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Objects in Solar System

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, friction causes it to burn up and produce a streak of light called a ____________.

a)

meteor

b)

meteorite

c)

comet

d)

asteroid

2.
Most asteroids orbit the sun in the _________.
a)
asteroid belt
b)
Milky Way
c)
Kuiper belt
d)
Oort Cloud
3.

Why do some stars appear brighter in the sky than others?

a)

Some stars are bigger, so they appear brighter.

b)

Some stars are closer to Earth so they appear brighter.

c)

Some stars are burning at a hotter temperature, therefore appear hotter.

d)

All of the options listed are correct.

4.
These objects that orbit the sun are nicknamed, "dirty snowballs."
a)
Comets
b)
Asteroids
c)
Meteors
d)
Meteroids
5.

Planets that have a rocky or solid surface are called:

(a)  

6.

We often see these objects appear as "shooting stars" or streak of light in the sky. They are "smaller" pieces of rock that are burning in our atmosphere.

a)

Asteroids

b)

Meteors

c)

Meteroids

d)

Comets

7.
Objects made of ice, gas and dust and orbit our sun are called:
a)
Asteroids
b)
Comets
c)
Meteroids
d)
Meteors
8.

Which planets are the inner planets starting with the one closest to the sun?

a)

Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Venus

b)

Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury

c)

Venus, Earth, Neptune, Mars

d)

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

9.
Which group of planets are large and mostly made of gas?
a)
Inner planets
b)
Outer planets
c)
asteroid belt
10.
The diagram below shows the orbit of Earth and the orbit of Borrelly. Which of these types of space objects is Borrelly most likely to be?
a)
Asteroid
b)
Comet
c)
Moon
d)
Planet
11.
Until 2006, Pluto was considered the solar system’s ninth planet.  Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet. Which of these properties of Pluto explains why it is classified as a dwarf planet?
a)
It does not orbit the sun.
b)
It is too far from Earth.
c)
It has other bodies in its orbit.
d)
It is not part of the solar system
12.
A meteoroid is a chunk of rock traveling through the solar system. How is a meteorite related to a meteoroid?
a)
A meteorite is a meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere.
b)
A meteorite is a meteoroid that has broken into smaller pieces.
c)
A meteorite is a meteoroid that is larger in size than an asteroid.
d)
A meteorite is a meteoroid that reaches the surface of Earth.
13.
Skylab was the first American space station. It was in orbit around Earth from 1973 to 1979. Which of these objects was Skylab most similar to?
a)
Comet
b)
Moon
c)
Planet
d)
Star
14.

While looking at the sky one night, Bevan saw a streak of light like the one below. Bevan’s father told him that the light was produced by a small chunk of rock passing through Earth’s atmosphere. Which of these terms best describes what Bevan saw?

(a)  

15.
Pieces of rock or dust in space that come from asteroids or comets
a)
meteoroid
b)
moon
c)
comet
d)
star
16.

Large clump of ice, dust, and small rock particles that has a tail and orbits the sun on a long path

(a)  

17.
Most asteroids in our solar system revolve around a zone called the asteroid belt. Where is the asteroid belt located?
a)
Between the orbits of Earth and Mars
b)
Between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn
c)
Between the orbits of Uranus and Neptune
d)
Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
18.

Pieces of space rock that are too small to be planets or dwarf planets but still revolve around the sun

(a)  

19.

If a planet is closer to the sun, it will revolve _________.

a)

at nearly 0 speed

b)

medium speed

c)

slower

d)

faster

20.

What is the difference meteors and meteorites?

a)

Meteors hit the planet and meteorites burn up before they hit

b)

Meteorites hit the planet and meteors burn up before they hit

c)

They both orbit the sun but meteors have an irregular orbit

d)

They both orbit the sun but meteorites have an irregular orbit