Solar System Review

Many years ago, people believed that the Earth was the center of the solar system because from Earth, it looks as if the stars and sun

• A. move more quickly than the Earth.

• B. geocentric

• C. are much smaller than the Earth.

• D. revolve around the Earth.

The ___ model was first summarized by Aristotle and Plato in the 4th Century BC and later updated by Ptolemy, a Greek philosopher, about 100-200 AD. In this model the Earth is motionless at the center of the universe. *

• A. gravocentric

• B. geocentric

• C. heliocentric

• D. solarcentric

Over time, scientists have changed their model of our solar system. It has transformed from?

• A. an Earth-centered to a moon-centered model.

• B. a sun-centered to an earth-centered model.

• C. an Earth-centered to a sun-centered model.

• D. a moon-centered to an earth-centered model.

Looking through his telescope, Galileo observed that Jupiter had a set of moons, much like Earth does. The moons revolved around the planet. This disproved the idea that all objects in space revolved around Earth. This means that?

• A. scientific knowledge can be revised if better evidence comes to light.

• B. scientific knowledge began only after the telescope was invented.

• C. scientific knowledge is almost always incorrect.

• D. scientific knowledge can only be gained by using sophisticated instruments.

The ___ model is a model proposed by Nicholas Copernicus, a Polish cleric, around 1500. His model proposed that all the planets revolve around the sun and the moon revolves around the Earth?

• A. big bang

• B. geocentric

• C. heliocentric

• D. gravocntric

Which statement BEST describes the position of the Earth in the solar system?

• A. The Earth is the planet closest to the sun.

• B. The Earth is closer to the sun than Jupiter.

• C. The Earth is the planet farthest from the sun.

• D. The Earth is farther from the sun than Jupiter.

Which statement is true about the solar system?

• A. The inner planets have more moons than the outer p

• B. The inner planets are gaseous; the outer planets are terrestrial.

• C. The inner planets orbit at a slower rate than the outer planets.

• D. The inner planets are more dense; the outer planets are less dense.

Which inner planet is closest to the sun?

• A. Earth

• B. Mars

• C. Mercury

• D. Venus

Earth has several ideal features which enable it to support life. MOST important is?

• A. the gravitational force on Earth.

• B. the existence and amount of liquid water on Earth’s surface.

• C. the relationship between Earth and its moon.

• D. the existence of the tectonic plates.

Earth seems to be the only planet in our solar system that can support life. ALL BUT ONE of these is a reason why life is found only on Earth. That is?

• A. a moderate climate.

• B. the presence of liquid water.

• C. the right mixture of gases in the atmosphere.

• D. it has gravity to hold an atmosphere in place.