Solar System Assessment

1. What is the ultimate source of energy in our solar system?

• batteries
• nuclear power
• the sun
• wind

2. Which characteristic of the Moon can a student best study using a telescope?

• the Moon’s distance from Earth
• why the Moon has different phases
• the shapes of the Moon’s surface features
• how the Moon’s motion affects Earth’s tides

3. Which process has a pattern that lasts about one year?

• the change from a new moon to a full moon
• the movement of earth in its orbit around the Sun
• the change from high to low ocean tides on a beach
• the movement of a drop of water through the water cycle

4. Use the table below to answer the question. A student is given four statements about motion in the Sun-Earth-Moon system. The student is asked to arrange the statements in order of how long each motion takes to occur. Which list arranges the statements from shortest to longest amount of time?

• 2, 1, 3, 4
• 2, 4, 3, 1
• 4, 1, 2, 3
• 4, 2, 3, 1

5. How does the tilt of Earth’s axis cause seasonal change?

• by increasing the amount of energy produced by the Sun during summer
• by exposing some parts of Earth to fewer hours of sunlight during winter
• by making Earth travel greater distances around the Sun during some months
• by increasing the speed at which Earth rotates on its axis during some months

6. Which statement best describes the Sun-Earth-Moon system?

• Earth orbits both the Sun and the Moon.
• Earth orbits the Moon, and the Sun orbits Earth.
• The Moon orbits Earth, and Earth orbits the Sun.
• The Sun orbits Earth, and the Moon orbits the Sun.

7. Use the drawing below to answer the question. A student observes a full moon. What phase of the moon will the student most likely observe in 30 days from the same location?

• new
• first quarter
• full
• last quarter

8. Which forms of energy are produced by the sun?

• light and heat
• light and chemical
• electrical and heat
• electrical and chemical

9. Which picture shows the correct movement in our solar system?

• 
• 
• 
• 

10. A student looked at the stars one night. When the sky first got dark, the student recognized a pattern in some stars in the eastern sky. A few hours later, she noticed something about the pattern of stars had changed. Why did the pattern of stars most likely change during the night?

• This happens because the Earth is constantly getting closer to the moon.
• This happens because Earth continually turns on its axis.
• This happens because the Earth is constantly getting closer to the sun.
• This happens because the moon is moving around the Earth.