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Which of the following best describes the formation of the solar system?

• The Sun ejected rocky material, which later went on to form the planets.

• A rotating disk of gas and dust was drawn together by the force of gravity.

• One very large planetary body broke apart into several smaller planets.

• Several stars of different masses cooled and formed the planets and the Sun.

If the Sun remained in place but no longer exerted a gravitational pull on Earth, what would be the resulting motion of Earth?

• Earth would rotate at the same speed, but in the opposite direction.

• Earth would continue in the same orbit around the Sun, at the same speed.

• Earth would stop orbiting the Sun and begin moving in a straight line.

• Earth would continue in the same orbit around the Sun, but begin to slow down.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Gravity is a force of attraction between two or more masses. The gravitational attraction between the Sun and each of the planets is responsible for which of the following?

• The amount of sunlight reaching the planets

• The presence or absence of water on the planets.

• The number of planets that can orbit the Sun.

• The orbital motions of the planets around the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which of the following aspects of the solar system contributes most to the motion of the planets

• Friction with the atmosphere

• Magnetic field around the planets

• Gravitational attraction of the Sun

• Radiation from nearby stars

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Planets tend to have a spherical (round) shape. Which of the following best explains this aspect of planet formation?

• Gravity

• Thermal energy

• Magnetism

• Chemical reactions

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The mass pulls down on the string as Jade spins the tennis ball around the spool. If Jade wishes to change the model to show what would happen if the Sun had a greater gravitation pull, what change should she make?

• Spin the tennis ball at an increased speed

• Replace the 1-kg mass with a 2-kg mass

• Tie the tennis ball with a longer string

• Change the spool to a longer one

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The orbital motions of the objects in the solar system are the direct result of which of the following features of the Sun?

• Its magnetic field

• Its brightness

• Its gravitational pull

• Its chemical composition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which arrangement of model planets represents the system in which there will be the greatest gravitational attraction?

• 
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• 
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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which configuration will result in the greatest gravitational force?

• small masses far apart

• large masses far apart

• small masses close together

• large masses close together

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The distance between objects, along with the masses of the objects, affect the gravitational force between the objects. Which statement is true according to Newton’s law of universal gravitation?

• When the masses of objects increase, gravitational force decreases

• When distance between objects increases, gravitational force decreases.

• When distance between objects decreases, gravitational force decreases

• When the masses of objects decrease, the distance between objects decreases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-5