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Physical Science CH 19 The Solar System

Total questions: 63

Worksheet time: 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

From Earth, ____is a planet visible to the naked eye.

a)

Mercury

b)

the sun

c)

the moon

d)

Neptune

2.

All planets in the solar system revolve around

a)

the sun.

b)

Earth.

c)

sun

d)

None of these

3.

A lunar eclipse occurs when positions of the sun, the moon, and Earth are such that one of these objects is between the other two. During a lunar eclipse, which object is between the other two?

a)

Earth

b)

moon

c)

sun

d)

none of these

4.

A solar eclipse occurs when positions of the sun, moon, and Earth are such that one of these objects is between the other two. During a solar eclipse, which object is between the other two?

a)

sun

b)

moon

c)

Earth

d)

None of these

5.

Phases of the moon are caused by ____ shadow.

a)

Earth's

b)

the moon's

c)

the sun's

d)

none of these

6.

The moon orbits

a)

Earth.

b)

the sun.

c)

Saturn.

d)

Mercury.

7.

Tides on Earth are caused primarily by

a)

the moon's gravitational force.

b)

the sun's gravitational force.

c)

Earth's landscape.

d)

Jupiter's gravitational force.

8.

Tides are observed around Earth's

a)

atmosphere.

b)

plains.

c)

mountains.

d)

coastal areas.

9.

Venus is known for its

a)

enormous size.

b)

thick atmosphere.

c)

ring system.

d)

abundance of life.

10.

____ is the only planet in the solar system known to sustain life.

a)

Uranus.

b)

Mercury.

c)

Earth.

d)

Pluto.

11.

Olympus Mons, a volcano on ____, is the largest mountain in the solar system.

a)

Venus

b)

the moon

c)

Earth

d)

Mars

12.

The Great Red Spot, a hurricane-like storm with twice the diameter of Earth, is found on

a)

Jupiter.

b)

Saturn.

c)

Titan.

d)

the sun.

13.

The inner planets are called terrestrial because they

a)

have no atmosphere.

b)

are small and highly dense.

c)

have Earth-like oceans.

d)

are visible from Earth.

14.

All four outer planets are

a)

terrestrial planets.

b)

gas giants.

c)

very small.

d)

close to the sun.

15.

Earth's temperature is moderated by its

a)

orbit around the sun.

b)

hydrosphere.

c)

continents.

d)

satellite.

16.

Earth's atmosphere protects its from

a)

high-energy solar particles.

b)

ultraviolet radiation.

c)

space debris.

d)

all of these.

17.

Gas giants are known for their

a)

rocky exteriors.

b)

ring structures.

c)

lack of satellites.

d)

closeness to the sun.

18.

Aristotle first proposed that ____ was at the center of the solar system.

a)

the sun

b)

the moon

c)

Earth

d)

Jupiter

19.

Ptolemy proposed that the sun, moon, and planets orbited Earth in

a)

ellipses.

b)

squares.

c)

spheres.

d)

circles.

20.

In 1687, ____ explained that gravitational forces hold the solar system together.

a)

Newton

b)

Copernicus

c)

Halley

d)

Galileo

21.

Kepler correctly proposed that the planets orbited the sun in ____ orbits.

a)

circular

b)

elliptical

c)

linear

d)

spherical

22.

According to the _____ hypothesis, the solar system formed from a cloud of dust and gas.

a)

nebular

b)

accretion

c)

Galilean

d)

Newtonian

23.

The nebular hypothesis explains

a)

why the inner and outer planets differ.

b)

why the planets have separate orbits.

c)

the presence of comets and asteroids.

d)

all of these

24.

Comets are probably made from leftover matter from the formation of

a)

the solar system.

b)

Earth.

c)

the gas giants.

d)

the sun.

25.

Astronomers believe ____ was originally a part of Earth.

a)

the sun

b)

the moon

c)

Jupiter

d)

Mars

26.

According to the current theory, the moon formed

a)

together with Earth.

b)

separately from Earth.

c)

from a portion of Earth.

d)

from leftover matter.

27.

The moon's surface is covered with

a)

craters.

b)

oceans.

c)

ice.

d)

an atmosphere.

28.

The solar system is held together by

a)

orbits.

b)

oceans.

c)

ice.

d)

gravity

29.

When the moon is full, the ___ is between the ___ and the ___.

a)

moon, sun, Earth

b)

sun, Earth, moon

c)

Earth, moon, sun

d)

moon, sun, Mercury

30.

The moon affects Earth by casting

a)

seasons.

b)

night and day.

c)

tides.

d)

earthquakes.

31.

Without the force of the sun's gravity, Earth would

a)

move closer to the sun.

b)

fly off into space.

c)

continue in its orbit.

d)

stop moving.

32.

During which phase of the moon could Earth cause a lunar eclipse?

a)

new

b)

crescent

c)

gibbous

d)

full

33.

