Gravity in Space PRE-Quiz

Which of these objects is NOT part of our solar system?

• the sun
• other stars
• planets
• comets

What role did gravity play in the formation of the solar system?

• nothing
• pushed all of the planets apart
• pulled material together to the center of the solar system to form the sun, and then the planets

TRUE or FALSE: The farther a planet is from the sun, the longer it takes for it to orbit the sun.

• True
• False

The shape of a planet's orbit around the sun is best described as _________.

• circular
• elliptical
• spiral
• conical

TRUE or FALSE: The larger a body (planet), the greater its gravitational pull.

• True 
• False

TRUE or FALSE: The sun is the most massive object in the solar system.

• True 
• False

The gravitational pull on planets closer to the sun causes them to move _______ planets farther from the sun.

• slower than
• faster than
• at the same speed as

The two forces working on a planet as it orbits are...

• gravity and weight
• gravity and mass
• gravity and inertia
• mass and inertia

If gravity suddenly stopped working, the planets would...

• keep orbiting
• fly off into space