Planets

The planets in the solar system are divided into how many categories?

• ONE

• TWO

• THREE

• FOUR

Answer explanation

Planets are categorized into two - TERRESTRIAL (INNER PANETS) and JOVIAN (OUTER PLANET)

Terrestrial Planets - The term terrestrial planet is derived from the Latin “Terra” (i.e. Earth). Terrestrial planets are therefore those that are “Earth-like”, meaning they are similar in structure and composition to planet Earth. A terrestrial planet is a celestial body that is composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals and has a solid surface. While Jovian planets are massive, gaseous planets that extend far from the sun, do not have solid surfaces, have many moons and rings, undergo tremendous winds and storms, and have low densities.

Which planet has the shortest orbit in the sun?

• Neptune

• Venus

• Mercury

• Mars

Answer explanation

Why does Mercury have the shortest period of revolution?

Mercury is an extreme planet in several respects. Because of its nearness to the Sun—its average orbital distance is 58 million km (36 million miles)—it has the shortest year (a revolution period of 88 days) and receives the most intense solar radiation of all the planets.

Which planet is considered the hottest planet with a temperature of 867 degrees Fahrenheit?

• Jupiter

• Venus

• Mercury

• Earth

Answer explanation

Venus is considered the hottest planet in the solar system at 867 degrees Fahrenheit due to its atmosphere of carbon dioxide and extensive lava flow.

The water systems of this planet help create the only known environment to sustain life. Which planet is this?

• Nepture

• Earth

• Mars

• Saturn

Answer explanation

What makes the Earth suitable for life?

Earth is the only planet that hosts liquid water on its surface, allowing for a direct transfer of energy from the sun in order for photosynthetic life forms to evolve. It has unique surface which neither too hot nor too cold for the occurrence of complex biochemical processes.

__________ planets have multiple moons, no solid surface, have support rings, and are large in size.

What is the second largest planet in the solar system?

• Neptune

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Uranus

Answer explanation

Saturn Fun Facts

Saturn is sometimes called "The Jewel of the Solar System." You cannot stand on Saturn. It is not like Earth. Saturn is made mostly of gases. It has a lot of helium. This is the same kind of gas that you put in balloons. Its beautiful rings are not solid. They are made up of bits of ice, dust and rock. Saturn could float in water because it is mostly made of gas. (Earth is made of rocks and stuff.). It is very windy on Saturn. Winds around the equator can be 1,800 kilometers per hour. That's 1,118 miles per hour! On Earth, the fastest winds "only" get to about 400 kilometers per hour. That's only about 250 miles per hour. It goes around the sun very slowly. A year on Saturn is more than 29 Earth years. Saturn spins on its axis very fast. A day on Saturn is 10 hours and 14 minutes.

Which planet is known to spin on its sides?

• Saturn

• Jupiter

• Neptune

• Uranus

Answer explanation

Uranus: The Ringed Planet That Sits on its Side

Unlike the other planets of the solar system, Uranus is tilted so far that it essentially orbits the sun on its side, with the axis of its spin nearly pointing at the star. This unusual orientation might be due to a collision with a planet-size body, or several small bodies, soon after it was formed. This unusual tilt gives rise to extreme seasons that last for about 20 years. This means that for nearly a quarter of the Uranian year, which is equal to 84 Earth-years, the sun shines directly over each pole, leaving the other half of the planet to experience a long, dark and frigid winter.

Which planet is the farthest planet in the solar system and one of the coldest?

• Jupiter

• Uranus

• Saturn

• Neptune

Answer explanation

6 Interesting Facts About Neptune

1. Neptune is the Most Distant Planet.

2. Neptune is the smallest of the gas giants.

3. Neptune’s surface gravity is almost earth-like.

4. Neptune has the strongest winds in the solar system.

5. Neptune is the coldest planet in the solar system.

6. Neptune has rings.

What is the farthest terrestrial planet from the sun?

• Mercury

• Earth

• Mars

• Venus

Answer explanation

Fascinating Facts About Mars

1. Mars is also known as the Red Planet. This is because Mars is covered in soil, rock, and dust made from iron oxide which gives the surface a red rusty colour.

2. Mars is named after the Roman god of war.

3. Mars has 2 moons called Deimos and Phobos. They are named after the two horses that pull the Roman god of war, Mars’, chariot. They may be asteroids captured by Mars’ gravity.

4. Mars has very weak gravity. Gravity on Mars is 37% less than on Earth. This means that on Mars you could jump 3x higher than on Earth.

5. Mars is a terrestrial planet because it has a hard and rocky surface. Its northern side is full of flat plains and the southern side has ridges and craters.

6. Mars is home to Olympus Mons, a dormant volcano and the largest volcano and highest mountain in our solar system. It is 16 miles high and 600 km across the base, making it 3x the height of Mount Everest.

7. A day on Mars lasts 24 hours and 37 minutes.

How many moons are there on Jupiter?

• 59

• 69

• 79

• 89

Answer explanation

Fun Facts about Jupiter

1. Jupiter has 53 named moons and another 26 awaiting official names. Combined, scientists now think Jupiter has 79 moons.

2. Jupiter cannot be a Star - Astronomers call Jupiter a failed star, but that’s not really an appropriate description. While it is true that, like a star, Jupiter is rich in hydrogen and helium, Jupiter does not have nearly enough mass to trigger a fusion reaction in its core. This is how stars generate energy, by fusing hydrogen atoms together under extreme heat and pressure to create helium, releasing light and heat in the process.

3. Jupiter is the fastest spinning plane in the solar system - with an rotational velocity of 12.6 km/s (~7.45 m/s) or 45,300 km/h (28,148 mph), the planet only takes about 10 hours to complete a full rotation on its axis

4. The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is one of its most familiar features.