Earth and ____ other planets orbit the sun.

a)

seven

b)

six

c)

nine

d)

eight

34.

In what phase could the moon cause a solar eclipse?

a)

new

b)

crescent

c)

gibbous

d)

full

35.

The largest body in the solar system is

a)

Earth.

b)

Jupiter.

c)

the moon.

d)

the sun.

36.

The mass of the sun is about ____ times larger than the mass of Earth.

a)

30

b)

3,000

c)

300,000

d)

30,000,000

37.

Who originally theorized that Earth was the center of the solar system?

a)

Ptolemy

b)

Aristotle

c)

Newton

d)

Copernicus

38.

According to Copernicus' model of the solar system,

a)

the sun orbits Earth.

b)

Earth orbits the sun.

c)

the planets orbit Earth.

d)

Earth orbits the moon.

39.

According to the nebular hypothesis, the planets of the solar system

a)

are pieces of a larger planet.

b)

formed from small particles.

c)

are comets captured by the sun.

d)

formed before the big bang.

40.

The age of our solar system is approximately

a)

6,000 years old

b)

4.6 billion years old

c)

4.6 million years old

d)

15 billion years old

41.

A rock that strikes Earth is called a

a)

meteor.

b)

meteorite.

c)

meteoroid.

d)

all of these.

42.

By measuring small gravitational wobbles in stars, astronomers have discovered

a)

many new asteroids.

b)

the third moon of Mars.

c)

more than 100 comets.

d)

more than 200 exoplanets.

43.

The asteroid belt is found between Jupiter and

a)

Saturn.

b)

Uranus.

c)

Mars.

d)

Neptune.

44.

According to the nebular hypothesis, the solar system formed

a)

quickly, from a large explosion.

b)

quickly, from a cloud of gas.

c)

slowly, from a large explosion.

d)

slowly, from a cloud of gas.

45.

Most comets come from the

a)

Oort cloud.

b)

stars.

c)

rings of Saturn.

d)

sun's corona.

46.

Scientists believe Earth's moon was

a)

captured by Earth's gravity.

b)

formed at the same time as Earth.

c)

originally part of Earth.

d)

formed before Earth.

47.

All of the planets in our solar system

a)

give off their own light.

b)

appear int eh same position nightly.

c)

have thick atmospheres.

d)

orbit the sun.

48.

The solar system is held together by

a)

gravitational forces.

b)

inertia.

c)

angular momentum.

d)

electrostatic forces.

49.

During a solar eclipse

a)

the moon blocks out the sun.

b)

the sun blocks out the moon.

c)

the moon blocks out Earth.

d)

Earth blocks out the sun.

50.

Many small bodies composed of ice and rock lie

a)

between Earth and Mars.

b)

between the sun and Earth.

c)

beyond the gas giants.

d)

beyond the Kuiper Belt.

51.

Mercury is characterized by

a)

a thick atmosphere.

b)

large volumes of water.

c)

very extreme temperatures.

d)

high atmospheric pressure.

52.

The Great Red Spot is believed to be a giant storm in the atmosphere of

a)

Mars.

b)

Jupiter.

c)

Saturn.

d)

Neptune.

53.

Terrestrial planets have similar

a)

atmospheres.

b)

lifeforms.

c)

compositions.

d)

Neptune.

54.

A body that orbits a star other than the sun is known as a

a)

satellite.

b)

exoplanet.

c)

asteroid.

d)

dwarf planet.

55.

Aristotle believed that planets orbit the

a)

sun.

b)

Earth.

c)

moon.

d)

stars.

56.

Planets may have been formed out of material orbiting the early sun through the process of

a)

solidification.

b)

sedimentation.

c)

accretion.

d)

radiation.

57.

There are ___ planets that orbit the sun.

a)

7

b)

8

c)

9

d)

10

58.

Gravity keeps planets from

a)

crashing into the sun.

b)

losing their atmospheres.

c)

flying off into space.

d)

none of these.

59.

During a lunar eclipse

a)

the moon blocks out the sun.

b)

the sun blocks out the moon.

c)

the moon blocks out Earth.

d)

Earth blocks out the sun.

60.

Which of the following is not an inner planet?

a)

Venus

b)

Mars

c)

Jupiter

d)

Earth

61.

____ all ow Earth to sustain life.

a)

Liquid water and an oxygen-rich atmosphere

b)

Animals and plants

c)

The moon's craters and maria

d)

Ice and a methane-rich atmosphere

62.

The inner planets are separated from the outer planets by

a)

the Oort cloud.

b)

an asteroid belt.

c)

the Milky Way.

d)

the moon's orbit.

63.

Scientists have discovered 200 exoplanets by measuring small

a)

temperature changes in stars.

b)

orbits of stars.

c)

masses of stars.

d)

gravitational wobbles in stars.