A student's data table is shown. The table lists the distance of four stars from Earth. The four stars are of similar mass and are in the same life cycle stage. Each distance in the table is given in light-years. A light-year contains millions of kilometers.

When the student observes the night sky, which two stars will appear the brightest?

• 1 and 3

• 2 and 3

• 3 and 4

• 2 and 4

Students are learning about the difference between how bright stars appear to be when viewed from Earth and how bright stars actually are. The students draw four stars at different distances from Earth. The stars are labeled by how bright they actually are, not by how bright they appear to be when viewed from Earth. The students want to know how bright these stars appear to be from Earth’s point of view. Which two statements are true based on the actual brightness of the stars?

• M. It is possible that Star W could appear brighter than Star X.

• P. It is possible that Star X could appear dimmer than Star Z.

• R. It is possible that Star Y could appear brighter than Star X.

• S. It is possible that Star Y could appear dimmer than Star Z.

• T. It is possible that Star Z could appear brighter than Star W.

Rena is studying four stars that are about the same actual size. She made this table showing the distances of four stars from Earth. Which star would appear to be largest when viewed from Earth?

• Star 1

• Star 2

• Star 3

• Star 4

The table shows the length of time it takes the planets in our solar system to orbit the sun. Which statement is the best explanation for the data in the table?

• The inner planets move much more quickly than the outer planets.

• Solar energy makes the inner planets orbit more quickly than the outer planets.

• The orbital paths of the outer planets are longer than those of the inner planets.

• The greater number of moons around the outer planets slow their orbits.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

This table includes the characteristics of some of the objects found in our solar system.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which can be used to tell scientists about the surface temperature of a star?

• size

• mass

• color

• brightness

The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy with more than 100 billion stars. Students compare the Milky Way to a data table that lists features of five other galaxies. The distance of each galaxy from the Milky Way is given in light-years. A light-year contains millions of kilometers. Based on this data table, which galaxies are most likely the same type as the Milky Way galaxy?

• Galaxy 2 and Galaxy 4, because they are both the same distance from the Milky Way galaxy

• Galaxy 2 and Galaxy 3, because they have the same shape as the Milky Way galaxy

• Galaxy 4 and Galaxy 5, because they have a similar number of stars as the Milky Way galaxy

• Galaxy 1 and Galaxy 5, because they are the galaxies farthest from the Milky Way galaxy

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The size of a galaxy is determined by measuring the distance across the widest part. The sizes of some galaxies are given in the table. There are many other galaxies, larger and smaller than the Milky Way, that are not included in the table. Based on the data, which statement correctly compares the Milky Way to other galaxies?

• A. The Milky Way galaxy is the fourth-largest galaxy in the universe.

• B. The Milky Way galaxy is not one of the largest galaxies in the universe.

• C. The galaxies in the universe do not get any smaller than the size of the Milky Way.

• D. The galaxies in the universe do not get any bigger than twice the size of the Milky Way.

Students were given a kit containing model-making materials. The materials provided in the kit are listed in the table. What can be modeled using most of the materials provided in the kit?

• a. the asteroid belt

• b. the Milky Way Galaxy

• c. our solar system

• d. a comet trail

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which is a huge collection of stars?

• a galaxy

• a planet

• a universe

• a constellation