Stars & Planets 1
Which statement best describes how the current model of the solar system differs from an early Earth-centered model?
A. The current model shows the planets orbiting the Sun.
B. The current model shows Earth at the center of the solar system.
C. The current model shows that the Sun orbits Earth.
D. The current model shows that planets do not move.
A. The current model shows the planets orbiting the Sun.
Three students observe the same star from different planets. Planet A is closest to the star, Planet B is farther away, and Planet C is farthest away. From which planet would the star generally appear smallest?
A. Planet A
B. Planet B
C. Planet C
D. It would always appear the same size
C. Planet C
A student uses identical clay balls to model the Sun and all eight planets. What is one important limitation of this model?
A. It cannot show that planets orbit the Sun.
B. It does not accurately show the different sizes of the Sun and planets.
C. It proves that planets are made of clay.
D. It shows the actual distances between the planets.
B. It does not accurately show the different sizes of the Sun and planets.
How are modern space telescopes similar to many older telescopes, and how have they improved?
A. They no longer use lenses or mirrors.
B. They use tools to collect light, and many modern systems add cameras and electronic instruments to collect data.
C. They can only be used by astronauts in space.
D. They have made all ground-based telescopes unnecessary.
B. They use tools to collect light, and many modern systems add cameras and electronic instruments to collect data.
Which statement correctly compares stars and planets?
A. Stars produce their own light; planets orbit stars and reflect light.
B. Planets produce more light than stars.
C. Stars are always smaller than planets.
D. Planets and stars are made of exactly the same materials.
A. Stars produce their own light; planets orbit stars and reflect light.
A planet’s composition describes —
A. How long it takes to orbit the Sun.
B. What materials it is made of, such as rock or gas. C. How bright it looks from Earth.
D. How many stars are near it.
B. What materials it is made of, such as rock or gas.
Which group of facts describes stars rather than planets?
A. Orbit a star, do not produce their own light, may be rocky.
B. Produce their own light and heat, and are made of very hot gases.
C. Reflect a star’s light and move around a star.
D. Have rocky surfaces and do not produce their own light.
B. Produce their own light and heat, and are made of very hot gases.
Study the data below.
Object A: twinkles—yes; appears to move across the sky during the night—no; produces its own light—yes.
Object B: twinkles—no; appears to move against the background of stars over time—yes; produces its own light—no. Which identification is most likely?
A. Object A is a planet; Object B is a star.
B. Both objects are stars.
C. Object A is a star; Object B is a planet.
D. Both objects are planets
C. Object A is a star; Object B is a planet.
Star X appears brighter than Star Y in the night sky. Which additional information would best help explain this observation?
A. The names given to the stars.
B. Whether the stars are visible in summer.
C. Their distances from Earth and their actual sizes.
D. The number of planets in our solar system.
C. Their distances from Earth and their actual sizes.
] Which list correctly separates the inner planets from the outer planets?
A. Inner: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars; Outer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
B. Inner: Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn; Outer: Venus, Mars, Uranus, Neptune
C. Inner: Venus, Earth, Uranus, Neptune; Outer: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
D. Inner: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune; Outer: Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus
A. Inner: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars; Outer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
A class is making a chart comparing stars and planets. Which information belongs on the chart?
A. Stars produce their own light; planets do not produce their own light and orbit a star.
B. Stars orbit planets; planets produce their own light.
C. All stars are rocky; all planets are made of gas.
D. Stars can only be seen at night; planets cannot be seen at night
A. Stars produce their own light; planets do not produce their own light and orbit a star.
A digital solar-system model correctly shows the planets in order but places each planet in a fixed line and does not show their paths around the Sun. What can students use this model to learn, and what can it not show well?
A. It can show planet order, but it does not accurately show planets’ orbital positions and motion.
B. It can show each planet’s exact composition and weather.
C. It proves the planets never change position.
D. It shows the exact scale of the solar system.
A. It can show planet order, but it does not accurately show planets’ orbital positions and motion.
Why does the Sun appear brighter than most stars seen from Earth?
A. It is the only star that produces heat.
B. It is the closest star to Earth.
C. It is the largest star in the universe.
D. It is a planet that reflects sunlight.
B. It is the closest star to Earth.
Which description best defines a planet in our solar system?
A. A large object that orbits the Sun and does not produce its own light.
B. A ball of hot gas that produces its own light.
C. A small object made only of ice that always has a tail.
D. A group of stars held together by gravity.
A. A large object that orbits the Sun and does not produce its own light.
A student uses a large marble to represent Earth in a model. Which object would best represent the Moon?
A. A ball much larger than a basketball.
B. A ball about the size of a baseball.
C. A ball smaller than the marble.
D. A ball the same size as the Sun.
C. A ball smaller than the marble.
A model shows the Sun and the eight planets in the correct order, but every object is drawn the same size. What is a limitation of the model?
A. It leaves out the order of the planets.
B. It incorrectly suggests the planets and Sun are the same size.
C. It shows that planets produce their own light.
D. It cannot show that the planets orbit the Sun.
B. It incorrectly suggests the planets and Sun are the same size.
A research team wants to study the surface features of the Moon and observe distant stars. Which tool and explanation are the best choice?
A. A microscope, because it makes distant objects closer.
B. A telescope, because it gathers light and helps observers see distant objects more clearly.
C. A magnifying glass, because it measures the distance between objects in space.
D. A thermometer, because temperature determines the distance to stars.
B. A telescope, because it gathers light and helps observers see distant objects more clearly.
A star’s relative size refers to —
A. how its size compares with another object, such as the Sun.
B. how many planets orbit it.
C. how long it takes light to reach Earth.
D. the number of colors it produces.
A. how its size compares with another object, such as the Sun.
Scientists want to collect clearer information about very distant objects in space. Which change would most likely improve the quality of their observations?
A. Make the telescope’s labels larger.
B. Paint the telescope a brighter color.
C. Use improved light-gathering and imaging technology.
D. Point the telescope only at nearby objects.
C. Use improved light-gathering and imaging technology.
Two stars look different in brightness from Earth. Which explanation is scientifically reasonable?
A. The brighter star must be hotter than every other star.
B. The dimmer star must be a planet.
C. Their distances from Earth and their actual sizes can affect how bright they appear.
D. All stars have the same size and distance.
C. Their distances from Earth and their actual sizes can affect how bright they appear.