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Galaxies, Stars, and the Solar System Quiz

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 2hrs 55mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is our home galaxy called?

a)

The Milky Way

b)

The Andromeda Galaxy

c)

The Solar System

d)

The Orion Belt

2.

What holds together the gas, dust, and many stars in a galaxy?

a)

Gravity

b)

Electricity

c)

Magnetism

d)

Water

3.

Why does the Sun appear larger and brighter than other stars in the sky?

a)

It is closer to Earth than other stars

b)

It is the biggest star in the universe

c)

It is made of gold

d)

It is the only star that gives off light

4.

Which of the following is true about the Sun?

a)

It is a medium sized star

b)

It is the smallest star in the universe

c)

It is made of rock

d)

It is a planet

5.

What is a star?

a)

A ball of gas that gives off energy, some of it in the form of light

b)

A solid object made of rock

c)

A frozen ball of ice

d)

A planet that orbits the Sun

6.

Which object in the Solar System is made of gas and gives off energy?

a)

Sun

b)

Asteroid

c)

Comet

d)

Moon

7.

Which of the following is NOT a planet in our Solar System?

a)

The Moon

b)

Mars

c)

Venus

d)

Neptune

8.

What is the main difference between a planet and a moon?

a)

Planets revolve around a star, moons revolve around a planet

b)

Moons are made of gas, planets are made of rock

c)

Planets are always bigger than moons

d)

Moons give off their own light, planets do not

9.

Which of the following is a characteristic shared by all planets?

a)

They are round (spherical)

b)

They are made of ice

c)

They do not rotate

d)

They revolve around a moon

10.

Why might some stars appear brighter than others in the night sky?

a)

They could be closer to Earth or giving off more light energy

b)

They are made of metal

c)

They are planets

d)

They are always bigger than other stars

11.

If two stars are the same distance and size, but one appears brighter, what does this mean?

a)

The brighter star is giving off more light energy

b)

The dimmer star is closer to Earth

c)

The brighter star is a planet

d)

The dimmer star is made of ice

12.

What is an asteroid?

a)

A solid space object made of rock or metal that is irregularly shaped and revolves around a star

b)

A ball of gas that gives off energy

c)

A frozen ball of ice and dust

d)

A planet that orbits the Sun

13.

Which of the following best describes a comet?

a)

A space object made of ice, frozen gases, and dust that has a tail when it gets close to the sun

b)

A round object that revolves around a planet

c)

A solid object made of rock

d)

A planet that gives off energy

14.

What is the order of the planets in our Solar System starting from the Sun?

a)

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

b)

Earth, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

c)

Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus

d)

Venus, Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

15.

Where is the Asteroid Belt located in our Solar System?

a)

Between the 4 inner planets and the 4 outer planets

b)

After Neptune

c)

Between the Sun and Mercury

d)

Between Earth and Venus

16.

Which of the following is a similarity between Inner Planets and Outer Planets?

a)

Both are made of gas

b)

Both revolve around a star

c)

Both have thick atmospheres

d)

Both are farther away from the Sun

17.

How long does it take for the Earth to complete one rotation on its axis?

a)

12 hours

b)

365 days

c)

24 hours

d)

28 days

18.

What causes the patterns of stars in the nighttime sky to appear to move from East to West each night?

a)

The revolution of the Moon

b)

The rotation of the Earth

c)

The revolution of the Sun

d)

The movement of the stars

19.

Why do we see different star patterns during different seasons?

a)

Because the stars move around the Sun

b)

Because the Earth rotates on its axis

c)

Because the Earth revolves around the Sun

d)

Because the Moon blocks the stars

20.

How long does it take for the Moon to revolve around the Earth?

a)

24 hours

b)

7 days

c)

28 days

d)

365 days

21.

Which phase of the Moon occurs when the entire lit side of the Moon is facing Earth?

a)

New Moon

b)

Full Moon

c)

Crescent Moon

d)

Quarter Moon

22.

Explain why we see different phases of the Moon from Earth.

a)

The Moon changes its shape

b)

The Moon gives off its own light

c)

The lit side of the Moon is not always facing Earth

d)

The Sun moves around the Moon

23.

Describe what happens to the Moon’s appearance from New Moon to Full Moon.

a)

The Moon appears to get smaller each night

b)

The Moon stays the same size

c)

The Moon appears to grows bigger to the left each night until it is fully round

d)

The Moon appears to disappear completely