23 BOWER gravity and planet comparison

The Kuiper Belt is a region beyond Neptune that is 55 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. It contains smaller bodies that scientists think are pieces left over from the formation of the Solar System. Which of the following best states how scientists know that the Kuiper Belt is part of our solar system?

• Objects within the Kuiper Belt orbit the Sun.

• Objects in the Kuiper Belt are still visible with a telescope

• Objects within the Kuiper Belt are larger than Mercury.

• Objects in the Kuiper Belt are located beyond Neptune.

The model below illustrates some planetary orbits around the Sun. The black dots representdifferent planets and the letters represent the planet Mars at different points along its orbit.

Determine which statement best describes the Sun's gravitational pull on Mars.

• At point D, the Sun's gravitational pull is weaker, because Mars is at its farthest point from the Sun

• At point C, the gravitational pull is weaker than at point B, because Mars is at its closest point to the Sun

• At point B, the gravitational attraction is at its weakest due to another planet being between Mars and the Sun.

• At point A, the gravitational pull is greatest, due to two other nearby planets increasing the gravitational pull of the Sun.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The Orion Nebula is an enormous span of gas and dust that is located within the Milky Way galaxy. Some scientists refer to this nebula as, "the birthplace of stars". Which of the following would be the best explanation for this statement?

• Stars are formed from massive explosions within a nebula

• Stars are formed as clouds of dust collapse as a result of gravitational attraction.

• Stars are formed due to the increased spinning of a nebula.

• Stars are formed from the combining and cooling of particles of dust and gas

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Comets are astronomical bodies, made up of ice and dust, which orbit the Sun. During its elliptical orbit, a comet’s distance from the Sun varies. As a comet nears the Sun, what happens to the speed of its orbit?

• The speed decreases due to the gravitational pull of the Sun.

• The speed decreases due to an increase in orbit size.

• The speed increases due to the gravitational pull of the Sun.

• The speed increases due to a decrease in orbit size.

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NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which of the following would most likely account for Jupiter having so many moons compared to Earth?

• Jupiter’s surface temperature is less than Earths

• There is more space debris in the outer part of our solar system

• Jupiter is further away from the sun

• Jupiter’s mass is larger than Earth’s

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The moon is very hot on the side facing the sun and very cold on the side away from the sun. The extreme temperature difference is primarily due to

• the reflective rocks on one side of the moon

• the thin atmosphere

• the composition of the moon

• its distance from the sun

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Which statement is true regarding the speed of the planets as they orbit the Sun?

• The closer a planet is to the Sun, the faster it travels around the Sun.

• Jupiter orbits the Sun twice as fast as Earth.

• The farther away a planet is from the Sun, the faster it travels around the Sun.

• There is no relationship between the speed of planets and their distance from the Sun.

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While using his new telescope, Akeem finds and observes two objects in the night sky. He uses an app. on his cell phone which indicates that one object is a planet and the other is a comet. How are comets different from planets?

• Comets will develop a tail as they move closer to the Sun, while planets will maintain the same appearance.

• Comets will always be in the same place each night, while a planet will move across the sky.

• Comets are not part of the solar system, while planets stay in orbit within the solar system

• Comets are gaseous balls of fire, while planets can be either gaseous or terrestrial

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between the surface temperature of the planets and their distances from the Sun?

• The planets farthest from the Sun have the coolest surface temperatures.

• The planet closest to the Sun has the hottest surface temperature.

• The closer a planet is to the Sun, the cooler its surface temperature.

• The farther a planet is away from the Sun, the greater its surface temperature.

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Although Venus is almost twice as far from the Sun as Mercury, its surface temperature is much

hotter. Which of the following is the best explanation for Venus’ high temperature?

• Venus does not have water, but Mercury does.

• Venus’ thick atmosphere has a strong greenhouse effect

• Venus has a solid surface and Mercury does not.

• Venus rotates much faster as compared to Mercury.