Unit 1 Universe & Solar System elements d,e

Which statement about gravitational forces is TRUE?

• A planet must be larger than Earth to exert a gravitational force.

• The gravitational force of a planet is determined by its distance from the Sun.

• Planets in the solar system are held in orbit by the gravitational force of the Sun.

• The gravitational force on Earth is caused by the orbit of the Moon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

Which statements BEST describe a difference between comets and asteroids as they travel through space?

• comets are icy; asteroids are rocky

• comets orbit Earth; asteroids orbit the Sun

• comets reflect light; asteroids generate light

• comets travel short distances; asteroids travel long distances

Which of these locations in the solar system contains the MOST asteroids?

• the surface of the Sun

• the ring system of Saturn

• between Mars and Jupiter

• between Mercury and Venus

An irregularly shaped, composed of metal and rock, much smaller than planets, similar orbital pattern as the planets best describes a(n)

• asteroid

• comet

• meteorite

• moon

An object has passed near Earth many times on a cycle that repeats about every 75 years. Which statement BEST describes this object?

• It is an asteroid since it spends part of its time between Mars and Jupiter.

• It is considered part of a swarf planent subsystem with Pluto and Ceres.

• It is clasified as a small moon of Earth due to its frequent return orbit.

• It is one of several comets in the solar system that orbit the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The greater the mass of an object, the greater its gravitational pull on other objects. Which of the following exerts the greatest gravitational pull?

• a moon

• a planet

• a star

• a galaxy

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The planets orbit the Sun because

• the planets are drawn to the Sun's magnetic poles.

• the planets are drawn to the Sun because there is no weight in space.

• the planets are held in orbit by the gases from the Sun.

• the planets are held in orbit by the gravity created by the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Astronomers believe that Earth's solar system began as a rotting disc of dust because they have observed this phenomenon elsewhere in the Milky Way galaxy. Which of the following is the best explanation of how this disc of dust became Earth's solar system?

• The force of gravity attracted these particles of dust to one another, and overt time, these particles clustered and formed the Sun, the planets, and their orbits.

• The force of friction attracted these particles of dust to one another, and, over time, these particles created clumps that formed Sun, the planets, and their orbits.

• The force of nuclear energy created a suction that formed these particles into the Sun and the planets and kept them in elliptical orbits.

• The force from strong electromagnetic fields pulled the particles together to form the Sun and the planets and kept them in elliptical orbits.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Without gravity, objects in the solar system would

• orbit much faster.

• orbit much slower.

• move in straight lines

• stop moving altogether.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which shows a comet, meteorite, and meteor in order from smallest to largest?

• meteor, comet, meteorite

• meteorite, meteor, comet

• meteor, meteorite, comet

• comet, meteorite, meteor

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3