wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

8th Grade - Chapter 23 - 5th Edition

Total questions: 41

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The geocentric theory was useful because it

a)

placed all the solar system objects in their correct relationship

b)

proved that the earth rotates

c)

provided a workable model of the sky and the most important objects in it

d)

predicted the appearance of comets

2.

Certain Christian philosophers in the Middle Ages argued that the Ptolemaic model agreed with the Bible because

a)

it showed how small and insignificant humans were in the universe

b)

it seemed to support the central importance of man and the earth

c)

the sun was given a place of prominence

d)

the Bible arranges the solar system in the same way as the Ptolemaic system did.

3.

Which of the following is an optical illusion?

a)

a planet's albedo

b)

Jupiter's great red spot

c)

an inferior planets transit of the sun

d)

a superior planet's retrograde motion.

4.

What early assumption of the heliocentric theory caused inaccuracies in many of is calculations?

a)

each planet rotates on its axis

b)

planets move in circular orbits

c)

the moon revolves around the earth

d)

the sun is the center of the universe

5.

Because of its distance from the sun, the fastest-revolving planet is

a)

Earth

b)

Mercury

c)

Mars

d)

Venus

6.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of all known planets?
a)
    orbits in an elliptical path
b)
    has a rotational axis
c)
     revolves around the sun
d)
     has one or more moons
7.
Which of the following pairs of terms applies to the planet Mars?
a)
    inferior and Jovian
b)
    inferior and terrestrial
c)
    superior and Jovian
d)
    superior and terrestrial
8.
Which of the following contributes to the high surface temperatures on Mercury?
a)
    slow rotation rate
b)
    distance from the sun
c)
    thick atmosphere
d)
slow rotation rate and distance from the sun
9.
Which of the following is not a distinctive feature of Saturn?
a)
    It emits more energy than it absorbs from the sun
b)
    It is the densest planet in the solar system
c)
     It has the most prominent ring system of any planet
d)
    It has the only moon in the solar system with a dense atmosphere
10.
Which part of the IAU definition of a planet did Pluto and the other dwarf planets not satisfy?
a)
    Planets orbit the sun
b)
    Planets are spherical in shape
c)
Planets do not share their orbits with any other significant object other than moons
d)
     Dwarf planets satisfy none of the characteristics of a planet
11.
Which of the following are small solar system bodies?
a)
    asteroids
b)
    comets
c)
    meteoroids
d)
asteroids and coments
e)
asteroids, comments and meteoroids
12.
The asteroid belt lies between the orbits of
a)
    Earth and Mars
b)
    Mars and Jupiter
c)
    Jupiter and Saturn
d)
    Saturn and Pluto
13.

Which of the following are in the correct order of possible occurrence?

a)

meteor, meteoroid, meteorite

b)

meteoroid, meteor, meteorite

c)

meteorite, meteor, meteoroid

d)

meteor, meteorite, meteoroid

14.
The New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond is intended to provide evidence for the secular theories of the solar system’s origins.
a)
true
b)
false
15.
Critics of the Copernican theory were more concerned about the significance of moving humans from the center of the universe than about simply changing the arrangement of the solar system.
a)
true
b)
false
16.

In 2006, Pluto changed so dramatically that astronomers could no longer call it a planet.

a)

false

b)

true

17.

The planets of the solar system in order from the sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.

a)

false

b)

true

18.
Jovian planets are sometimes called the “gas giants.”
a)
true
b)
false
19.

An observer on Mercury could possibly observe Earth in a transit of the sun.

a)

false

b)

true

20.

Pluto’s orbit comes inside Jupiter’s orbit around the sun at certain times of its year.

a)

false

b)

true

21.

