Unit Test: The Solar System and the Universe

Telescopes are useful tools for observing objects in our solar system. When might you use a telescope?

• to see more detail about a small area of the sky

• to predict the position of a star

• to determine the thickness of a planet’s core

• to collect a sample from a space object

The masses of objects in the solar system can be reported by comparing them to the mass of Earth. Which of these planets in the solar system most likely has a mass more than 300 times greater than the mass of Earth?

• Jupiter

• Mercury

• Mars

• Venus

Planets are classified as either inner planets or outer planets based on their distance from the sun. What is found between the inner planets and the outer planets?

• stars

• moons

• comets

• asteriods

The masses of objects in the solar system can be reported by comparing them to the mass of Earth. Which of these planets in the solar system most likely has a mass more than 300 times greater than the mass of Earth?

• Venus

• Mars

• Jupiter

• Mercury

Which of the following planets has a large solid core?

• Saturn

• Mercury

• Jupiter

• Neptune

Some galaxies have symmetrical shapes. Other galaxies are not symmetrical. What are these called?

• barred spiral galaxy

• elliptical galaxy

• irregular galaxy

• elliptical galaxy

Elliptical galaxies are brightest toward the center. Which reasoning best explains this observation?

• The stars are evenly distributed through the galaxy.

• Most of the stars are near the outside of the elliptical galaxy with dust clouds in the center.

• The center is crowded with stars, and the number of stars decreases farther out.

• The stars are spread throughout the galaxy in bands that look like the arms of spiral galaxies.

All visible stars in the night sky are many times larger than Earth. What claim explains why they look like tiny points of light?

• They are moving very fast.

• The atmosphere blocks most of their light.

• The stars visible at night are located very far from Earth.

• Most of the light from stars is absorbed by galaxies, so it does not reach Earth.

When compared to other stars, the sun is not very unusual. However, the sun is very important to humans. What makes the sun more important than the other stars?

• Unlike other stars, the sun is very large.

• When compared to other stars, the sun is the hottest.

• Unlike other stars, the sun is the right color for living things.

• When compared to other stars, the sun is very close to Earth.

Which of these characteristics distinguishes the outer planets from the inner planets?

• The outer planets orbit in a different direction.

• The outer planets have many moons.

• The outer planets have higher densities.

• The outer planets have smaller diameters.