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SC.8.E.5.10

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

If it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere; in which of the following months would summer begin in the Northern Hemisphere?

a)

June

b)

December

c)

September

d)

March

2.

Which of the earlier models of the Solar System, Geocentric or Heliocentric, is most similar to the Solar System as we know it to be today and why?

a)

Geocentric, because only the moon is shown orbiting the Earth.

b)

Geocentric, which includes all eight planets.

c)

Heliocentric, which includes all nine planets.

d)

Heliocentric, because the planets are orbiting the Sun.

3.

Throughout history, several different models of the solar system have been proposed. One such model is shown below. According to a heliocentric model of the solar system, what should be located at position Q where indicated on the diagram?

a)

The Sun

b)

The Earth

c)

Jupiter

d)

The Moon

4.

Comets are astronomical bodies, made up of ice and dust, which orbit the Sun. During its elliptical orbit, a comet’s distance from the Sun varies. As a comet nears the Sun, what happens to the speed of its orbit?

a)

The speed decreases due to the gravitational pull of the Sun.

b)

The speed decreases due to an increase in orbit size.

c)

The speed increases due to the gravitational pull of the Sun.

d)

The speed increases due to a decrease in orbit size.

5.

The Kuiper Belt is a region beyond Neptune that is 55 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. It contains smaller bodies that scientists think are pieces left over from the formation of the Solar System. Which of the following best states how scientists know that the Kuiper Belt is part of our solar system?

a)

Objects within the Kuiper Belt orbit the Sun.

b)

Objects in the Kuiper Belt are located beyond Neptune.

c)

Objects within the Kuiper Belt are larger than Mercury.

d)

Objects in the Kuiper Belt are still visible with a telescope.

6.

While using his new telescope, Akeem finds and observes two objects in the night sky. He uses an app. on his cell phone which indicates that one object is a planet and the other is a comet. How are comets different from planets?

a)

Comets will develop a tail as they move closer to the Sun, while planets will maintain the same appearance.

b)

Comets will always be in the same place each night, while a planet will move across the sky.

c)

Comets are not part of the solar system, while planets stay in orbit within the solar system.

d)

Comets are gaseous balls of fire, while planets can be either gaseous or terrestrial.

7.

Although Venus is almost twice as far from the Sun as Mercury, its surface temperature is much hotter. Which of the following is the best explanation for Venus’ high temperature?

a)

Venus does not have water, but Mercury does.

b)

Venus has a solid surface and Mercury does not.

c)

Venus rotates much faster as compared to Mercury.

d)

Venus has an atmosphere thick with greenhouse gasses and Mercury does not.

8.

The surface of Mercury has many more craters than the surface of Earth has. Which of the following statements best explains why Mercury has many more craters than Earth has?

a)

Mercury rotates faster than Earth does.

b)

Mercury has a smaller mass than Earth has.

c)

Mercury is much closer to the Sun than Earth is.

d)

Mercury has a thinner atmosphere than Earth has.

9.

What are the layers of the sun's atmosphere?

a)

Core, chromosphere, corona

b)

Photosphere, radiative zone, corona

c)

Radiative zone, chromosphere, core

d)

Photosphere, chromosphere, corona

10.

Felix examined several photos of stars. To compare their temperatures, he looked at the colors of the stars. He organized the photos in order from coolest to hottest. Which of these answers shows the correct order?

a)

red, yellow, white, blue

b)

white, blue, yellow, red

c)

yellow, white, blue, red

d)

blue, yellow, white, red

11.

Which statement best describes stars?

a)

Large planets that are composed mostly of gases

b)

Celestial bodies made up of gas that give off light

c)

Faint dots of light that can be seen from Earth's surface

d)

Objects that form in the outer parts of the solar system

12.

The sun produces large amounts of energy. By what process does the sun produce energy?

a)

radiation

b)

convection

c)

nuclear fusion

d)

electromagnetic radiation

13.

SC.8.E.5.10

a)

A) The Sun is the center of the universe and all planets revolve around it.

b)

B) The Sun is a star that is part of a galaxy containing billions of stars.

c)

C) The Sun is the largest planet in our solar system.

d)

D) The Sun is a planet that orbits the Earth.

14.

SC.8.E.5.10

a)

A) The gravitational pull of the Sun keeps the planets in orbit.

b)

B) The gravitational pull of the Earth keeps the Sun in orbit.

c)

C) The gravitational pull of the Moon affects the Sun's orbit.

d)

D) The gravitational pull of the Sun has no effect on the planets.

15.

SC.8.E.5.10

a)

A) The Sun's energy is produced by nuclear fusion in its core.

b)

B) The Sun's energy is produced by chemical reactions on its surface.

c)

C) The Sun's energy is produced by gravitational forces.

d)

D) The Sun's energy is produced by the reflection of light from other stars.