Planets of Our Solar System

Multiple Choice

Which is the largest object in our solar system?

• Sun
• Jupiter
• Earth
• Pluto

Open Ended

What is the order of the planets from the sun outward?

Multiple Choice

Imagine you are a scientist studying the formation of the solar system. What role does gravity play in this process?

• Gravity only affects the formation of stars, not the formation of planets in the solar system.

• Gravity causes the expansion of a giant molecular cloud, preventing the formation of a protostar and planets.

• Gravity caused a cloud of dust and gas to contract, forming the Sun. Gravitational attraction also caused the gas and dust orbiting the sun to clump and from objects that orbit the sun.

Reorder

Place the outer planets in order from CLOSEST to the sun from FARTHEST.

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Uranus

• Neptune

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

Analyze the data to determine the relative sizes of the planets in the solar system.

• All planets are roughly the same size

• The gas giants are significantly larger than the rocky planets

• The rocky planets are significantly larger than the gas giants

• The sizes of the planets are random and have no pattern

Fill in the Blank

Let's make learning fun. Complete the sentence to describe the magical motion of the planets as they gracefully orbit the Sun. Type one word into each box.

The planets __________ around the sun while they ________ on their axis.

Open Ended

Explain in your own words, the definition of both rotation and revolution. Explain if there is any relationship between these two things. Using the inner planets as some examples, does your position in the solar system determine the length of either your rotation or revolutions?

Multiple Choice

What is the effect of the Sun's gravity on the planets in our solar system?

• It pushes the planets away from the Sun.

• It has no effect on the planets.

• It keeps the planets in their orbits.

• It causes the planets to collide with each other.

Multiple Choice

What are the key differences between the planets in our solar system?

• Size

• Distance from the Sun

• Number of moons

• Color

Multiple Choice

How many stars are in our solar system?

• 1
• 1,000
• 1 million
• Over 1 billion

Multiple Choice

What separates the Inner Planets from the Outer Planets?

• The Kuiper Belt

• Jupiter

• Mars

• Asteroid Belt

Multiple Choice

What are the characteristics of the four inner planets?

• Made primarily of gas

• Have many moons

• Solid and defined surface

• Located far from the sun

Multiple Choice

What are the characteristics of the four outer planets?

• They are smaller than rocky planets

• They have thick atmospheres of hydrogen and helium

• They rotate very slowly

• They have no moons or rings

Multiple Choice

Which four planets are considered gas giants?

• Jupiter, Pluto, Earth, Mars
• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
• Mercury, Earth, Mars, Venus

Multiple Choice

What is a satellite?

• An object that orbits a larger celestial body

• A type of planet

• A star in the universe

• A type of asteroid

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank: Mercury and Venus are the only two planets in our solar system with no natural satellites, or moons. Earth has ___ moon.

Multiple Select

This planet is a gas giant. (2 answers)

• Saturn

• Mercury

• Earth

• Jupiter

Multiple Select

What can you do to see more stars at night? (Choose three answers)

• Look through a telescope.

• Go to a well-lit parking lot.

• Go to a dark field away from the city.

• Go to the top of the tallest building in town.

• Look through binoculars.

Multiple Choice

What celestial bodies can be seen with the naked eye from Earth?

• The Sun

• Comets

• Venus, Mars, and Jupiter

• Artificial satellites

Open Ended

Name the northern latitude constellation that is easily recognized by 5 bright stars forming an irregular "W", some observers seeing not only a W but also a chair. One of the brightest novae on record appeared in this constellation in 1572.

Fill in the Blank

Which planet is shown here?

Multiple Choice

What keeps the planets in orbit around the sun?

• gravity

• friction

• density

• distance

Multiple Choice

Which has more mass, Earth or the Moon?

• Earth
• Moon
• The same

Multiple Choice

Which has a STRONGER force of gravity, Earth or the Moon?

• Earth
• Moon

Multiple Choice

Out of the Earth, Sun, and Moon, the Sun has the most gravity of the three.

• True

• False

Poll

How confident do you feel about this topic now?

• Very confident
• Somewhat confident
• Not confident