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WorksheetsOur Solar System and Beyond: The Ginormous Edition
Total questions: 100
Worksheet time: 50mins
Approximately how many years ago did the Big Bang occur?
13.8 million years ago
13.8 billion years ago
4.6 billion years ago
4.6 million years ago
What did the Big Bang produce?
Stars and galaxies only
Matter and dark energy
Matter and energy
Gravity and time
What is the state of the Universe's edge?
It has a fixed edge
It is shrinking
It is expanding
What force pulls our solar system and universe together?
Electromagnetism
Dark energy
Gravity
Nuclear force
When were stars and galaxies formed in the history of the Universe?
Immediately after the Big Bang
After the Universe cooled down
Before the Big Bang
During the formation of the first atoms
What is a star?
A small point of light in the sky
A massive ball of burning gas (plasma) that gives off heat and light energy
A celestial body that orbits around planets
A bright object that can be found on Earth
Why do stars twinkle?
Because they are moving
Because their light is steady and unchanging
Because their light bends as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere
Because they change colors
What causes stars to have different colors?
Their distance from Earth
The angle at which we look at them
Their heat/temperature
The amount of light they emit
Approximately how many stars are there in our galaxy?
2+ million stars
20+ million stars
200+ million stars
200+ billion stars
What are constellations?
Groups of planets in the sky
Imaginary pictures made by groups of stars in the sky
Real shapes found on the surface of the Earth
Clusters of galaxies far away from Earth
How many named constellations are there?
50
76
88
100
For what purposes have constellations been used for centuries?
As navigational landmarks and to track the calendar/seasons for planting crops
For entertainment purposes only
To predict the future
As a method for communication between different cultures
Why do the stars and constellations we see in the sky change?
Because the stars move around the Earth
We see different parts of space as the Earth revolves around the Sun
Because the constellations themselves change shapes
Because the sky is a projection that changes daily
Do the Northern and Southern hemispheres see the same constellations?
Yes, they see exactly the same constellations
No, they see some different constellations
Yes, but only during certain seasons
No, they see completely different constellations
What are constellations associated with?
Scientific theories
Stories or myths that vary from culture to culture
Political boundaries on Earth
Specific families or individuals
What size is our Sun compared to other stars?
Small sized star
Medium sized star
Large sized star
The largest star
How far away is the Sun from Earth?
93,000 miles away
930,000 miles away
93,000,000 miles away
930,000,000 miles away
Approximately how old is our Sun?
4.5 million years old
450 million years old
4.5 billion years old
45 billion years old
What process does the Sun use to produce heat and light?
Chemical combustion
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fusion
Photosynthesis
What does our solar system include?
The Sun and the moon only
The Sun, all the planets, and their moons
The Sun and comets only
The Sun, all the planets, their moons, and other objects that orbit the Sun
What are planets in relation to our Sun?
Stars that twinkle
Satellites of our Sun
Sources of their own energy
Comets
What is a satellite?
A planet that produces its own energy
A star that twinkles
An object that moves in an orbit around a larger body
A comet moving through space
How do planets appear when viewed from Earth?
They twinkle like stars
They move in their own orbit
They look like stars
They produce their own energy
Do planets twinkle or produce their own energy?
Yes, they twinkle and produce their own energy
No, they do not twinkle but produce their own energy
No, they do not twinkle or produce their own energy
Yes, they produce their own energy but do not twinkle
What is unique about the movement of planets?
They move randomly through space
They move in the orbit of other planets
They move in their own orbit
They do not move at all
What is at the center of our solar system?
The Moon
Mars
The Sun
A black hole
How many planets are in our solar system?
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
What is different about each planet in our solar system?
They all have the same day length.
They all revolve at the same speed.
They rotate at different speeds and have different day lengths.
They are all the same size.
What causes planets to have different year lengths?
They all revolve at the same distance in their orbits.
They revolve at different distances in their orbits.
They all rotate at the same speed on their axis.
The Sun's gravity affects them equally.
What does "My" stand for in the mnemonic for the planets?
Mars
Mercury
Moon
Neptune
What does "Very" stand for in the mnemonic for the planets?
Venus
Saturn
Uranus
Earth
What does "Educated" refer to in the mnemonic for the planets?
Earth
Jupiter
Neptune
Mars
What does "Mother" stand for in the mnemonic for the planets?
Mars
Venus
Saturn
Uranus
What does "Just" stand for in the mnemonic for the planets?
Jupiter
Neptune
Uranus
Mercury
What does "Served" stand for in the mnemonic for the planets?
Saturn
Earth
Venus
Mars
What does "Us" stand for in the mnemonic for the planets?
Uranus
Saturn
Neptune
Venus
What does "Noodles" stand for in the mnemonic for the planets?
Neptune
Uranus
Saturn
Jupiter
Which of the following is NOT one of the inner planets?
Mercury
Venus
Jupiter
Mars
Which planet is third from the Sun?
Venus
Earth
Mars
Mercury
What is the correct order of the inner planets starting from the one closest to the Sun?
Venus, Mercury, Earth, Mars
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars
Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury
What are the inner planets primarily made of?
Gas and ice
Liquid water
Rocky core, solid surface
Plasma
How are the inner planets different from the outer planets in terms of size?
Larger than the outer planets
The same size as the outer planets
Smaller than the outer planets
Size varies and cannot be compared
Which of the following inner planets have moons?
Only Earth
Only Mars
Both Earth and Mars
None of the inner planets
What separates the inner planets from the outer planets?
A large void of empty space
A massive black hole
An asteroid belt
A series of comets
Why are the inner planets cratered?
Due to volcanic activity
Due to erosion by wind and water
Due to collisions
Due to gravitational pull from the sun
Which planet is closest to the Sun?
