Unit 4 Space

Distances in space involving galaxies and distant stars are too large to work with using common units of length.

 Which of the following accurately describes how astronomers most commonly measure such large distances in space?

 

• The distance light travels in a year.

• The distance across the solar system.

• The distance across the Milky Way galaxy.

• The distance Earth travels in its orbit around the Sun.

The picture below is an overhead view modeling the Milky Way Galaxy.

Which of the following best identifies the approximate location of our Sun and Solar System in the Milky Way Galaxy?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

An astronomer was comparing the composition of two different stars. She found that the stars are about the same size, but the percentage of hydrogen gas in one star was much less than in the other.

 What can she best conclude from this observation?

• The star with the most hydrogen was older.

• The star with the most hydrogen had less mass.

• The star with the most hydrogen was younger.

• The star with the most hydrogen was less bright.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

In 1964, a scientist discovered that there was low-energy cosmic background radiation coming from all parts of space.

 What does this evidence support about the origin of the Universe?

• The Universe originated with a period of extreme and rapid expansion.

• The Universe originated and remains in the same steady state.

• The Universe originated with a period of extreme and rapid contraction.

• The Universe expanded slowly for a short time and stopped.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

The diagram below shows shifts in the light spectrum of hydrogen from several locations in the Universe.

What is the best argument that can be made from this data?

• More distant galaxies are moving faster away from Earth

• More distant galaxies are moving toward Earth

• More distant galaxies are brighter than a nearby star

• More distant galaxies are not as bright as a nearby star

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Students were asked to compare the characteristics and movements of several objects in the Solar System.  One student created the celestial objects table below:

 Which of the following would best improve this table?

• Change meteor to comet

• Change meteoroid to asteroid

• Change asteroid to planet

• Change planet to moon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

If it took Earth 730 days, rather than 365 days to orbit the Sun, which of the following would occur?

• Days on Earth would be twice as long.

• Days on Earth would be half as long

• Years on Earth would be twice as long.

• Years on Earth would be half as long.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The diagram below shows the position of the Moon in two different possible positions in relation to the Earth and Sun.

Which of the following best describes the tides on Earth when the Moon is at positions P and Q?

• Tides are high when the Moon is at positions P and Q

• The high and low tidal difference is the greatest at positions P and Q.

• Tides are low when the Moon is at position Q and high at position P.

• The high and low tidal difference is the least at positions P and Q.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which of the following would decrease the gravitational force between a planet and an orbiting satellite?

• Increase the distance between the planet and the satellite.

• Decrease the distance between the planet and the satellite.

• Increase the speed of the satellite orbiting the planet.

• Decrease the speed of the satellite orbiting the planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-2

Below is a diagram that shows the orbits of Earth and Venus.

Which of the following best explains the speed at which Venus and Earth orbit the Sun?

• Earth orbits faster because it has farther to go to complete an orbit in one year.

• Venus orbits faster because it is closer to the Sun, so the gravitational pull is greater.

• Earth orbits faster because it is farther from the Sun, so the gravitational pull is greater.

• Venus orbits faster because it has farther to go to complete an orbit in one year.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4