Gravity
What force keeps the planets in their continuous orbits around the Sun?
Rotation or Gravity
Gravity
What movements accurately describe the relationship between the Sun, Earth, and Moon?
The Moon revolves around the Sun, the Earth revolves around the Moon, and the Sun rotates on its axis.
The Earth revolves around the Sun, the Earth rotates on its axis, and the Moon revolves around the Earth.
The Earth revolves around the Sun, the Earth rotates on its axis, and the Moon revolves around the Earth.
Galileo Galilei made an essential discovery in the history of science in 1610 using a simple hand held telescope he made with two lenses held by a tube. The telescope improved on previous technology and allowed Galileo to see more objects in the night sky. Galileo observed a known planet each night for several months. He noticed four points of light that seemed to be orbiting the planet. These four points of light were the first objects discovered to be orbiting another planet other than Earth. The discovery of these objects, now known as the Galilean moons, led to the understanding that everything does not revolve around the Earth, including the Sun.
What planet was Galileo observing when he discovered the Galilean moons?
Jupiter or Saturn
Jupiter
Which of the following best describes meteors?
Solids with irregular shapes, some of which are larger than Pluto, that mostly orbit the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Venus
Solids that range in size from dust to small rocks that are scattered throughout the solar system, often due to the breakup of comets, that burn in a brief bright display when they enter Earth’s atmosphere
Solids that range in size from dust to small rocks that are scattered throughout the solar system, often due to the breakup of comets, that burn in a brief bright display when they enter Earth’s atmosphere
The Sun revolves around the planets, and moons rotate around planets.
The planets revolve around the Sun, and moons revolve around the planets.
The planets revolve around the Sun, and moons revolve around the planets.
Many objects within our solar system remain in constant motion and maintain predictable orbital patterns. What force governs the motion and patterns of objects in our solar system?
The force of gravity keeps the Sun, asteroids, and comets orbiting in an elliptical pattern around the Earth.
The force of gravity keeps planets, asteroids, and comets orbiting in an elliptical pattern around the Sun.
The force of gravity keeps planets, asteroids, and comets orbiting in an elliptical pattern around the Sun.
Which planet takes 88 days to complete a single orbit, the shortest revolution of any planet around the Sun?
Mercury or Earth
Mercury
Over time, NASA has developed many different vehicles to carry men and women into space. These craft have changed to allow longer stays in space, carry more astronauts, and conduct more investigations. Until recently, the U.S. has used the space shuttle.
The space shuttle differed from previous space vehicles because it —
A. was reusable
B. could carry more than one person
A. was reusable
Mars is very similar to the Earth. Which of the following statements describes a property of the Earth, but NOT a property of Mars?
A. An abundance of liquid water is located on the planet.
B. One or more moons orbit the planet.
A. An abundance of liquid water is located on the planet.
Smaller planets or Gas giants
Gas giants
A.The planets would explode.
B.The planets would stop moving.
C.The planets would travel in a different path.
D.The planets would continue on their same path.
C.The planets would travel in a different path.
What movements are involved in the relationship between the Earth and Sun?
The Earth rotates around the Sun as it revolves to cause day and night.
The Earth revolves around the Sun as it rotates to cause day and night.
The Earth revolves around the Sun as it rotates to cause day and night.
In space travel, a probe is a vehicle designed to carry instruments, but not crew. To which of the following places would we most likely send a probe?
Mountain top or Saturn
Saturn
Scientists observed a rocky, rotating object orbiting in space. It was 250 km wide. The rocky object was located several times farther away from the Sun than the Earth.
The object is most likely —
F. Venus
G. the Moon
H. Mars
J. an asteroid
J. an asteroid
Which of the following represents characteristics of the four planets closest to the Sun?
Gas giants or Rocky (terrestrial) planets
Rocky (terrestrial) planets
A. Circular; the center
B. Ellipses; one foci
B. Ellipses; one foci
Which planet takes 165 years to complete a single orbit, the longest revolution of any planet around the Sun?
Uranus or Neptune
Neptune
F. Stars
G. Planets
H. Comets
J. Asteroids
F. Stars
The Moon travels in an elliptical orbit that is nearly circular around the Earth. This pattern has occurred for millions of years.
Which of the following best explains the cause of the Moon’s motion?
The gravitational forces from the Sun and the Earth on the Moon are equal, causing the Moon to maintain its orbit.
The Moon is constantly affected by the unbalanced force of the Earth’s gravity which causes it to continue to orbit the Earth.
The Moon is constantly affected by the unbalanced force of the Earth’s gravity which causes it to continue to orbit the Earth.
The orbital path is in a perfect circle
or
The orbital path is in an ellipse, but looks almost circular.
The orbital path is in an ellipse, but looks almost circular.