Solar System PFA

In the solar system, there is a lot of distance between Mars and Jupiter.

The main asteroid belt is in this area.

What is the reason a planet did not form between Mars and Jupiter?

• Mars has two very fast-moving moons. These moons prevented a planet from forming in the area.

• The asteroid belt does not have a large enough mass to create a planet. Jupiter's gravity also prevents a planet from forming in the asteroid belt.

• This area gets a lot of stellar wind from the sun. Planets cannot form in areas that get a lot of stellar wind.

• Planets can only form close to the sun or far away from the sun. This area is a region where planets cannot form.

The sun is made up of what two main elements?

• Hydrogen and helium.

• Helium and nitrogen.

• Helium and carbon.

• Hydrogen and nitrogen.

Our solar system began as a cloud of...

• gas, ice, and dust.

• stars, radiation, and gravity.

• matter, light, and heat.

• neutrons, protons, and electrons.

Which sentence BEST describes the formation of the sun?

• Gravitation pulled together a cloud of dust and gas to form the sun.

• Electromagnetism pulled together planets and satellites to form the sun.

• Electromagnetism pulled together a cloud of dust and gas to form the sun.

• Gravitation pulled together planets and satellites to form the sun.

Which statement best describes how the planets in our solar system formed?

• They formed from a nebular cloud of dust and gas.

• They are condensed rings of matter thrown off by a recently formed sun.

• They are the remains of an exploded star once paired with the sun.

• The sun captured them from a smaller, older, nearby star.

Which of these BEST describes the formation of Earth?

• Earth was formed from a cloud of gas and dust spinning and moving some distance from the sun.

• Earth was formed from the collision of multiple asteroids. The asteroids merged into a planet.

• Earth was formed when a piece of the sun broke off the star as it was forming.

• Earth was formed when Jupiter, the largest planet, split into smaller pieces during its formation.

How old is our solar system?

• About 4.5 billion years.

• About 13.5 million years.

• About 13.5 billion years.

• About 4.5 million years.

Complete the sentence.

If it collects a lot of mass, a space object will become __________ due to __________.

• spherical; electromagnetism

• spherical; gravity

• a rocky planet; electromagnetism

• a rocky planet; gravity

How did Earth’s moon form?

• The moon formed farther away, near the asteroid belt. It then moved close to Earth and was captured by Earth’s gravity.

• An early impact on Earth ejected a lot of material. This material formed the moon.

• The moon formed from gas clouds, like Earth.

• A solar flare early in the solar system's existence ejected material from the sun. This solar material formed the moon.

Why are planets spherical?

• Objects over a certain mass become spherical.

• Solar winds polish the surfaces of orbiting planets.

• Rocks are ejected from spinning bodies.

• Circular orbits produce spherical planets.