Venus
Earth
Mars
Mercury
What is the main component of Venus' atmosphere?
Oxygen
Hydrogen
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Which planet is known as the hottest planet in our solar system?
Mercury
Earth
Venus
Mars
How long is a year on Mercury?
365 days
88 days
225 days
687 days
Which planet is known for rotating clockwise on its axis?
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
What is the size of Mercury compared to?
Earth's moon
Jupiter's moon Ganymede
The Sun
Mars
What is the main component of Earth's surface?
Solid rock
Liquid water
Ice
Sand
Why is Earth known to sustain life?
It has multiple moons
It is the largest planet
It is at the perfect distance from the sun (Goldilocks Zone)
It has the most oxygen
What is Mars primarily known for due to its surface iron content?
The blue planet
The green planet
The red planet
The yellow planet
What is the main component of Mars' atmosphere?
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
Hydrogen
How many moons does Mars have?
One
Two
Three
Four
Which of the following rovers has not been sent to Mars?
Opportunity
Spirit
Voyager
Curiosity
What are asteroids primarily composed of?
Gas
Ice
Rocky and metallic objects
Liquid water
What is the role of the asteroid belt in the solar system?
It provides energy to the solar system.
It separates the inner planets from the outer planets.
It is the source of all planetary water.
It orbits the Earth.
About how wide is the asteroid belt?
112 miles
1,000 miles
10,000 miles
100,000 miles
What is Ceres?
A comet
A moon
A star
A dwarf planet
Which NASA spacecraft explored Ceres in 2015?
Voyager
Hubble
Dawn
Juno
Which of the following is NOT one of the outer planets?
Jupiter
Saturn
Mars
Neptune
Which planet is known for its prominent ring system?
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Which of the following planets is the farthest from the Sun?
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
What are the outer planets commonly referred to as?
Rock Giants
Gas Giants
Ice Giants
Dwarf Planets
Do the outer planets have a solid surface?
Yes, they all have a solid surface
Only some have a solid surface
No, they have no solid surface
It is unknown if they have a solid surface
What is the temperature like on the outer planets?
Very hot temperatures
Moderate temperatures
Very cold temperatures
Temperatures similar to Earth
What is a common feature of each outer planet?
They all have a single moon
They have no moons or rings
Each outer planet has moons and rings
They all have a solid ring system
Compared to Earth, how are the lengths of years and days on the outer planets?
Longer years and longer days
Shorter years and longer days
Longer years and shorter days
Shorter years and shorter days
Which planet is known as the largest planet in our solar system?
Earth
Saturn
Mars
Jupiter
What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?
A large mountain
A hurricane-like storm
A vast ocean
A desert
How many moons has Jupiter been confirmed to have?
82
92
62
72
What is distinctive about Saturn's appearance?
It has a Great Red Spot
It is the largest planet
It has rings
It is the hottest planet
What are Saturn's rings primarily made of?
Dust and gas
Ice and rocks
Lava and metal
Clouds and mist
How many moons has Saturn been confirmed to have?
92
82
72
62
What is Uranus also known as?
Gas giant
Ice giant
Rock giant
Storm giant
What causes the bluish color of Uranus?
Ammonia crystals
Methane in the atmosphere
Water ice
Hydrogen sulfide
Why is Uranus referred to as the "sideways" planet?
Because of its rings
Because of its many moons
Because of its very tilted orbit
Because of its size
How many moons does Uranus have?
14
27
65
82
What is Neptune also known as?
Gas giant
Ice giant
Rock giant
Storm giant
What is a notable feature on Neptune?
Great Red Spot
Great Dark Spot
Great Blue Spot
Great White Spot
How long does it take for Neptune to orbit the Sun?
165 Earth days
165 Earth months
165 Earth years
165 Earth decades
What makes Neptune the windiest place in the solar system?
Its large size
Its proximity to the Sun
Its fast rotation
Its atmospheric conditions
How many moons does Neptune have?
14
27
65
82
When was Pluto demoted to dwarf planet status?
2004
2006
2008
2010
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Pluto?
Does not have a clear path of orbit
Is frozen and dark
Part of the Kuiper Belt
Has a stable orbit within the asteroid belt
What is the Kuiper Belt associated with?
The region between Mars and Jupiter
The region beyond Neptune's orbit
The asteroid belt
The rings of Saturn
Stars are made of primarily these two gases.
carbon and dioxide
hydrogen and oxygen
hydrogen and carbon
hydrogen and helium
What are comets primarily made of?
Hot lava and gases
Chunks of ice and frozen gases
Liquid water and dust
Solid rock and iron
What is the direction of a comet's tail?
Towards the Sun
Away from the Sun
Towards Earth
It has no specific direction
How often can Halley's comet be seen from Earth?
Every 76 years
Every 50 years
Every 100 years
Every 150 years
What are meteors commonly known as?
Falling stars
Shooting stars
Wandering stars
Twinkling stars
What happens to most meteors when they enter Earth's atmosphere?
They orbit the Earth
They land intact
They burn up
They explode
What are meteors called when they land on Earth?
Meteoroids
Meteorites
Asteroids
Comets
Approximately how many meteors enter Earth's atmosphere each day?
Hundreds
Thousands
Millions
Billions
When was the Hubble Telescope launched?
1985
1990
1995
2000
What is the Hubble Telescope known for taking pictures of?
The Earth's surface
Deep space
The Moon's surface
Nearby planets
Why does the Hubble Telescope take the best pictures?
It uses the most advanced camera
It is closest to the stars
It doesn't look through Earth's atmosphere
It is operated by the best astronomers
What does the Hubble Telescope orbit?
The Moon
The Sun
Mars
The Earth
