3rd 9 Weeks Benchmark

If an object is dropped from an airplane, it will fall to the ground. The force that causes the object to fall is

• mass

• gravity

• friction

• weight

Gravity is responsible for the

• orbits of the planets around the sun

• rotation of a planet on its axis

• tilt of Earth's axis

• phases of the moon

Which phenomenon is caused by the same force that causes objects to fall toward the surface of Earth?

• Earth orbits the sun

• Sunlight travels to the planets

• The tails of comets point away from the sun

• A compass needle points to the North Pole of the Earth

Which two factors most affect the gravitational force between two objects?

• size

• distance

• density

• mass

• volume

A student observes what happens when he releases a wadded-up piece of paper, a baseball, and a rock from one meter above the ground all at the same time. All three objects move in the same direction.

Which claim can be made based on the student's observations?

• The volume of the objects causes the objects to fall down toward Earth.

• The rotation of Earth causes the objects to fall down toward Earth.

• The density of the objects causes the objects to fall down toward Earth.

• The gravitational force of Earth causes the objects to fall down toward Earth.

What piece of evidence best supports the claim that the gravitational force of Earth causes the objects to fall down toward Earth.

• The rock made the loudest noise when it hit the ground.

• The baseball and the rock hit the ground just before the paper did.

• The paper and the baseball bounced several times after they hit the ground.

• The paper, the baseball, and the rock fell when the student let go of them.

A group of friends was talking about why the Sun appears larger than other stars in the sky. They compared the appearance of the Sun with that of other stars. Which situation best models how the Sun appears larger than other stars?

• People who are close to you have more mass than people who are farther away.

• Trees that are close to you appear taller than trees that are farther away.

• Houses that are close to you appear smaller than houses that are farther away.

• Mountains that are close to you have a greater volume than mountains that are farther away.

At 9:00 pm, you observe that the constellation appears to be directly overhead. At 3 am, the constellation does not appear directly overhead. What best explains the change of location in the sky for the constellation?

• Earth rotated on its axis.

• Earth revolved around the sun.

• The constellation orbited Earth.

• The constellation moved in the sky.

In six months, how far will Earth have gone in its orbit around the sun compared to how far the moon has gone in its orbit around Earth? Select the two best answers.

• Moon has completed one orbit of Earth

• Earth has completed six orbits of the sun.

• Earth has completed half of one orbit of the Sun

• Moon has completed six orbits of Earth

If it is daytime right now, why will it be nighttime after 12 hours?

• Earth is tilted on its axis.

• Earth has a round shape.

• Earth orbits the sun.

• Earth rotates around its axis.