5th grade U4L3: Our solar System

If an object in the solar system crosses paths with Earth and enters Earth’s atmosphere, it is called a _____.

• a. meteoroid

• b. meteor

• c. asteroid

• d. comet

Which are the two types of satellites that circle around objects in space?

• a. natural satellites and artificial satellites

• b. rapid satellites and slow satellites

• c. major satellites and minor satellites

• d. solid satellites and gaseous satellites

Which statement explains why astronomers use a unit called a light-year when writing about the vast distances between Earth and distant stars?

• a. Light travels at different speeds during different times of the year.

• b. Stars are so far from Earth that writing their distance in kilometers becomes awkward.

• c. There are too many stars in space.

• d. It sounds more scientific.

Rocky objects orbiting the Sun are called _____.

• a. moon

• b. stars

• c. asteroids

• d. meteorite

As comets approach the Sun, they _____.

• a. develop enormous tails of luminous material

• b. become solid rock with floating debris

• c. become invisible to the human eye

• d. change to a circular orbit

6. Which planet is the closest to the Sun?

• a. Earth

• b. Saturn

• c. Mercury

• d. Pluto

7. Between which two planets is a large asteroid belt?

• a. Mercury and Venus

• b. Earth and Mars

• c. Mars and Jupiter

• d. Saturn and Neptune

8. An object that impacts Earth's surface is called a(n) _________.

• a. meteoroid

• b. comet

• c. meteorite

• d. asteroid

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which direction does the comet's tail always point?

• a. toward the direction the comet is traveling

• b. away from the direction the comet is traveling

• c. toward the Sun

• d. away from the Sun

What do all inner planets have in common? 

• a. They are made out of gas

• b. They all have oceans

• c. They are all made out of solid, dense rock

• d. They are the biggest planets