Investigation 2: Planetary Systems

Which shape best describes the Earth's path around the Sun?

• Square
• Oval
• Circle
• Triangle

What force keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun?

• momentum
• gravity
• pressure
• time

Why is the Sun the brightest star we see in the sky?

• It is the brightest star.
• It is the biggest star.
• It is the smallest star.
• It is the closest star.

Which moon phase follows the new moon?

• full moon
• waxing crescent
• first quarter
• waning crescent

How long does it take the Moon to orbit the Earth?

• one day
• one week
• one month
• one year

The Sun's diameter is about ____________ the diameter of the Earth.

• 1,000 times
• 100 times
• one half
• one fourth

The Sun is about ________ Earth diameters away from the Earth.

• 200
• 2,000
• 12,000
• 20,000

If you represented Earth with a ball that is 16 cm in diameter, how big should a ball be to represent the Moon in the same model?

• 1 cm
• 4 cm
• 8 cm
• 16 cm

How far away should you position the Moon ball from the Earth ball in the model described in the last question?

• 16 cm
• 160 cm
• 320 cm
• 480 cm

The turning of Earth on its axis is called __________________.

• rotation
• revolution
• orbit
• gravity