Planets in the Solar System

Models of the solar system with Earth at the center are called _____________________ models.

• geocentric

• heliocentric

• terrestrial

• none of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What dwarf planet was downgraded from planetary status in 2006?

• Mercury

• Uranus

• Neptune

• Pluto

Because Pluto has not cleared its orbital path of debris, it was reclassified from a planet to a . . .

• asteroid.

• meteor.

• moon.

• dwarf planet.

Saturn's rings are made of chunks of 

• volcanoes

• ice and rock

• nitrogen and helium 

• ice and 

This is the largest planet in the solar system.

• Saturn

• Jupiter

• Uranus

• Venus

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The surface of this planet appears red due to rusting iron in the rocks.

• Mercury

• Mars

• Pluto

• Venus

Which planets in the figure have solid surfaces?

• 3 and 8

• 5, 6, 7 and 8

• 1, 2, 3 and 4

• 1, 3 and 8

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

How can Saturn be the second largest planet, as well as the lowest in density?

• It is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.

• It is made of a large, rocky core.

• It is made mostly of water vapor.

• It is composed mostly of methane and ammonia.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Why can't astronomers directly observe the surface of Venus without landing probes there?

• Venus has a clockwise spin

• The surface is covered by thick ice sheets.

• Venus has a high altitude.

• The surface is covered by thick clouds.

This figure shows the effects of the gravitational pull of the Sun on planets. What is represented by the red arrow?

• the orbit of the planet around the Sun

• the path a planet would float into space if there were no gravitational pull

• the rotation of the planet

• the path of light from the Sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4