The Solar System and Universe: Unit 2 Test Review

Which evidence first supported the heliocentric (sun centered) model of the solar system?

• mapping of stars using the unaided eye

• taking pictures of distant galaxies with satellite-based cameras

• determining that planets orbit in elliptical paths with telescopes

• observing the surface features of nearby planets and moons with telescopes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which method of data gathering can provide evidence of the formation of the solar system?

• sending teams of astronauts to each planet to gather samples from the planet

• sending astronauts to visit the sun and gather samples and record measurements

• reviewing images captured by cameras and telescopes during the formation of the solar system

• using telescopes, satellites, and probes to observe our solar system and distant star systems and galaxies

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The Milky Way is approximately 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 km, or 100,000 light-years, across. Which measurement is preferred when talking about distance in galaxies and why?

• Because galaxies are so large, the distances within them are measured in light-years

• Because galaxies exist in only a small region of the universe, they are measured in km.

• Because solar systems are related to the stars at their center, distances within galaxies are measured in km.

• Because of the distance, galaxies closer to Earth are measured in km, while galaxies farther away are measured using light-years.

Which unit is used to describe the distances between galaxies in the universe?

• miles

• hours

• kilometers

• light-years

The diagram shows Laplace’s hypothesis explaining the formation of the solar system. Which of these best explains the first stage in the diagram shown?

• This stage shows the contracting and cooling of a cloud.

• This stage shows a large collapsing cloud of gas and dust.

• This stage shows the collision and fusion of particles forming several large clumps.

• This stage shows the spinning and flattening of a nebula that throws off gaseous material.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

A student drew a model of the early stages of the formation of the solar system in which it changes from a spinning nebula to a spinning, flattened disc. Which of these observations can the student use as evidence to support this model? Choose all answers that are correct!

• All planets revolve around the sun in the same direction.

• Earth and Venus rotate on their axes in opposite directions.

• The orbital paths of the planets are all in the same plane as the sun.

• The space between the orbital paths of the planets is mostly empty.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

A student would like to show the difference in position between terrestrial planets and gas planets. Place Jupiter and Earth in the correct locations on the student’s model of the solar system.

• Terrestrial Planet - Earth

  Gas Planet - Jupiter

• Terrestrial Planet - Jupiter

  Gas Planet - Earth

Students are studying the solar system. They are using the following table to analyze the similarities and differences among the planets.

Choose the answers that correctly describe the planets in the solar system.

• The largest planets are made of gases.

• Mars and Earth are very close to each other in size.

• Saturn and Uranus are about the same distance from the sun.

• Compared with the other planets in the solar system, Earth has the strongest gravitational force.

• The planets closer to the sun are relatively small compared with the planets farther from the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Over time, humans discovered where Earth was located in the solar system, galaxy, and space. Place the events that occurred during this exploration in alphabetical order from earliest (A) to most recent (D).

A. Telescopes allowed astronomers to use starts clearly and to determine that Earth was inside the Milky Way.

B. Strong telescopes clearly saw multiple galaxies beyond the Milky Way, determining that there is more than one galaxy in space.

C. Telescopes were used to find the center of the Milky Way, determining that Earth and its solar system are not the core of the galaxy.

D. Using only their eyes, astronomers observed objects moving in front of bright bands in the night sky and proposed that there are many stars in the Milky Way.

• A, B, C, D

• D, C, B, A

• B, D, C, A

• D, A, B, C

According to the nebular theory, which planet is most likely to be gaseous rather than rocky?

Choose the correct answer.

• Venus, because it is the warmest planet and so is more likely to be gaseous

• Mercury, because planets closer to the solar nebula are more likely to be made of gas, like the nebula

• Earth, because the atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases, so it is a gaseous planet

• Neptune, because as the planets get farther from the solar nebula, their composition is more icy and gaseous