WorksheetsEEn 1.1.1 Explain the Earth's motion Part 1
Total questions: 23
Worksheet time: 46mins
Some constellations are more prominent in the night sky of North Carolina in winter, while other constellations are more prominent in the night sky in summer. Which best explains why this occurs?
because of Earth’s rotation on its axis
because of stars revolving around Earth
because of Earth revolving around the sun
because of the change in the barycenter of Earth
If the fission theory of moon formation is true, what is also true about the motion of Earth in its formative stages?
Early Earth rotated on its axis much more slowly than it does today
Early Earth rotated on its axis much more quickly than it does today.
Early Earth revolved around the Sun much more slowly than it does today
Early Earth revolved around the Sun much more quickly than it does today
Kepler’s third law states that, for a planet orbiting the Sun, the square of the period of the planet’s orbit is proportional to the cube of the planet’s average distance from the Sun. This is written as the formula T/R = 1. For example, Saturn’s period is 29.5 Earth years, and its average distance is 9.5 astronomical units. So, like all orbiting bodies, its T/R is equal to 1.
Jupiter’s year is equal to 11.8 Earth years. What is Jupiter’s average distance to the Sun in astronomical units?
1
5.2
9.5
11.8
The figure shows the path of a planet orbiting the Sun. The three areas shaded in gray have equal areas
According to Kepler’s second law, which conclusion is supported by the data?
The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F are all equal.
The time interval from A to B is twice the interval from E to F.
The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F combine to be equal to one half of a full orbit
The time intervals from C to D and from E to F combine to be equal to the time interval from A to B.
A new planet is discovered orbiting a single star. The planet has one moon. According to Kepler’s first law, what do scientists know about the orbit of the planet around the star?
The orbit is circular with the star at the center of the circle.
The orbit is elliptical with the star at one focus of the ellipse.
The planet takes 12 times longer to orbit the star than the moon takes to orbit the planet.
The planet orbits the star in a direction opposite to the direction of the moon’s orbit of the planet.
The table above displays data about four planets in the solar system.
According to Kepler’s third law, what is the length of Neptune’s year in Earth years?
30.06
114.5
165
168
What type of galaxy is the Milky Way?
spiral
elliptical
irregular
oval
The planet below is orbiting the Sun. The two sweeps are on opposite sides of the Sun and are labeled t. Though the orbital distance covered in each sweep is different, the time interval for each sweep is the same. Areas A and B are bounded by the arcs of the planet’s sweep in time, t, and the lines between the endpoints of the arc and the center of the Sun.
What is the relationship between Area A and Area B?
Area A is 50% larger than Area B.
Area A is 50% smaller than Area B.
Area A is the same size as Area B.
Area A is twice as big as Area B.
In 2004 the Hubble space telescope captured images of distant star clusters, each containing about a million stars. These star clusters were MOST likely part of which structure?
a black hole
a galaxy
a nebula
a solar system
Which number is closest to the estimated number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy?
200 thousand
200 million
200 billion
200 trillion
Structures in the universe are grouped into large systems, each of which are made up of smaller systems. Which of the following is the largest system of which Earth is only a very small part?
Jovian planets
Halley’s comet
Milky Way galaxy
Orion’s belt
Scientists have collected data about many galaxies, including the Milky Way galaxy. What makes the Milky Way galaxy difficult to observe from Earth?
Earth is located inside the Milky Way galaxy
less
The Milky Way galaxy absorbs more light than it emits
The Milky Way galaxy is too distant for detailed observations.
Earth is moving in the opposite direction of the Milky Way galaxy.
Which Venn diagram correctly shows the relationship between Earth, the solar system, and the Milky Way galaxy?
On a clear night away from city lights, a band of light is easily observed in the night sky. Which statement BEST identifies this band of light?
It is the Milky Way galaxy as seen from the inside
It is a nearby galaxy known as the Andromeda galaxy
It is the shift of light made as stars move away from the Sun
It is a cloud of gas left over from the formation of the Sun.
This illustration shows the sky in an undeveloped area on a clear, dark night.
What is the central glowing region that is brighter than the area around it?
the gas giant planets
Bthe asteroid belt
the Milky Way galaxy
the Orion nebula
In which structure is the Sun located?
Milky Way galaxy
Andromeda galaxy
Cat’s Eye Nebula
Horseshoe Nebula
Which illustration BEST represents the shape of the galaxy that includes the Sun?
The Milky Way galaxy looks like a band of light across the sky. Which observation would provide the BEST view of this band of light without a telescope?
observing only near the north or south pole
observing only during a lunar or solar eclipse
observing on any sunny, clear day
observing on any dark, clear night
Classification of galaxies is based on which characteristic?
the color of the galaxy
the shape of the galaxy
how many stars make up the galaxy
how many planets make up the galaxy
The location of the solar system is illustrated in the diagram of the Milky Way galaxy.
The Sun is near the end of its star cycle.
The Sun will be pushed away from the galaxy
The solar system has the only planets in the galaxy.
The solar system is surrounded by newly formed stars.
Just as biologists classify living things, astronomers classify galaxies. What feature is used to classify galaxies?
size
shape
color
brightness
All galaxies in the universe
are composed of many stars
have a clockwise spin
are irregularly shaped
have the same number of stars
What do the Milky Way galaxy and other galaxies in the universe have in common?
They are similar in shape.
They rotate in the same direction
They contain the same number of stars
They have similar elements.
