Quarterly 2 review questions

All planets in our Solar System rotate on an axis. However, Venus has a very small axial tilt, so its poles are almost straight up and down. This means there is little difference in daylight in Venus's Northern and Southern Hemispheres during the year.

Which of the following is a correct statement about Venus?

• Venus has no seasons, because its axis is not tilted. The tilt is what causes seasons.

   

   

• Seasons on Venus are backwards. Winters are very hot and summers are very cold.

Answer explanation

Venus has a very small axial tilt, resulting in minimal variation in daylight between its hemispheres. This lack of tilt means there are no seasons on Venus, as seasons are caused by the tilt of a planet's axis.

A year is the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit the Sun. If Earth is 1 astronomical unit (AU) away from the Sun, and Neptune is 30 astronomical units (AU) away from the Sun.

How does the length of a year on Neptune compare to a year on Earth?

 

• A year is the same amount of time for all planets.

• A year on Earth is shorter than a year on Neptune because Earth is closer to the Sun.

Answer explanation

A year on Earth is shorter than a year on Neptune because Neptune is much farther from the Sun. The greater distance means it takes Neptune longer to complete one orbit, resulting in a longer year.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

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The diagram shows the layers of Earth, not drawn to scale.

 

 Which correctly identifies the layers?

• A-outer core, B-inner core, C-crust, D-mantle

   

• A-Inner core, B-outer core, C-mantle, D-crust

Answer explanation

The correct identification of Earth's layers is A-Inner core, B-outer core, C-mantle, D-crust. The inner core is solid and located at the center, surrounded by the outer core, with the mantle above it and the crust as the outermost layer.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Science supports a heliocentric model of the Solar System.

How does the heliocentric model of planetary motion explain a star's path across the night sky?

 

• The stars rotate around the Earth.

   

• Earth moves along its orbit daily to follow the stars.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is that the stars appear to rotate around the Earth due to Earth's rotation on its axis. This creates the illusion of stars moving across the night sky, supporting the heliocentric model.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

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Scientific models are used to understand, design, think about, predict, and test ideas in science.

Which of these is NOT a use of scientific models?

 

• to study very small objects, such as viruses and cells

• to directly observe something, such as a newly found tree species

Answer explanation

Scientific models are not used for direct observation, as they represent ideas or systems. Observing a newly found tree species requires direct interaction, not modeling.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-2

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The Sun's energy and composition is provided by which of the following?

 

 

• the Sun's magnetic field

• the fusion of hydrogen into helium

Answer explanation

The Sun's energy is produced by the fusion of hydrogen into helium in its core. This process releases vast amounts of energy, which powers the Sun and provides light and heat to our solar system.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

A lava lamp contains liquid with soft wax and a light bulb at the bottom.

 

 When the lamp is on:

• 1. The wax near the light bulb gets warmer.

• 2. The heated wax moves towards the top.

• 3. When the wax gets to the top, the liquid is cooler.

• 4. The wax cools and sinks to the bottom.

 How are a lava lamp and Earth alike?

• The moving wax is like the formation of mountains.

• The moving wax is like the fluid, molten areas below the crust.

Answer explanation

The moving wax in a lava lamp, which rises when heated and sinks when cooled, is similar to the fluid, molten areas below Earth's crust that cause tectonic movements and the formation of mountains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

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A geologist wants to find the approximate age in years of a rock found in a newly discovered formation.

Which of the following methods would be best for the geologist to use?

 

• Test the rock with radioactive dating.

• Charge the rock with electricity to see if it is magnetic.

Answer explanation

The best method for determining the age of a rock is radioactive dating, as it measures the decay of isotopes to provide an accurate age. Testing for magnetism does not give age information.

Temperature and pressure vary in Earth’s layers.

In which of the following layers of Earth are temperature and pressure the greatest?

• mantle

   

• outer core

Answer explanation

The outer core has the highest temperature and pressure within Earth's layers due to its molten state and depth beneath the crust and mantle, making it the correct choice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Which of the following detects electromagnetic radiation at the highest frequencies?

 

 

• Spitzer Space Telescope

• Hubble Space Telescope

Answer explanation

The Hubble Space Telescope detects electromagnetic radiation at higher frequencies, particularly in the ultraviolet and visible light ranges, compared to the Spitzer Space Telescope, which focuses on infrared wavelengths.

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NGSS.HS-PS4-3

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