SSA REVIEW: SC.8.E.5.7 & SC.8.E.5.9

The current model of our Solar System is called the heliocentric model, which means the Sun is at the center. Before scientists developed the current model, which is best supported by evidence, what was believed to be the center of our solar system?

• The Solar System had no center because all of the planets' orbits were random.

• A star other than the Sun was the center of the Solar System.

• A black hole was the center of the Solar System.

• Earth was the center of the Solar System

Which of these choices states Newton’s law of universal gravitation?

• As a planet moves around its orbit, the planet sweeps out equal areas in equal amounts of time.

• The orbit of a planet, or other body, around the sun is an ellipse, with the sun at one focus of the ellipse.

• The square of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the cube of the planet’s mean distance from the sun.

• Gravitational force increases as the mass of an object increases or as the distance between two objects decreases.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

The surface of Mercury has many more craters than the surface of Earth has.

Which of the following statements best explains why Mercury has many more craters than Earth has?

• Mercury rotates faster than Earth does.

• Mercury has a smaller mass than Earth has.

• Mercury is much closer to the Sun than Earth is.

• Mercury has a thinner atmosphere than Earth has.

There are many objects that are part of our Solar System including planets, moons, asteroids, and the Sun.

Which of those objects has the greatest gravitational force?

• Asteroids

• The Sun

• Moons

• Planets

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Saturn is 9.5 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun and Mars is only 1.5 AU from the Sun. Saturn is also much larger than Mars.

Based on this information, how does the average surface temperature on Mars compare to the average surface temperature on Saturn?

• Since Mars is closer to the Sun than Saturn, it has a higher average surface temperature.

• Saturn is larger than Mars and absorbs more light, so it has a higher average surface temperature.

• Since both planets are more than 1 AU from the Sun, their average surface temperatures are equal.

• Even though Saturn is further away, Saturn's rings cause it to have a lower average surface temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The diagrams below illustrate different laws of planetary motion and gravity. Which diagram illustrates Kepler’s second law?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Kevin is describing the orbit of Earth.

At what point in Earth’s orbit is Earth closest to the sun?

• When Earth reaches aphelion

• When Earth reaches its average distance from the sun

• When Earth reaches perihelion

• When Earth reaches its slowest speed

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Lindsay sees an object fall from a tree to Earth.

Which answer best describes the example of what Lindsay is observing?

• Planetary motion

• Nuclear fusion

• Centripetal force

• Gravitational attraction

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The distance between objects, along with the masses of the objects, affect the gravitational force between the objects.

Which statement is true according to Newton’s law of universal gravitation?

• When the masses of objects increase, gravitational force decreases.

• When distance between objects increases, gravitational force decreases.

• When distance between objects decreases, gravitational force decreases.

• When the masses of objects decrease, the distance between objects decreases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which statement best describes gravity acting as a centripetal force?

• A force that makes objects move in elliptical paths around the sun

• The point in an object’s orbit at which the object is closest to the sun

• The path that a body follows as it travels around another body in space

• The point in an object’s orbit at which the object is farthest from the sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4