Solar System SSA Review

A year is the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit the Sun. If Earth is 1 astronomical unit (AU) away from the Sun, and Neptune is 30 astronomical units (AU) away from the Sun, how does the length of a year on Neptune compare to a year on Earth?

 

• A year is the same amount of time for all planets.

   

• A year on Neptune is shorter than on Earth, since Neptune is bigger and orbits the Sun faster.

   

• A year on Earth is shorter than a year on Neptune because Earth is closer to the Sun.

   

• A year on Earth is shorter than a year on Neptune because Earth is smaller than Neptune.

   

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Saturn is 9.5 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun and Mars is only 1.5 AU from the Sun. Saturn is also much larger than Mars. Based on this information, how does the average surface temperature on Mars compare to the average surface temperature on Saturn?

 

• Since Mars is closer to the Sun than Saturn, it has a higher average surface temperature

• Saturn is larger than Mars and absorbs more light, so it has a higher average surface temperature

• Since both planets are more than 1 AU from the Sun, their average surface temperatures are equal

• Even though Saturn is further away, Saturn's rings cause it to have a lower average surface temperature

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Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System: it has as much mass as about 300 Earths! Venus is only slightly smaller than Earth and has about the same about of mass as the Earth. How would Jupiter's gravity compare to that of Venus?

 

• Venus is closer to the Sun, so Venus has more gravity than Jupiter

• Jupiter is more massive than Venus, so Jupiter has more gravity

• Venus is more compact than Jupiter, so Venus has more gravity

• Jupiter is farther from the Sun than Venus, so Jupiter has more gravity

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All of the planets in our Solar System orbit the Sun. Why do the planets stay in orbit, rather than drift off into space?

 

• The planets need the warmth of the Sun to maintain their stability

• The magnetic field of the planets and the Sun keep them attracted to one another

• The gravitational pull between the planets and the Sun keep them in orbit

• The gravitational pull of the outer planets keep the inner plants in their orbit

   

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There are many objects that are part of our Solar System including planets, moons, asteroids, and the Sun. Which of those objects has the greatest gravitational force?

 

• asteriods

• the Sun

• moons

• planets

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The current model of our Solar System is called the heliocentric model, which means the Sun is at the center. Before scientists developed the current model, which is best supported by the evidence, what was believed to be the center of our solar system?

• The Solar System had no center because all the planets' orbits were random

• A star other than the Sun was the center of the Solar System

• A black hole was the center of the Solar System

• Earth was the center of the Solar System

Which of the following explains why the Earth is not moving toward you when you jump up in the air?

• Earth exerts a gravitational force on itself
• You don't weigh enough to affect Earth's surface
• Your mass is very small compared to Earth's mass
• Earth's fixed orbit around the Sun keeps it from moving

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