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CFE Distances in Space

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 29mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

An astronomical unit is...

(a)  

2.

Astronomical units are used for (a)  

Choose from the below words
Distances within a solar system
Distances between solar systems
Distances within galaxies
Distances between galaxies
3.

The distance that light can travel in a year is called (a)  

Choose from the below words
A light second
A light minute
A light month
A light year
4.

(a)   would be the best unit to use to measure the distance between the asteroid belt and Pluto

Choose from the below words
Astronomical units
Light seconds
Light years
Parsecs
5.

(a)   would be the best unit to use to measure the distance between the our sun and Proxima Centauri (our nearest star neighbor).

Choose from the below words
Astronomical units
Light seconds
Light years
6.

How far away is Earth from the sun in Astronomical Units?

a)

1

b)

150 million

c)

92 million

d)

3

7.

A light-year (ly) is the distance that light travels in one year. If a star is 3 ly from Earth, how long does it take light from that star to reach Earth? (a)  

Choose from the below words
3 min
3 hours
3 years
3 months
8.

Which two objects in space are located farthest apart?

a)

Earth and Mars

b)

Earth and the sun

c)

Earth and the moon

d)

the Milky Way galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy

9.

A light year is a measurement of: (a)  

Choose from the below words
Time
Distance
Gravity
None of the Above
10.

A light year is a measure of (a)  

Choose from the below words
brightness
time
distance
color
11.

Which of the following best describes the difference between two different units of distance in space?

a)

An AU is useful for measuring distances within the solar system; a light-year is useful for measuring distances beyond the solar system.

b)

An AU is calculated by dividing kilometers by 150 million; a light-year is calculated by determining how long it takes an object to travel 150 million AUs.

c)

An AU is useful for measuring objects fewer than 300 light-years from Earth; a parsec is useful for measuring objects more than 300 light-years from Earth.

d)

An AU equals the distance between Earth and the Sun; a parsec equals the angle between an object’s apparent positions when viewed from two different locations.

12.

The Orion Nebula is a gaseous cloud in space containing numerous new stars. When viewing it through a high-powered telescope, an observer sees what the nebula looked like 1,500 years ago. How is this possible?

a)

Light from the telescope takes 1,500 years to reach the nebula.

b)

The nebula is 1,500 years old.

c)

It takes 1,500 years for light from the nebula to reach Earth

d)

A high-powered telescope needs to be adjusted for its location

13.

Distances between planets and stars are too large to be expressed in everyday units. Which of the following units is most likely used when astronomers measure the distances between Earth and the stars of the Milky Way galaxy? (a)  

Choose from the below words
year
light year
kilometer
astronomical unit
14.

When measuring from Earth to any place inside the solar system, which unit of measurement is used? (a)  

Choose from the below words
mile
astronomical unit
light year
feet
15.

How long does it take light from the Sun to reach us? (a)  

Choose from the below words
8 minutes
1 light year
5 milllion years
17 days
16.

(a)   would be the best unit to use to measure the distance between the asteroid belt and Pluto

Choose from the below words
Astronomical units
Light seconds
Light years
Parsecs
17.

_______________ would be the best unit to use to measure the distance between the our sun and Proxima Centauri (our nearest star neighbor).

a)

Astronomical units

b)

Light seconds

c)

Light years

18.

Which object is closest to Earth?

a)

Barnard’s Star

b)

Planet Neptune

c)

Andromeda galaxy

d)

Triangulum galaxy

19.

(a)   would be the best unit to use to measure the distance between our sun and Proxima Centauri (our nearest star neighbor).

Choose from the below words
Astronomical units
Light seconds
Light years
20.

How long does it take light from the Sun to reach us? (a)  

Choose from the below words
8 minutes
1 light year
5 milllion years
17 days
21.

A.U. (astronomical units) are used to measure distances between _?_. (a)  

Choose from the below words
stars
planets
galaxies
solar systems
22.

Proxima Centauri is the closest star to Earth after the Sun and is located 4.3 light years away from Earth. How long does it take light from Proxima Centauri to reach Earth? (a)  

Choose from the below words
1 year
 4.3 years
43 years
10 trillion years
23.

If two stars are 100 light-years apart, what does this mean?

a)

One of the stars formed 100 years before the other.

b)

The stars are 100 million kilometers from each other.

c)

 It takes 100 years for light to travel from one star to the other.

d)

It would take 100 years for a spaceship to travel between these two stars.