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The Solar System

Total questions: 66

Worksheet time: 2hrs 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which is the largest object found in our solar system?

a)

the Sun

b)

Jupiter

c)

Saturn

d)

the Earth

2.

Which of the planets is closest to the Sun?

a)

Uranus

b)

Mercury

c)

Neptune

d)

Venus

3.

Which of the planets is the farthest from the Sun?

a)

Neptune

b)

Saturn

c)

Mercury

d)

Uranus

4.

A small object that appears as a streak of light as it enters Earth's atmosphere and is heated by friction is a(n) __________________________.

a)

asteroid

b)

moon

c)

comet

d)

meteor

5.

A small rocky object that orbits the sun is a(n) __________________________.

a)

comet

b)

asteroid

c)

planet

d)

meteoroid

6.

A natural satellite of a planet is a _________________.

a)

galaxy

b)

comet

c)

moon

d)

star

7.

Earth and the three other planets closest to the Sun are made up of mostly __________________.

a)

gas

b)

ice

c)

water

d)

rock

8.

One of the biggest differences between the inner and the outer planets is which?

a)

the outer planets all have water and the inner planets do not

b)

the inner planets are much larger than the outer planets

c)

the outer planets are made up of mostly gas while the inner planets are made up of mostly rock

d)

the inner planets have rings and the outer planets do not

9.

Where is the Asteroid Belt located?

a)

It is found between Earth and Mars.

b)

It is located between Uranus and Neptune.

c)

It is found between Mercury and Venus.

d)

It is located between Mars and Jupiter.

10.

Why does Earth have different seasons?

a)

This is because of the distance between the Earth and the Sun.

b)

This is due to the speed of Earth as it rotates on its axis.

c)

This is due to the amount of light that is blocked by the moon when the Earth rotates.

d)

This is because of the tilt of Earth on its axis as it revolves around the Sun.

11.

Which of the following is an accurate model of how the Sun, Earth, and Moon move?

a)

Both the Sun and Moon orbit the Earth.

b)

The Earth and the Moon orbit the Sun.

c)

Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon orbits the Earth.

d)

The Earth and the Sun both orbit the Moon.

12.

What is the largest planet in our solar system?

a)

Neptune

b)

Mercury

c)

Saturn

d)

Jupiter

13.

How many days does it take the Earth to completely revolve around the Sun?

a)

30 days

b)

365 ¼ days

c)

100 days

d)

250 ¼ days

14.

What holds the moon, the planets, and all other objects in their orbit around the Sun?

a)

moons

b)

magnetism

c)

gravity

d)

the sun's heat and light

15.

Which model of the solar system has the Sun in the center with all of the planets and other bodies going around it?

a)

The Heliocentric Model

b)

The Geocentric Model

c)

The Spaceocentric Model

d)

The Planetocentric Model

16.

What separates the inner planets from the outer planets?

a)

several dwarf planets

b)

comets

c)

the Asteroid Belt

d)

meteoroids

17.

Beginning from closest to the Sun and moving outward, what is the correct order of the inner planets?

a)

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

b)

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

c)

Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars

d)

Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Earth

18.

Which statement below is true?

a)

The outer planets are made up of mostly rocky material.

b)

Pluto is no longer classified as a planet.

c)

Earth is considered an outer planet.

d)

The inner planets are all made up of gases.

19.

A small body that orbits a planet is a(n) _________________.

a)

comet

b)

moon

c)

asteroid

d)

dwarf planet

20.

Which model of the solar system has the Earth in the center with all of the planets and other bodies going around it?

a)

The Spaceocentric Model

b)

The Heliocentric Model

c)

The Planetocentric Model

d)

The Geocentric Model

21.

Beginning from closest to the Sun and moving outward, what is the correct order of the outer planets?

a)

Neptune, Saturn, Venus, Mercury

b)

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

c)

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

d)

Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune

22.

The Sun is a _________________.

a)

moon

b)

star

c)

planet

d)

comet

23.

The Sun is located about ________________________ miles from Earth, which makes it the closest star to Earth.

a)

93 thousand

b)

25 million

c)

93 million

d)

250 billion

24.

The Sun is approximately ___________ years old.

a)

46

b)

4.6 thousand

c)

4.6 million

d)

4.6 billion

25.

The Sun is a giant sphere of hot gas that is made up of mostly _______________ and _______________.

a)

hydrogen, carbon dioxide

b)

helium, oxygen

c)

hydrogen, helium

d)

nitrogen, hydrogen

26.

Which of the following does the Sun NOT do?

a)

It provides heat which keeps the planet warm enough for there to be life.

b)

It powers the water cycle.

c)

It supplies the Earth with fresh water.

d)

It provides sunlight to plants which gives them food through the process of photosynthesis.

27.

The Sun is currently a ____________________ star.

a)

protostar

b)

main-sequence

c)

red giant

d)

planetary nebula

28.

Dark areas found on the surface of the Sun are _____________________.

a)

moons

b)

sunspots

c)

asteroids

d)

nebulas

29.

Sunspots are much ________________ than surrounding areas of the Sun.

a)

cooler

b)

warmer

c)

about the same temperature

d)

sometimes warmer and sometimes cooler

30.

The Sun and the many bodies that revolve around it make up the _________________________.

a)

galaxy

b)

Milky Way

c)

solar system

d)

universe

31.

The eight planets in our solar system are _________________________________.

a)

Comets, asteroids, dwarf planets, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, meteorites, and the Moon.

b)

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and the Sun

c)

Pluto, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

d)

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

32.

Pluto is now considered what?

a)

a star

b)

an asteroid

c)

a dwarf planet

d)

a moon

33.

What is a galaxy?

a)

A chunk of matter that enters Earth's atmosphere and is heated by friction with the air.

b)

A huge system of gas, dust, and stars.

c)

A small, orbiting body made up of dust, ice, and frozen gases.

d)

A large body that revolves around the Sun.

34.

What is a comet?

a)

A small, orbiting body made up of dust, ice, and frozen gases.

b)

An area where millions of icy bits and pieces float together around the Sun.

c)

A chunk of matter that enters Earth's atmosphere and is heated by friction with the air.

d)

A huge system of gas, dust, and stars.

35.

What is the Kuiper Belt?

a)

Dark areas found on the surface of the Sun.

b)

A large body that revolves around the Sun.

c)

A small, orbiting body made up of dust, ice, and frozen gases.

d)

An area where millions of icy bits and pieces float together around the Sun.

36.

The attraction between Earth and objects at or near its surface is ___________________.

a)

hydrogen

b)

meteor

c)

gravity

d)

satellite

37.

Where is the dwarf planet Pluto found?

a)

Beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt.

b)

In the Asteroid Belt.

c)

Between the planets Mercury and Venus.

d)

Between the planets Jupiter and Saturn.

38.

The smallest planet in our solar system is _________________.

a)

Earth

b)

Mars

c)

Venus

d)

Mercury

39.

Which instrument do astronomers use to see the distant solar system from Earth?

a)

space shuttles

b)

microscopes

c)

telescopes

d)

space stations

40.

What do space probes do?

a)

They take pictures of the solar system.

b)

They are special space crafts that carry instruments into space.

c)

The provide us with the temperature of all the planets.

d)

They help astronomers see the distant solar system better.

41.

The first person to ever walk on the moon happened in what year?

a)

1899

b)

1963

c)

1969

d)

1986

42.

In what year did the space shuttle Challenger tragically blow up?

a)

1975

b)

1983

c)

1986

d)

2009

43.

Our solar system is located in the ________________________ galaxy.

a)

Snickers

b)

Milky Way

c)

Kit Kat

d)

Twix

44.

