Unit 9 Investigating the Characteristics of the Solar System

Appears as a streak in the sky.

• asteroid
• meteoroid
• comet
• meteor

What is an asteroid?

• rocky, metallic bodies that orbit the sun
• a mixture of ices
• a dwarf planet
• a chunk of stony matter

What tool would you use to study stars and space?

• microscope
• oscilloscope
• telescope
• nanoscope

Which of the following is true?

• Earth is the center of the solar system
• The sun orbits the earth
• Gravity exists only on Earth
• The sun is the center of the solar system

A pattern of stars is called what?

• constellation
• solar system
• galaxy
• bunch

How long is Earth's revolution?

• one day
• one year
• one decade
• one hour

How long is Earth's rotation?

• one day
• one year
• one decade
• one hour

How many planets in our solar system?

• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9

Why do planets orbit the sun (and not float around in space)?

• the moons are keeping them in place
• They were hit by an asteroid
• they were hit by a comet
• the sun's gravity keeps them in place

The Sun is a ____________.

• planet
• star