Ch.1The Sun, Earth, and Our Solar System
Why does the sun appear to move across the sky during the day?
Because Earth is rotating on its axis.
What is the moon made of?
A rock.
Which planet is the hottest and why?
Venus, because of its thick atmosphere that traps heat.
What does "gas giant" mean in this sentence: "Jupiter is the largest gas giant in the solar system"?
A planet made mostly of gas.
What is the asteroid belt?
A region of space between Mars and Jupiter filled with asteroids.
What two types of energy does the sun give to Earth?
Light and heat energy.
What does "reflect" mean in this sentence: "The moon does not give off its own light, it reflects light from the sun"?
To bounce light off a surface.
How long does it take Earth to orbit the sun?
365 days
What are the four outer planets?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Why do comets have tails when they get close to the sun?
The sun’s heat causes the ice to turn into gas, creating a tail.
What does "orbit" mean in this sentence: "All of these planets, including Earth, orbit around the sun"?
To move in a path around something.
Why does the moon look different on different nights?
Because of the way sunlight hits it as it orbits Earth.
What does "probe" mean in this sentence: "Space probes have landed on Mars to study its surface"?
A tool or machine sent to explore something.
Why do scientists think Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a storm?
It looks like a swirling pattern and has been there for a long time.
What does "meteor shower" mean in this sentence: "A meteor shower lit up the night sky with streaks of light"?
A group of meteors that enter Earth's atmosphere at the same time.
What is the main idea of this chapter?
The sun is the center of our solar system, and planets orbit around it.
What is the central idea of this chapter?
The moon orbits Earth and reflects sunlight, changing its appearance in phases.
What do the four inner planets have in common?
They are small, rocky, and close to the sun.
How are the outer planets different from the inner planets?
They are much larger, made mostly of gas, and have rings.
How are asteroids, comets, and meteors different?
Asteroids are rocky and orbit the sun, comets are icy and have tails, meteors burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
If the sun suddenly disappeared, what would happen to Earth?
Earth would become very cold and dark, and life would not survive.
Name one type of eclipse and explain how it happens.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between Earth and the sun, blocking sunlight.
If a year on Mercury is only 88 days, what can you infer about its orbit?
Mercury is very close to the sun, so it has a short orbit
Which planet has the most moons, and how many does it have?
Jupiter, with 63 known moons.
Why do some meteors create craters on Earth?
If they don’t fully burn up in the atmosphere, they crash into the surface.