Solar System Review

Which best describes the physical properties of the comets?

• Objects made of dust and ice orbiting far from the sun that emit gas and form a tail as they move closer to the sun.

• Natural, solid, and rocky objects that orbit a planet.

• Celestial bodies that orbit a star at various distances and have significant mass.

• Space objects that enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds and burn up.

Which is the correct order for the first four planets in the Solar System, starting with the planet closest to the sun?

• Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

• Venus, Earth, Mercury, Mars

• Mars, Mercury, Venus, Earth

Look at the image of the solar system. Choose the locations where a comet could start its motion before developing a tail. Select all that apply.

• 3

• 5

• 4

• 6

• 2

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Which is NOT true of moons?

• Moons are a planet’s natural satellites.

• Moons orbit the sun; they don't orbit the planets.

• Planets in the outer solar system have multiple moons.

• Earth’s moon affects our ocean tides.

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How are asteroids, comets, and meteors related?

• Meteors are small fragments that break from the icy bodies of comets or the rocky bodies of asteroids orbiting the sun and enter Earth’s atmosphere.

• Asteroids are small fragments that break from the icy bodies of comets or the rocky bodies of meteors orbiting the sun and enter Earth’s atmosphere.

• Comets are small fragments that break from the icy bodies of meteors, or the rocky bodies of asteroids orbiting the sun and enter Earth’s atmosphere.

• Meteors are small fragments that break from the icy bodies of asteroids, or the rocky bodies of comets orbiting the sun and enter Earth’s atmosphere.

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Which of the following is NOT true of the sun?

• The outer visible layer of the sun is called the photosphere.

• The sun orbits the center of the Milky Way.

• The sun has multiple visible features that include solar prominences, solar flares, and sunspots.

• The sun has a solid core similar to Earth’s.

Which planets have more than one moon? Select all that apply.

• Saturn

• Mars

• Jupiter

• Mercury

• Neptune

The gravitational force of attraction between two objects ____________ if the masses increase. The gravitational force of attraction between two objects _____ if the distance between them increases. Which terms, in order of appearance, best complete the sentences?

• increases; decreases

• decreases; increases

• increases; increases

• decreases; decreases

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According to NASA, our moon moves approximately one inch away from Earth each year. As this pattern continues, how could the increased distance affect the orbital motion of the moon?

• The moon would orbit slower and have a greater orbital path.

• The moon would orbit faster and have a smaller orbital path.

• Since the change is small, nothing would happen.

• The moon would orbit faster and have a greater orbital path.

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If there were no longer a gravitational force between Earth and the moon, what would happen to the moon’s orbit?

• The moon would continue to travel in a straight line at a constant speed, leaving its orbit.

• The moon would continue to orbit Earth because of its inertia.

• The moon would continue to orbit Earth but at a greater distance.

• The moon would be drawn towards and impact the Earth.

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