Characteristics of the Solar System

Besides the Sun, all other stars appear to be points of light. Why do the other stars appear so small?

• These stars are not as hot as the Sun.

• These stars are not as large as the Sun.

• These stars are farther away than the Sun.

• These stars are a different color than the Sun.

Scientists now accept eight planets as being part of our Solar System. What property do all of these planets share that makes them part of the Solar System?

• They are all the same size.

• They all orbit the Sun like Earth does.

• They are all covered mostly by oceans.

• They all have plant and animals living on them.

Mrs. Garcia's class is studying galaxies. She asked a student to describe a galaxy. Which statement is the best description of a galaxy?

• gas, dust, billions of stars, and planets

• a star, planets that orbit the star, gas, and dust

• a planet, moons that orbit the planet, gas, and dust

• a group of planets, moons that orbit planets, gas, and dust

What is the Milky Way?

• A. our solar system

• B. our home galaxy

• C. our constellation

• D. our universe

Which statement accurately compares our galaxy to our Solar System?

• A. Our galaxy is very small compared to our Solar System.

• B. Our Solar System includes the Moon, but our galaxy does not.

• C. Our galaxy has more stars than our Solar System has planets.

• D. Our Solar System has only the planet Earth, but our galaxy includes many planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which of these can be made of gases, dust, and hundreds of billions of stars?

• A. a galaxy

• B. a planet

• C. a solar system

• D. a constellation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Astronomers often discover new planets. Which of the following best describes a planet?

• A. a rock fragment in space.

• B. a large round object in space.

• C. a large object in space that revolves around a star in its own orbit.

• D. a large object in space that is composed of gases and gives off light.

Which features do the outer planets have in common?

• A. They have no moons.

• B. They have rocky surfaces.

• C. They have extremely high temperatures.

• D. They have atmospheres of hydrogen and helium gases.

Which of the following correctly compares the inner planets of the Solar System to the outer planets?

• A. The inner planets have rings, while the outer planets do not have rings.

• B. The inner planets have few or no moons, while the outer planets have many moons.

• C. The inner planets have longer year lengths, while the outer planets have shorter year lengths.

• D. The inner planets are composed mostly of gas, while the outer planets are composed mostly of solids.

Which features do all inner planets have in common?

• A. They have rings.

• B. They have moons.

• C. They have rocky surfaces.

• D. They have thick atmospheres.