Solar System Unit Test

Which of the following explanations correctly compares planets and stars?

• Stars orbit around planets

• Stars are larger than planets

• Stars can be seen in the sky at night and planets cannot

• Planets are made of gas and plasma; Stars are made of gas or rock

Why do planets appear to move across the constellations at different times and locations compared to stars?

• Planets orbit around the Earth.

• Planets move the same speed as all stars.

• Planets are much closer to the Earth than stars.

• Planets do not move, it just appears that they do because the stars are moving.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which is a limitation and an advantage of the model?

• An advantage of the model is that it shows the composition of the planets. A limitation is that it does not show the order of the planets.

• An advantage of the model is that it shows relative size. A limitation is that the model does not show the distance between the planets correctly.

• An advantage of the model is that it shows the distance between the planets correctly. A limitation of the model is that it does not show relative size.

• An advantage of the model is that it shows how the planets orbit around the sun. A limitation is that it does not show the composition of the planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

A group of fourth graders are wanting to build a solar system model. Which of the following characteristics of the model should the student include to make it as representational of the real solar system as possible?

• The model should show how the planets all orbit around the Sun at the same speed while showing relative sizes and distances from the Sun.

• The model should show the order from first to last on a poster board with texture to represent the composition.

• The model should show an orbit with the correct order with relative distances from the Sun and relative sizes.

• The model must be 3D to show that the solar system is also 3D.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

A model of the solar system is shown. Which of the following are two advantages of the model?

• It shows how the planets orbit around the sun and the composition of each planet.

• It shows the composition of each planet and the appearance of the planet.

• It shows the relative size of the planet and the appearance of the planet.

• It shows the composition of each planet and the order from the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What limitations does the model have?

• It does not show the order of the planets from the Sun or the composition of the planets.

• It does not show how the planets orbit around the Sun or the composition of the planets.

• It does not show the relative size or show that the planets orbit around the Sun.

• It does not show the composition of the planets or the relative size.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which of the following is a strength of the solar system model below?

• The model attempts to show the size of the planets to scale

• The model attempts to show the composition of the planets

• The model attempts to show the differences in how the planets look

• The model attempts to show the distance between the planets to scale

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

A student is writing about the strengths and weaknesses of the solar system model below.

She writes four sentences evaluating it:

1) The model of the solar system accurately shows that, to scale, the inner planets are much smaller than the outer planets. 2) It also shows very accurately how the planets look different from space.  I would recommend making two improvements to the model. 3) First, the planets should be lined up better - the inner planets are not in line with the outer planets in the model, and they should be.  4) Second, the distances between the outer planets should be increased because they are actually much more spaced out than this diagram shows.

Which sentence in the student’s explanation would you revise to make her explanation more accurate?

• Sentence #1

• Sentence #2

• Sentence #3

• Sentence #4

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The illustration provided here shows the first four planets from the Sun. This model accurately shows the relative sizes, compared to Earth, of all the elements EXCEPT .

• the Sun
• Mercury

• Venus

• Mars

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The photograph of the sun reveals that the Sun's surface

• ejects gaseous solar flares out into space.

• is extremely cool and produces radiant energy.

• is mostly solid with dark spots of liquid hydrogen.

• emits water vapor that travels through space to Earth.