Our Solar System

The formation of the solar system from a huge cloud of dust and gases is called the

• protoplanet theory
• nebular theory
• planetesimal theory
• solar theory

The solar system likely began as a huge cloud of gas and dust.  The force that MOST LIKELY caused this cloud to form the large clumps that became the Sun and planets is

• electricity.
• fission.
• gravity.
• magnetism.

During the early stages of planet formation, only small bodies existed.  These earliest clumps are called

• planetesimals.
• protoplanets.
• planets.
• asteroids.

_______________ are large clumps of matter in orbit around the Sun or a star that develop into a planet.

• Planetesimals
• Protoplanets
• Asteroids
• Comets

The nebula from which our sun and planets formed is called the

• crab nebula.
• solar nebula.
• geonebula.
• helionebula.

Which of the following is a terrestrial planet?

• Earth
• Saturn
• Neptune
• Uranus

Which of the following is a Jovian planet?

• Mercury
• Earth
• Mars
• Jupiter

Olympus Mons, a volcano the size of Ohio, is found on _____.

• Earth
• Mars
• Mercury
• Saturn

Which of the following planets does NOT have rings?

• Mars
• Uranus
• Neptune
• Saturn

Which planet is the brightest in the night sky?

• Mercury
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Venus