Properties of Objects in the Solar System

Which of the following provides the best reasoning for a planet being able to form and maintain its spherical shape while also remaining in orbit around the Sun?

• The gravitational pull originating from the center of the planets allows them to retain their

  shape and the gravitational pull of the Sun keeps them in orbit.

• The gravitational attraction of planets towards neighboring planets allows them to retain

  their shape and the gravitational pull of the Sun keeps them in orbit.

• The gravitational pull originating from the center of the planets allows the planets to retain

  their shape and the magnetic force exerted on the planets by the Sun keeps them in orbit.

• The gravitational attraction of the planets towards neighboring planets allows them to

  retain their shape and the magnetic force exerted on the planets by the Sun keeps them

  in orbit.

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Which statement below best describes how scientists explain gravity’s role in the formation of our Solar System?

• The combined gravitational attraction between our planets was so large that it pulled the

  Sun away from a nearby star cluster into the center of our Solar System.

• The eight planets in our Solar System were originally orbiting a nearby star, and the Sun’s

  gravity was large enough to pull those planets into orbit around the Sun.

• Due to the expansion of neighboring solar systems, the gravitational attraction of our

  planets to those solar systems forced the formation of the planets around our Sun.

• As the Sun was forming, the force of gravity caused surrounding dust grains to collide and

  stick together, forming dust granules into increasingly larger bodies that became planets.

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The table to the left lists some properties of different planets in our Solar System.

Which of the following best explains why Venus has a higher temperature than Mercury?

• The atmosphere on Venus is thicker than the atmosphere on Mercury.

• The atmosphere on Venus is thinner than the atmosphere on Mercury.

• The length of time it takes Venus to revolve around the Sun is shorter than Mercury.

• The length of time it takes Venus to revolve around the Sun is longer than that of Mercury.

The table to the left contains some properties of the planets in our Solar System.

Which statement accurately relates a planets distance from the Sun to its other properties?

• The closer a planet is to the Sun the greater its gravity

• The closer a planet is to the Sun the greater its mass is.

• The further away a planet is from the Sun the longer its year is.

• The further away a planet is from the Sun the shorter its year is.

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The diagram to the left illustrates how an object’s weight would change as it moves from one celestial body to another within our Solar System.

Which of the following statements correctly compares the force of gravity on Earth to the force

of gravity of other celestial bodies within the Solar System?

• Earth has a smaller gravitational pull than Mars.

• Earth has a larger gravitational pull than Uranus.

• Earth has a larger gravitational pull than Neptune.

• Earth has a smaller gravitational pull than the Moon.

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Throughout history different models of the solar system have been used to describe where the sun and planets are in relation to each other. Which statement below best compares the heliocentric model to the geocentric model?

• The heliocentric model has the Sun at the center of the solar system, while the geocentric

  model does not.

• The geocentric model has the Sun at the center of the solar system, while the heliocentric

  model does not.

• The heliocentric model has the elliptical orbits of the solar system, while the geocentric

  model shows circular orbits.

• The geocentric model has the elliptical orbits of the solar system, while the heliocentric

  model shows circular orbits.

Which planets in our solar system revolve the fastest?

• The gas giant planets

• Planets closest to the Sun

• Planets farthest from the Sun

• All planets revolve at the same speed

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The average temperature on each planet varies based on location.

Which planet would we expect to have the lowest temperature?

• Mars

• Earth

• Mercury

• Neptune

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Why in our solar system, do planets not collide with each other?

• The planets are moving at a different speed in different orbital paths.

• The planets are moving at the same speed in the same orbital paths.

• The gravitational relationship between each planet and the sun is different.

• The gravitational relationship between each planet and the sun is the same.

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Which of the following describes how gravity played a role in the formation of planets?

• Gravity caused large particles to separate into smaller particles which then became

  planets.

• Gravity caused the particles to rotate and spin to form a nebula, which then became the

  planets.

• Gravity caused small particles to collide to form larger particles, which eventually formed

  planets.

• Gravity caused the solar nebula to collapse toward its center, causing the center to be

  dense and hot forming planets.

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