WMS 7th Gr - The Solar System

Order these from SMALLEST to LARGEST:

universe, solar system, galaxy.

(Be able to explain why.)

• 1. Universe

  2. Solar System

  3. Galaxy

• 1. Solar System

  2. Galaxy

  3. Universe

• 1. Galaxy

  2. Universe

  3. Solar System

Answer explanation

Solar System = Sun, 8 Planets, Moon, Asteroid Belt

Galaxy = our Solar System is in the Milky Way Galaxy (there's over 2 trillion galaxies!)

Universe = is EVERYTHING ...our Solar System and all the Galaxies combined

How can you tell the difference between moons and planets? 

• Planets are smaller than moons.

• Planets revolve around moons.

• Moons revolve around planets.

Answer explanation

Planets all revolve around the sun.

Moons revolve around a planet.

For example...

Earth has 1 moon orbiting around it.

Jupiter has 80 moons orbiting around it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Using table, fill in ? ? for Saturn.

• Basketball

  24cm cm

• Softball

  10 cm

• Tennis Ball

  5.2 cm

• Baseball

  7.5 cm

Answer explanation

Saturn's size is in between Jupiter and Uranus so it has to be....

the basketball at 24 cm.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

 The force of gravitational attraction between the Sun and Venus could be increased by reducing which of the following? 

• The period of rotation of the Sun

• The distance between the Sun and Venus

• The mass of the Sun and Venus

• The speed of the orbit of Venus

Answer explanation

Increase gravitional pull by reducing/decreasing the distance.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following is a complete list of the inner planets? 

• Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Jupiter

Answer explanation

Inner Planets are the 4 terrestrial planets closest to the sun.

Outer Planets are far from the sun and are called the gas giant planets.

If someone is building a SCALE MODEL of our solar system which characteristic would be the most difficult to build into the model? 

• RELATIVE SIZES

  of the objects

• COLORS

  of the objects

• DISTANCE between objects 

• COMPOSITION

  of the objects 

Answer explanation

Remember Bill Nye's video like the one pictured or using the football fields?

Size, Color, Composition (what made of) is pretty easy to model...

but DISTANCE is difficult to build into model.

Planet Miles from Sun

Mercury 37 milion

Neptune 2.8 billion

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The orbital motions of the objects in the solar system

are the direct result of which of the following features of the Sun? 

• Its magnetic field

• Its brightness

• Its gravitational pull

• Its chemical composition

Answer explanation

Gravity keeps the planets moving in orbit around the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

A large object orbiting a star

• Asteroids

• Moon

• Planet

• Sun

• Universe

Answer explanation

The sun is a star!

Planets orbit (or revolve around) the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

A star that is sense and made up of hot gases

• Asteroids

• Moon

• Planet

• Sun

• Universe

Answer explanation

The SUN is a star made up of hot gases.

Masses that orbit around a planet 

• Asteroids

• Moon

• Planet

• Sun

• Universe

Answer explanation

Moons orbit planets.

For example, the earth has 1 moon orbiting it, but Saturn has 83!

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1