Distances in space

Scientists use the light-year to describe the relationships between objects in space. What does a light-year measure?

• the distance that light can travel in one year

• the brightness of light that travels through space

• the number of years it takes light to travel to Earth

• the time it takes light to travel 1 million km

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Distances between objects in space can be enormous. Which of the following distances is the longest?

• 2.1 ly

• 950,000 km

• 9.5 trillion km

• 1 million ly

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

A light-year (ly) is the distance that light travels in one year. If a star is 3 ly from Earth, how long does it take light from that star to reach Earth?

• 3 min

• 3 h

• 3 y

• 3 ly

The sun is much larger than the moon. However, as viewed from Earth, the sun and moon appear to be the same size. Why do the sun and moon appear to be the same size when viewed from Earth?

• The moon is much hotter than the sun.

• The moon is much denser than the sun.

• The moon is much brighter than the sun.

• The moon is much closer to Earth than the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which two objects in space are located farthest apart?

• Earth and Mars

• Earth and the sun

• Earth and the moon

• the Milky Way galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which object is closest to Earth?

• Barnard’s Star

• Planet Neptune

• Andromeda galaxy

• Triangulum galaxy

Earth and the rest of the solar system are located in the galaxy ___________________.

• Milky Way
• star
• Andromeda

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

A light-year is a measure of -

• time.

• distance.

• speed.

• velocity.

What is an astronomical unit (A.U.)?

• the time it takes light to travel one year

• the distance between the Earth and the Moon

• the distance between the Earth and the Sun

• the distance between the Earth and the Neptune

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What do we use astronomical units to measure?

• distances in our solar system
  
• How far our solar system is from others in our galaxy.
  
• The distances between galaxies. 
  
• The distance from one side of the universe to the other. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3