Distances in Space and Components of the Universe

The Big Bang Theory states that...

• the universe is continuously expanding and came from a single point in space

• the solar system was created from dust.

• the solar system exploded into a million pieces long ago in our cosmic past.

• the universe has never changed since the beginning of time millions of years ago.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Carlos is building a model of the components of the universe. He needs to build the model's components with correct proportions to each other. Which of the following accurately represents the hierarchy of components, from smallest to largest, for Carlos' model?

• planets --> solar systems --> galaxies --> universe

• universe --> galaxies --> solar systems --> planets

• planets --> solar systems --> universe --> galaxies

• solar systems --> universe --> galaxies --> planets

Which of the following analogies most accurately represents the relationship of size between the Milky Way galaxy and our solar system?

• If the Milky Way galaxy is a beach, our solar system is a grain of sand.

• If the Milky Way galaxy is a tennis ball, our solar system is a tennis court.

• If the Milky Way galaxy is a classroom, our solar system is a school building.

• If the Milky Way galaxy is a school bus, our solar system is a sports car.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

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

• its gravitational pull

• its magnetic field

• its brightness

• its chemical composition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Daniela is stargazing with her grandmother. Daniela's grandmother points out a star called Rigel Kentaurus, which she says is one of the closest stars to our solar system. Daniela's grandmother tells her that Riel Kentaurus is about 4.2 light-years away. Which of the following is the correct way for Daniela to understand this information?

• A beam of light traveling to Earth from Rigel Kentaurus would take a little more than 4 years to arrive.

• The diameter of the star Rigel Kentaurus is just about four times bigger than the diameter of our Sun.

• It takes a little more than 4 years for the star Rigel Kentaurus to make one orbit around the center of the galaxy

• The light coming from the star Rigel Kentaurus is approximately four times brighter than the light coming from our Sun.

Makayla is describing how far away the nearest galaxy is from the Milky Way. Because she is describing distances between extremely large objects, like galaxies, Makayla must use which of the following units of distance?

• Astronomical Unit

• Kilometer

• Light-year

• Parsec

The universe is composed of billions of galaxies close to and far from the Milky Way. Evidence that all distant galaxies are moving further from our position on Earth is found from which of the following?

• The shapes of the different galaxies

• Shifts in the spectra received on Earth

• Information about the orbit of other planets

• Data collected on the composition of stars

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Which of the following best describes a galaxy?

• A collection of specific matter that exists.

• A particle of debris in the solar system that does not act orbit any planet.

• A visible body of liquid or frozen droplets suspended above a planetary surface.

• A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which of the following accurately presents the hierarchy, from largest to smallest components?

• Galaxy → universe → solar systems → planets

• Universe → galaxies → solar systems → planets

• Galaxy → solar systems → universes → planets

• Solar systems → universe → galaxies → planets

Which of the following best identifies a difference between apparent magnitude and absolute brightness in stars?

• Two stars can have the same absolute brightness but different apparent magnitudes, depending on how far away they are.

• The absolute brightness of a star will remain constant over the life of a star, but its apparent magnitude will change daily.

• The measurement of the absolute brightness of a star depends on the position of the observer; apparent magnitude does not.

• Absolute brightness is always given as a numerical value; apparent magnitude cannot be measured and thus has no numeric value.