The Solar System
Answer Key
Online practice tests available at:
http://bit.ly/2KiCbQa http://bit.ly/2vQx8DH
What two elements is the universe made primarily of?
Carbon and nitrogen
Hydrogen and helium
Iron and nickel
Silicon and oxygen
What is the correct order of the planets in the Solar System, starting closest to the Sun?
Mars, Mercury, Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
Mercury, Mars, Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Pluto
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
What is thought to be the age of the nine planets relative to each other?
The inner planets formed together first and then the outer planets formed together later
The outer planets formed together first and then the inner planets formed together later
They all formed at roughly the same time
They formed sequentially from Pluto inward with the one nearest the sun formed last
They formed sequentially from the sun outward with Pluto formed last
Why does the moon have more craters than the earth?
Craters develop much better on smaller planetary bodies
The moon captured most asteroids before they could strike the earth
The moon has a stronger gravitational attraction than the earth
The moon has little tectonics or weathering to obliterate craters
The moon is much older than the earth
What elements are the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn primarily composed of?
Argon and krypton
Hydrogen and helium
Nitrogen and carbon dioxide
Nitrogen and methane
Nitrogen and oxygen
Where did the heavy elements that make up the bulk of the earth originate?
In a supernova
In meteorites
In the Big Bang
In the earth itself
In the sun
What are the lunar maria made of?
Basalt
Breccia
Granite
Salt
Water
Which planet is closest in size to the earth?
Mars
Mercury
Neptune
Uranus
Venus
Which planet besides the earth has evidence of erosion by running water?
Mars
Mercury
Neptune
Uranus
Venus
Which planet has a runaway greenhouse effect?
Mars
Mercury
Neptune
Uranus
Venus
Which planet has virtually no atmosphere?
Mars
Mercury
Neptune
Uranus
Venus
What is the largest planet in the solar system?
Earth
Jupiter
Mars
Neptune
Saturn
Which of the following planets is not a gas giant?
Jupiter
Neptune
Pluto
Saturn
Uranus
Which planet has the most extensive ring structure?
Jupiter
Neptune
Pluto
Saturn
Uranus
What is Io?
A comet
A moon of Jupiter
A protoplanet
An asteroid
The nearest star
What are comets mostly made of?
Ammonia
Hydrogen
Ice
Iron
Rock
What is the glowing head of a comet called?
Coma
Crater
Head
Maria
Nova
Practice Questions by Missphe
List, in order from smallest to largest, the 4 levels of the Universe
Solar system, earth, milky way, universe
Solar system, milky way, earth, universe
Earth, solar system, milky way, universe
Universe, milky way, solar system, earth
"Asteroids give off gas and dust in the form of a tail as they orbit the Sun". True or False, and Why?
False--Comets give off gas and dust in the form of a tail
False--Meteors give off gas and dust in the form of a tail
False-- Dwarf Planets give off gas and dust in the form of a tail
False: Jupiter gives off gas and dust in the form of a tail
Planets and moons appear bright. Why?
Nuclear fusion occurring in their core
Sunspots on their surface
Reflecting sunlight
Nuclear fusion occurring on their surface
How do stars make their own energy? _nuclear_ ___fusion___
What does star color depend on? _temperature__
Why does the moon appear to have different phases? Check all answers that are true.
The moon reflects light from the Sun
We can only see the side of the moon that faces towards Venus
We can only see the sunlit side of the moon as it orbits earth
What is the difference between astronomical units and light years? Check all that are true.
“Light years are used to measure distances between stars and galaxies, but astronomical units are
used to measure the distances in our galaxy.”
“Light years are used to measure distances between stars and galaxies, but astronomical units are
used to measure the distances in our solar system.”
“The distance from the earth to the sun is about one astronomical unit, and we don't use light years to
measure the distance from the earth to the sun.”
“A light year is the distance that light travels in one year, but an astronomical unit is the distance that
light travels in one month.”
“An astronomical unit is much larger than a light year.”
“A light year is much larger than an astronomical unit.”
The only star in our ___solar____ __system___ is the Sun
Where is the asteroid belt located? Give the BEST answer that gives the most information.
Between Jupiter and Saturn
In the universe
Between Mars and Jupiter
In an irregular galaxy
What causes seasons? Check all that apply.
Earth's rotation on its axis
Earth's tilt on its axis
Ocean currents
Earth's orbit around the Sun
The moon's rotation on its axis
Earth's revolution around the Sun
What causes day and night? Check all that apply.
Earth spinning on it axis
The tilt of the earth on its axis
When the earth is facing the Sun
When the earth is facing away from the Sun
The current moon phase
Because of their distance from the Sun, which of the following are most likely true?
Earth has a longer year than Mars
Mars has a longer year than Mercury
Mercury has a longer year than Jupiter
Neptune has the longest year of all planets
The inner planets revolve around the sun faster than the outer planets
Venus revolves around the Sun more slowly than Uranus
What facts are true of the outer planets? Check all that apply.
They are made of gas
They are made of dust and rock
They are made of fire
They reflect light from the Sun
They make their own light by nuclear fusion
They are far from the Sun
They are close to the Sun
They are nicknamed "gas giants"
They are nicknamed "terrestrial planets"
What facts are true of the inner planets? Check all that apply.
They are made of gas
They are made of dust and rock
They are made of fire
They reflect light from the Sun
They make their own light by nuclear fusion
They are far from the Sun
They are close to the Sun
They are nicknamed "gas giants"
They are nicknamed "terrestrial planets"
What facts are true of stars? Check all that apply.
They are held together by gravity
They are made of dust and rock
They make their own light by nuclear fusion
They undergo a process at their core which turns hydrogen into helium
There are billions in our solar system
There are billions in our galaxy
The Sun is the only one in our solar system
