Planets

Our solar system consists of both inner and outer planets. Inner planets are closer to the sun where the outer planets are further away from the sun. So, the further from the sun the planet is, the longer it takes to complete a revolution around the sun. Because of the existence of rock and metal, inner planets are terrestrial planets with zero or one moon. On the other hand, outer planets are composed of gases and can have multiple moons orbiting the planet. The table below shows data about a newly discovered planet in our solar system. Is this new planet an inner or outer planet, and why?

• Inner planet because it is lighter in color and has multiple rings.
• Inner planet because it is composed of gases and has multiple moons.
• Outer planet because it is composed of gases and has multiple moons.
• Outer planet because it has multiple rings and takes a long time to revolve around the Sun.

The diagram below shows the Sun and eight planets at their positions in the solar system. Which planets are inner planets?

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
• Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, and Uranus
• Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
• Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune

Ira says that Mars and Uranus should both be classified as gaseous planets. Chloe says that Mars is a rocky planet and Uranus is gaseous. Who is correct and why?

• Chloe is correct because Mars is an inner planet with a rocky surface and Uranus is an outer planet that is made up of gases.
• Ira is correct because both Mars and Uranus are outer planets, and all outer planets are made of gas.
• Ira is correct because Mars is closer to the sun and Uranus is father from the sun.
• Chloe is correct because Mars and Uranus are both inner planets.

What evidence taken from the data above can be used to support the claim, "Uranus is located further from the sun than Earth?"

• It takes Earth one year to make one orbit around the sun while it takes Uranus 84 years to make one orbit around the sun.
• It takes Uranus one year to make one orbit around the sun while it takes Earth 84 years to make one orbit around the sun.
• Both Earth and Uranus have to travel the same distance to make one orbit around the sun.
• Earth is located 1 light year from the sun and Uranus is located 84 light years from the sun.

In the solar system, which two properties show that a planet is an outer planet?

• The planet is rocky.
• The planet is a gas giant.
• The planet orbits the Sun.
• The planet is small.
• The planet has rings.

Analyze the data below. Which planet has the hottest surface temperature?

• Neptune
• Earth
• Jupiter
• Venus

The table lists information about five planets in the solar system. Which planets are most likely outer planets?

• Planets 1 and 2
• Planets 2 and 3
• Planets 4 and 5
• Planets 1 and 5

Sue and Tom were drawing conclusions based off of the data represented in the graph above. Sue says that from the graph she can tell that Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all outer planets. Tom says that cannot be determined just by looking at the data in the graph. Who is correct and why?

• Tom is correct because inner and outer planets both have the same amount of moons.
• Sue is correct because outer planets have more moons than inner planets.
• Tom is incorrect because inner planets have more moons than outer planets.
• Sue is correct because outer planets are larger than inner planets.

In the solar system, which two properties show that a planet is an inner planet?

• The planet has rings.
• The planet is rocky.
• The planet is a gas giant.
• The planet orbits the Sun.
• The planet is small.

Analyzing the pattern of data above, what do you predict about the distance of Uranus from the sun?

• Uranus is further than Saturn but closer than Neptune from the sun.
• Uranus is further than Neptune from the sun.
• Uranus is further from Jupiter and closer than Saturn from the sun.
• Uranus is the further than Neptune but closer than Saturn from the sun.