The Layout of the Solar System

Which planet in our solar system is closest to the Sun?

• Earth
• Jupiter
• Mercury
• Saturn

A student made a model of how the planets orbit the sun. She used a tennis ball to represent the sun. She used ping-pong balls to represent each planet and painted each one a different color. Then, she placed all the ping-pong balls equal distances apart in a line extending out from the sun.

What are two limitations of the student's model? (Limitations are things about the model that limit its accuracy.)

• She used the same size balls to represent the planets.

• She made planets orbit the sun.

• The planets are not the correct distances from the sun.

• The solar system can't be modeled using actual objects.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

How do the sizes of the inner planets (4 closest to the sun) compare to the sizes of the outer planets (4 farthest from the sun)?

• The inner planets are larger.

• The outer planets are smaller.

• There is no size difference between the inner and outer planets.

• The inner planets are smaller.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Describe how the distances between the orbits of the inner planets (1st four from the sun) compare to the distances between the orbits of the outer planets (four farthest from the sun).

• The distances between orbits of the outer planets are much smaller.

• The distances between orbits of the outer planets are much larger.

• The distances between orbits of the inner planets are much larger.

• There is no difference between the distances of the orbits of the inner planets and the outer planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

This model shows...

• the size differences among the planets accurately.

• the distances between the planets accurately.

• both the sizes of the planets and the distances between them accurately

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What is the center of our solar system?

• The sun

• Uranus

• Jupiter

• Saturn

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Our Solar System_________

• Has 8 planets that are very close together

• Has 8 planets, but is mostly empty space

• Has 9 planets that are very close together

• Has 9 planets, but is mostly empty space

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Why do scientists use scale models to study the Solar System?

• The solar system is too large to study without using models

• The solar system is too small to study without using models

• Scientists don't need to use models because we have satellites

• All of these options are true

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Why is making a model of the solar system difficult?

• Don't have the right materials

• The solar system is so big and the objects in it are so small in comparison

• There are too many parts in a model

• Because the science concepts are too difficult

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which planet in the Solar system orbits the sun in the shortest amount of time?

• Mercury

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Neptune

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2