroids and comets orbit the Sun; moons orbit planets.
Light from the Sun provides Earth with most of its energy. At night, the light from thousands of other stars is visible. Earth receives much more light from the Sun than from all the other stars combined. Why is the light of the Sun so much stronger than the light from other stars?
a. The Sun is much closer to Earth than other stars.
b. The Sun is much bigger than other stars.
c. The sun is much hotter than other stars.
d. The sun gives off much more light than other stars.
a. The Sun is much closer to Earth than other stars.
A student observes a moon phase where only the right half of the Moon appears illuminated from Earth. Which phase is the student observing?
First Quarter Moon
Some constellations are visible from different places on Earth only during a part of the year. Why are certain constellations not visible everywhere on Earth all year long?
A. sun’s rotation
B. Earth’s rotation
C. sun’s revolution
D. Earth’s revolution
D. Earth’s revolution
Which of these characteristics distinguishes the outer planets from the inner planets?
A. The outer planets have many moons.
B. The outer planets orbit in a different direction.
C. The outer planets have higher densities.
D. The outer planets have smaller diameters.
A. The outer planets have many moons.
Which statement correctly describes how a moon moves in the Solar System?
A. A moon orbits the Sun in a circular path just like a planet.
B. A moon orbits a planet while the planet orbits the Sun.
C. A moon stays in one place while the planet moves around it.
D. A moon moves in a straight line across space without orbiting anything.
B. A moon orbits a planet while the planet orbits the Sun.
Compare the Milky Way and the solar system. How are they different?
The Milky Way is a galaxy containing billions of stars and many solar systems. The solar system contains one star, the Sun, and the objects that orbit it. The solar system is located within the Milky Way.
Put these moon phases in the correct order, starting with a New Moon:
First Quarter Moon, Third Quarter Moon, New Moon, Full Moon
New Moon → First Quarter Moon → Full Moon → Third Quarter Moon
Earth is constantly moving in two different ways. Explain each movement, how long it takes to complete, and one effect it has on Earth.
Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours, causing day and night. Earth revolves around the Sun once every 365 days, causing the yearly pattern of seasons.
The table below shows some of the characteristics of a planet.
Length of day: 25 hr
Number of moons: 2
Diameter: 6,800 km
Color: red
Which two characteristics would be most helpful for determining whether the planet is a gas giant or a rocky planet?
A. length of day and color
B. diameter and length of day
C. color and number of moons
D. number of moons and diameter
D. number of moons and diameter
What makes the Sun different from planets, moons, asteroids, and comets?
A. The Sun is the only object in the Solar System that produces its own light and heat.
B. The Sun is the only object that moves around the Solar System.
C. The Sun is the largest planet in the Solar System.
D. The Sun is the only object that revolves around Earth.
A. The Sun is the only object in the Solar System that produces its own light and heat.