Solar System and Newton's 1st Law

Which of the following is a physical property of a comet?

• It is made mostly of rock and metal.

• It has a tail that forms when it approaches the Sun.

• It orbits between Mars and Jupiter.

• It is always found in the Oort cloud.

What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun?

• Magnetism

• Gravity

• Friction

• Electricity

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which characteristic of Earth is essential for supporting life?

• Its distance from the Moon

• The presence of liquid water

• Its large number of volcanoes

• Its tilted axis

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

According to Newton's First Law of Motion, what will happen to an object at rest if no unbalanced force acts on it?

• It will start moving.

• It will remain at rest.

• It will accelerate.

• It will change direction.

Which of the following best describes the location of the Kuiper Belt?

• Between Earth and Mars

• Just beyond Neptune’s orbit

• Inside the Sun

• Between the Sun and Mercury

If the gravitational force between the Sun and a planet were to suddenly disappear, what would most likely happen to the planet?

• It would continue orbiting the Sun.

• It would move in a straight line away from the Sun.

• It would fall into the Sun.

• It would stop moving.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Why is the composition of Earth’s atmosphere important for life?

• It allows for the formation of mountains.

• It provides oxygen and protects from harmful radiation.

• It causes earthquakes.

• It makes the days longer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

A soccer ball is rolling on a field and eventually comes to a stop. Which statement best explains why the ball stops, according to Newton’s First Law?

• The ball stops because a balanced force keeps it moving.

• The ball stops because an unbalanced force, like friction, acts on it.

• The ball stops because it loses mass.

• The ball stops because gravity pulls it upward.

A student observes that the Oort cloud is much farther from the Sun than the Kuiper Belt. Using reasoning, which of the following best explains why objects in the Oort cloud move more slowly in their orbits than objects in the Kuiper Belt?

• The Oort cloud objects are heavier than Kuiper Belt objects.

• The Sun’s gravitational pull is weaker at the distance of the Oort cloud, so objects move more slowly.

• The Oort cloud is made of different materials.

• The Oort cloud objects are closer to the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

A spacecraft is traveling through space and its thrusters are turned off. According to Newton’s First Law, what will happen to the spacecraft, and why?

• It will slow down and stop because there is no force pushing it.

• It will continue moving at a constant speed in a straight line because no unbalanced force is acting on it.

• It will speed up because of gravity.

• It will change direction randomly.