Models of the Universe
In the geocentric model, what was at the center of the universe?
👉 Earth
Name the four terrestrial planets.
👉 Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
What nickname do scientists sometimes give Earth’s “just right” conditions?
👉 Goldilocks planet
What does “habitable zone” mean?
👉 Area where liquid water can exist
What galaxy do we live in?
👉 Milky Way
Which model says the sun is at the center of the solar system?
👉 Heliocentric model
Name the four gas giants.
👉 Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Why would Earth be unlivable if it were much closer to the sun?
👉 Oceans would boil
Which two planets are on the edges of our solar system’s habitable zone?
👉 Venus (inner), Mars (outer)
About how many stars are in the Milky Way galaxy?
👉 About 200 billion
Name one scientist who helped move science from the geocentric to the heliocentric model.
👉 Copernicus or Galileo
What holds Earth and other planets in orbit around the sun?
👉 Gravity
Why would Earth be unlivable if it were much farther from the sun?
👉 Water would freeze
Why is Venus uninhabitable for life like us?
👉 Too hot (about 460°C)
Where in the galaxy is our solar system located? (center, edge, or in between?)
👉 In between, on a spiral arm
How many planets did people originally think orbited Earth?
👉 Five (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn)
Besides planets, name two other types of objects that orbit the sun.
👉 Asteroids, comets (also dwarf planets)
Name two special features of Earth that make it “just right” for life.
👉 Atmosphere, water, carbon, magnetic field, plate tectonics (any two)
Why is Mars uninhabitable for complex life?
👉 Too cold, thin atmosphere
About how many galaxies are in the universe?
👉 At least 100 billion
Why was the shift from geocentric to heliocentric so important in science history?
👉 It was a major turning point in science, changing our view of Earth’s place in the universe
What is unique about Earth compared to the other planets?
👉 It supports complex life
How does Earth’s moon help keep life stable on Earth?
👉 It keeps Earth’s tilt steady
What does it mean when astronomers call some worlds “Goldilocks planets”?
👉 Not too hot, not too cold—just right for life
What do Psalm 19:1 and Psalm 8:3–4 tell us about God and the universe?
👉 The heavens show God’s glory; He made and cares for us