Space & Stars
What is the name of the theory that explains how the universe began?
A) The Big Expansion
B) The Big Bang Theory
C) The Star Theory
D) The Solar Theory
B) The Big Bang Theory
What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun? A) Magnetism B) Friction C) Gravity D) Electricity
Answer: C. The Sun's massive gravity pulls on the planets.
Which type of rock is made from cooled lava or magma? A) Sedimentary B) Metamorphic C) Igneous D) Sand
Answer: C. Igneous comes from the word for "fire."
What was the name of the "supercontinent" where all land was joined? A) Atlantis B) Pangea C) Eurasia D) Gondwanaland
Answer: B. It existed about 300 million years ago.
What is the main source of energy for Earth’s weather? A) The Moon B) The Sun C) Volcanoes D) Electricity
Answer: B. The Sun heats the air and water.
Which piece of evidence shows the universe is still moving apart? A) Blue shift B) Red shift C) Green shift D) No shift
Answer: B. Red shift shows that galaxies are moving away from us.
According to Kepler’s Laws, what is the shape of a planet's orbit? A) A perfect circle B) A square ) An oval (ellipse) D) A straight line
Answer: C. Orbits are slightly "squashed" circles called ellipses.
In a stack of undisturbed rocks, where is the oldest layer found? A) At the top B) In the middle C) At the bottom D) On the side
Answer: C. New layers always form on top of old ones.
What is the theory that Earth's outer shell is broken into moving pieces? A) The Big Bang B) Evolution C) Plate Tectonics D) Weathering
Answer: C. These plates move very slowly over time.
What gas is most responsible for the Greenhouse Effect? A) Oxygen B) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) C) Nitrogen D) Helium
Answer: B. It traps heat in the atmosphere.
What is the "echo" of the Big Bang that scientists find in space?
A) Cosmic Background Radiation B) Solar Wind C) Starlight D) Gravity
Answer: A. This leftover energy is found everywhere in the universe.
Where does a planet move the fastest in its orbit? A) When it is farthest from the Sun B) When it is closest to the Sun C) It always moves at the same speed D) When it is behind the Sun
Answer: B. Gravity is stronger when the planet is closer, speeding it up.
What do we call a footprint or bone left behind by an animal long ago? A) A rock B) A fossil C) A mineral D) A crystal
Answer: B. Fossils provide a record of past life.
When two plates crash into each other, what is usually formed? A) A canyon B) A mountain range C) An ocean D) A desert
Answer: B. The crust is pushed upward.
What happens to sea levels as global temperatures rise? A) They go down B) They stay the same C) They rise D) They turn to ice
Answer: C. Melting ice and warming water cause the ocean to expand.
What process inside a star produces heat and light? A) Burning wood B) Nuclear Fusion C) Friction D) Cooling down
Answer: B. Stars fuse hydrogen into helium to create energy.
How old do scientists think the Earth and Solar System are? A) 2024 years old B) 1 million years old C) 4.6 billion years old D) 100 trillion years old
Answer: C. Evidence from meteorites helps scientists find this age.
What happened to the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? A) They moved to space B) They became birds C) Mass extinction D) They went to sleep
Answer: C. Most scientists believe an asteroid caused a global catastrophe.
What happens at a transform boundary, like the San Andreas Fault? A) Plates slide past each other B) Plates move apart C) Plates melt D) Plates disappear
Answer: A. This sliding often causes earthquakes.
Which tool is used to measure air pressure? A) Thermometer B) Ruler C) Barometer D) Scale
Answer: C. Changes in pressure help predict the weather.
Which color star is the hottest? A) Red B) Yellow C) Blue D) Orange
C) Blue
Which planets are small, rocky, and close to the Sun? A) Gas Giants B) Terrestrial Planets C) Exoplanets D) Dwarf Planets
Answer: B. These include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Which rock type usually contains fossils? A) Igneous (Lava) B) Sedimentary (Sand/Mud) C) Metamorphic (Heat/Pressure) D) Granite
Answer: B. Heat from other rock types would destroy the fossils.
What causes the plates to move? A) The wind B) Convection currents in the mantle C) The moon's gravity |D) Ocean waves
Answer: B. Heat rising and falling inside the Earth acts like a conveyor belt.
Dark, absorbent surfaces (like asphalt) do what to sunlight? A) Reflect it B) Absorb it (get hot) C) Make it disappear D) Turn it into rain
Answer: B. Dark colors soak up energy, while light colors reflect it.