Planets and other bodies in space ___________________, or go around the Sun in an elliptical path.

a)

rotate

b)

revolve

c)

spin

d)

float

45.

The Sun is a giant _______________ of hot, glowing gas.

a)

asteroid

b)

moon

c)

planet

d)

sphere

46.

The uneven heating of Earth's surface by the Sun creates __________________.

a)

darkness at night

b)

wind

c)

seasonal changes

d)

oceans

47.

Scientists use ________________ to describe stars. A star's life has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

a)

orbits

b)

space stations

c)

life cycles

d)

galaxies

48.

The last stage in a star's life cycle is the ____________________ stage.

a)

red giant

b)

planetary nebula

c)

white dwarf

d)

black dwarf

49.

___________________ can be used to explore regions of space that are too far or perilous for humans to visit directly.

a)

Satellites

b)

Space probes

c)

Telescopes

d)

Space stations

50.

All eight planets travel around the Sun in which kind of orbit?

a)

a circular orbit

b)

a square-shaped orbit

c)

an elliptical orbit

d)

an ever-changing orbit

51.

Select ALL of the planets below that are considered to be inner planets.

a)

Earth

b)

Mercury

c)

Saturn

d)

Venus

52.

Select ALL of the planets below that are considered to be outer planets.

a)

Venus

b)

Mars

c)

Neptune

d)

Jupiter

53.

Select ALL the facts that are true about the Sun.

a)

The Sun provides sunlight to plants.

b)

The Sun powers the water cycle.

c)

The Sun is a giant sphere of hot gas.

d)

The Sun provides heat that keeps the planet warm and livable.

54.

The Sun is so large __________________ Earths can fit inside of it.

a)

10,000

b)

100,000

c)

1,000,000

d)

1,000,000,000

55.

All stars produce energy through which process?

a)

eclipses

b)

gravity

c)

nuclear fusion

d)

solar prominences

56.

What makes our sun so special?

a)

It is currently a main-sequence star.

b)

It is not the hottest or the coldest star in the solar system.

c)

It is the closest star to Earth.

d)

It is a medium-sized star.

57.

The first stage in a star's life cycle is the _________________ stage.

a)

white dwarf

b)

nebula

c)

protostar

d)

red giant

58.

The path of a planet around the sun is caused by the _______________________ attraction between the Sun and the planet.

a)

gravitational

b)

elliptical

c)

rotational

d)

uneven

59.

The Sun is currently a main-sequence star. The type of star our Sun is classified as is a ______________________.

a)

blue giant

b)

yellow dwarf

c)

supergiant

d)

red dwarf

60.

____________________ is the scientific study of the universe: the stars, planets, galaxies, and everything in between.

a)

Chemistry

b)

Astronomy

c)

Meteorology

d)

Biology

61.

In 1990, the ___________________ was sent into outer space. It has since sent back pictures of our universe that couldn’t have been taken in any other way.

a)

International Space Station

b)

Hubble Space Telescope

c)

Asteroid Belt

d)

Kepler Telescope

62.

Space _______________ are sent to explore other planets in our solar system.

a)

satellites

b)

shuttles

c)

telescopes

d)

probes

63.

The two planets without moons in our solar system are _____________ and _____________.

a)

Mercury, Venus

b)

Jupiter, Saturn

c)

Uranus, Neptune

d)

Venus, Mars

64.

The hottest planet in our solar system, _______________, interestingly is not the planet closest to the Sun.

a)

Saturn

b)

Uranus

c)

Venus

d)

Mars

65.

Life is possible on Earth and not on any of the other planets in our solar system. This is because Earth has an oxygen-rich atmosphere and _______________________.

a)

warm temperatures

b)

carbon dioxide

c)

sunlight

d)

fresh water

66.

Which one of the eight planets in our solar system is Mr. Milliken's favorite?

a)

Saturn

b)

Venus

c)

Neptune

d)

Any planet that Evelyn is not on!