HW 1-2 (Stars & Unit Review)

In nuclear fusion, smaller atoms are forced together to create larger atoms. Does this process release, absorb, or maintain energy?

• Absorb energy

• Maintain energy

• Release energy

Answer explanation

In nuclear fusion, when smaller atoms combine to form larger atoms, the process releases energy. This occurs because the mass of the resulting atom is less than the sum of the original masses, and this mass difference is converted to energy.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Energy within the sun is produced through (a)  

• Nuclear fusion
• Nuclear fission

Answer explanation

Energy within the sun is produced through nuclear fusion, where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy. Nuclear fission, on the other hand, involves splitting heavy nuclei and does not occur in the sun.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Energy from the sun travels through _____.

• electromagnetic waves

• sound waves

• nuclear fusion

• molecular collisions

Answer explanation

Energy from the sun travels through electromagnetic waves, which are a form of radiation. Sound waves require a medium to travel, while nuclear fusion and molecular collisions are processes, not methods of energy transfer.

Tags

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List the following in order of increasing size (smallest to largest)

• Solar System

• Planet

• Galaxy

• Universe

What do you call a group or cluster of stars that are together?

• Planets

• Supernovas

• Solar Systems

• Galaxies

Answer explanation

A group or cluster of stars that are together is called a galaxy. Galaxies contain billions of stars, along with gas and dust, and are the largest structures in the universe, unlike planets or solar systems.

Is the sun at the center of our galaxy?

• Yes

• No

Answer explanation

No, the sun is not at the center of our galaxy. The center of the Milky Way galaxy is occupied by a supermassive black hole known as Sagittarius A*, while the sun is located in one of the spiral arms, about 26,000 light-years away.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

What is the center of our solar system?

• The sun

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Saturn

Answer explanation

The center of our solar system is the sun, which is a massive star that provides light and heat to the planets, including Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. The other options are planets that orbit around the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Why do the planets orbit the sun?

• They don't; the planets orbit the Earth.

• Because science.

• The sun is so massive that it has a very large gravitational pull, which causes objects to orbit it.

• Because they want to.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is that the sun's massive gravitational pull causes the planets to orbit it. This gravitational force is what keeps the planets in their respective orbits around the sun.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

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What is the solar system?

• The sun

• The planets

• The sun and planets ONLY

• The sun, planets, and all other objects that orbit the sun

Answer explanation

The solar system includes the sun, all the planets, and other celestial objects like moons, asteroids, and comets that orbit the sun. Therefore, the correct answer is 'The sun, planets, and all other objects that orbit the sun'.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

One AU stands for Astronomical Unit. An Astronomical Unit (AU) is the distance between the Sun and the Earth, or 150 million meters. If Jupiter is 5 AU away from the Sun, how far away is Jupiter from the Sun in meters?

• 5 million meters away from the Sun

• 1000 million meters away from the Sun

• 750 million meters away from the Sun

• 7500 million meters away from the Sun

Answer explanation

Jupiter is 5 AU from the Sun. Since 1 AU is 150 million meters, Jupiter's distance is 5 x 150 million = 750 million meters. Therefore, the correct answer is 750 million meters away from the sun.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4