What is a meteor called when it hits the Earth's surface?
A meteorite.
100
Define orbit.
To make a path around something.
200
How many phases of the moon are there? Also, name at least two of them.
There are 8 phases: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent.
200
What elements make up the sun?
Hydrogen and Helium.
200
Name the inner planets in order from the sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
200
Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Give at least 3 reasons.
-It's hard and rocky, unlike than the gas giants nearby it.
-It's very small compared to the planets around it.
-It's orbit crosses Neptune.
-It's orbit goes more diagonally than the other planets.
200
Define elliptical.
Oval shaped.
300
What do we usually see from Earth when the moon is between the Earth and the sun?
A new moon.
300
What is the color of the hottest sun? What is the color of the coolest sun? How does our sun compare?
The hottest is blue and the coolest is red. Ours is yellow, a medium heat.
300
What is the largest planet?
Jupiter
300
Why do planets stay in their orbits?
The sun has a gravitational pull that pulls a planet towards it. Instead of going in a straight line, it follows a curved path. It continues to move in this curved path because of inertia, the property of matter that keeps objects moving at a constant speed until something pushes or stops them.
300
Define satellite.
A body in space that orbits a larger body.
400
What happens during a solar eclipse? What does the moon look like during one?
During a solar eclipse, the moon lines up perfectly between the sun and the Earth, causing the moon to appear to block out the sun. From Earth, the sun would appear dark or black as the moon covers it.
400
What is fusion and how does it keep the sun hot?
Fusion is when hydrogen atoms in the sun join together, or fuse, to create helium and release heat (energy).
400
Name the planets that have rings. Which planet is most famous for it's rings?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have rings. Saturn has the most pronounced rings.
400
What causes a comet's tail to form?
A comet has ice in it's core and as it approaches the sun, that ice begins to melt, forming vapors (gases) that stretch out behind the comet.
400
Define inertia.
A property of matter that keeps objects moving in a straight line and at a constant speed unless they are pushed or pulled by some force.
500
What happens during a lunar eclipse? What does the moon look like during one?
During a lunar eclipse, the Earth makes a shadow on the moon as it lines up perfectly between the sun and the moon. From Earth, the moon looks dark or reddish.
What is the difference between a comet, asteroid, and a meteor?
A comet is made of vapors (gases), ice, and dust and travels around the sun.
An asteroid is a large stone or boulder in space that stays in place and separates the inner and outer planets.
A meteor is a rock that is traveling through space.
500
Define gravity.
The attraction that pulls objects towards the Earth.