Download Formation of the Solar System

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Assessment
Quiz
Section: Formation of the Solar System
In the space provided, write the letter of the term or phrase that best completes
each statement or best answers each question.
_____ 1. Who originally theorized that Earth was the center of the solar system?
a. Ptolemy
c. Newton
b. Aristotle
d. Copernicus
_____ 2. According to Copernicus’ model of the solar system,
a. the sun orbits Earth.
c. the planets orbit Earth.
b. Earth orbits the sun.
d. Earth orbits the moon.
_____ 3. According to the nebular hypothesis, the planets of the solar system
a. are pieces of a larger planet.
c. are comets captured by the sun.
b. formed from small particles.
d. formed before the big bang.
_____ 4. The age of our solar system is approximately
a. 6,000 years old.
c. 4.6 billion years old.
b. 65 million years old.
d. 15 billion years old.
_____ 5. A rock that strikes the Earth is called a
a. meteor.
c. meteoroid.
b. meteorite.
d. All of the above
_____ 6. By measuring small gravitational wobbles in stars, astronomers have
discovered
a. many new asteroids.
c. more than 100 comets.
b. the third moon of Mars.
d. more than 200 exoplanets.
_____ 7. The asteroid belt is found between Jupiter and
a. Saturn.
c. Mars.
b. Uranus.
d. Neptune.
_____ 8. According to the nebular hypothesis, the solar system formed
a. quickly, from a large explosion. c. slowly, from a large explosion.
b. quickly, from a cloud of gas.
d. slowly, from a cloud of gas.
_____ 9. Most comets come from the
a. Oort cloud.
b. stars.
c. rings of Saturn.
d. sun’s corona.
_____ 10. Scientists believe Earth’s moon was
a. captured by Earth’s gravity.
c. originally part of Earth.
b. formed at the same time as Earth. d. formed before Earth.
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Holt Science Spectrum
15
The Solar System