Earth & Space Test

A science student describes the Milky Way as a “special galaxy.” What is the property of the Milky Way that makes it unique?

• large size

• a black hole at its center

• a spiral shape

• home to Earth

Vicky and Bill are reporting on the make-up the Universe. How should they define a galaxy?

• a star and the objects in orbit around it

• all the planets of a star system but not the star itself

• a huge system of many stars and objects around them as well as gas and dust

• all of the stars that are visible in Earth’s sky

Mary and Sean are observing the stars on a clear night. Mary says, “If we had a telescope, we could see all the stars of the Universe.” Sean disagrees with this claim. What statement supports Sean’s argument?

• The universe is made up of five galaxies.

• The universe is made up of a hundred galaxies

• The universe is made up of billions or trillions of galaxies.

The four outer planets are all much larger than Earth and the other inner planets. How else are the four outer planets similar to one another?

• They have oceans of liquid water.

• Their surfaces are made of rock.

• Their surfaces are much warmer than Earth.

• They have surfaces made of gas.

Cassie and Porter are building a model of the solar system. They begin by placing the Sun in the center of the model. How should they arrange the planets?

• Arrange all of the planets in one circle around the Sun.

• Place each planet at a different distance from the Sun, in one specific order.

• Place each planet at a different distance from the Sun, in any order.

• Place the inner planets inside the Sun and the outer planets outside the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Jorge and Aaron are studying the planets of the solar system. They wonder why the planets move in orbits around the Sun, not around one another. Which statement is most useful for answering their question?

• The Sun has the strongest magnetic force in the solar system.

• The Sun is the closest object in space to each planet.

• The Sun is much brighter and hotter than any planet.

• The Sun has much more mass than any other object in the solar system

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Up until 2006, Pluto was identified as the ninth planet. Then, scientists changed their classification of Pluto. What observation of Pluto makes it different than Mercury, Venus, Earth, and other planets?

• Pluto does not move in an orbit around the Sun.

• Pluto has an unusual shape for a rocky planet.

• Pluto’s orbit and small size are more like other solar system objects, now called dwarf planets.

• Pluto’s closeness to Neptune makes it more like a moon than a planet.

Aisling’s group is making a model of the solar system. The teacher suggests including asteroids in the model. Where should the group place the asteroids?

• between Mercury and the Sun

• near Earth

• between Mars and Jupiter

• near Pluto and its moon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Terry uses a telescope to observe a comet in the night sky. The comet has a long tail made of gas and dust. What does the long tail show about the comet?

• The comet is changing into an asteroid.

• The comet is approaching a planet.

• The comet is close to the Sun.

• The comet is burning up in Earth’s atmosphere.

The science class is comparing Earth with the other planets of the solar system. Which statement about Earth is correct?

• Earth is one of the inner planets.

• Earth is sometimes the closest planet to the Sun.

• Earth has one moon, the same number of moons around all other planets.

• Earth has a similar size and shape as its neighbor planets, Mars and Venus.