A comet’s tail points toward the sun due to the sun’s gravity pulling it.

a)

false

b)

true

22.
Generally, the main difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid is size—astronomers are able to see asteroids from the ground through a telescope.
a)
true
b)
false
23.
Most meteors burn completely before reaching Earth’s surface.
a)
true
b)
false
24.
introduced a heliocentric model
a)
Nicolaus Copernicus
b)
William Hershcel
c)
Galileo Galilei
d)
Ptolemy
25.
discovered that Venus has phases like the moon, convincing him to replace the geocentric model.
a)
Galileo Galilei
b)
Tycho Brahe
c)
Johannes Kepler
d)
Edmund Halley
26.
formulated three laws of planetary motion
a)
Johannes Kepler
b)
Perivil Lowell
c)
Isaac Newton
d)
Galileo Galilei
27.
applied gravity to planetary movement
a)
Isaac Newton
b)
Gerard Kuiper
c)
Ptolemy
d)
Johannes Kepler
28.
proposed deferents and epicycles
a)
Ptolemy
b)
Galileo Galilei
c)
Tycho Brahe
d)
Isaac Newton
29.
predicted a comet later named in his honor
a)
Edmund Halley
b)
Johannes Kepler
c)
Perivil Lowell
d)
Ptolemy
30.
  The collection of small solar system bodies that lie beyond Neptune’s orbit is called the ___.
a)
Kuiper Belt
b)
meteor
c)
periodic
d)
tilt
31.

The great philosophical shift in the importance of humans in the universe that followed acceptance of the heliocentric theory became known as the ___

a)

Copernican Revolution

b)

Kuiper Belt

c)

meteor

d)

periodic

32.

Copernicus believed that the Ptolemaic system was too __ to represent the actual arrangement of the heavens.

a)

Complicated

b)

Copernican Revolution

c)

Kuiper Belt

d)

meteor

33.
  Planetary models were greatly improved by the precise and accurate observations of the astronomer ___.
a)
Tycho Brache
b)
Complicated
c)
Copernican Revolution
d)
Kuiper Belt
34.
  According to Kepler’s second law, planets move ____ when at their aphelion and ____ when at their perihelion.
a)
slowest/fastest
b)
Tycho Brache
c)
Complicated
d)
Copernican Revolution
35.
  Saturn and the other gas giants are classified as ___ planets.
a)
Jovian
b)
slowest/fastest
c)
Tycho Brache
d)
Complicated
36.
  Only inferior planets are observed to pass in front of the sun, an event known as a(n) ___.
a)
transit
b)
Jovian
c)
slowest/fastest
d)
Tycho Brache
37.
  The planets that are beyond Earth’s orbit are called ___ planets.
a)
superior
b)
transit
c)
Jovian
d)
slowest/fastest
38.
  If you were to stand on the ground on Venus, your protective suit would have to save you from both the high ___ and high ___
a)
temperature/pressure
b)
superior
c)
transit
d)
Jovian
39.
  The most unusual feature of Uranus compared with the other planets in the solar system is its __.
a)
tilt
b)
temperature/pressure
c)
superior
d)
transit
40.
  Astronomers designate comets that appear two or more times as ___.
a)
periodic
b)
tilt
c)
temperature/pressure
d)
superior
41.
  The scientific name for a shooting star is a(n) ___.
a)
meteor
b)
periodic
c)
tilt
d)
temperature/pressure

Similar Resources on Wayground

Balanced vs Unbalanced forces STAAR Review

44 questions

Balanced vs Unbalanced forces STAAR Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

ICP: Nature of Science Practice

44 questions

ICP: Nature of Science Practice

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th - 12th Grade

Continental Drift, Plate Tectonics and Topography Review

37 questions

Continental Drift, Plate Tectonics and Topography Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

A 5 DNA and Modern Genetics

40 questions

A 5 DNA and Modern Genetics

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 12th Grade

Classification of Energy Quiz

40 questions

Classification of Energy Quiz

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Properties of Matter

45 questions

Properties of Matter

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th - 10th Grade

Global Warming/Climate Change

41 questions

Global Warming/Climate Change

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

Energy

40 questions

Energy

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade