Download Planets and Other Objects in Space test study

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Planets and Other Objects in Space
Study Guide
Please know the following vocabulary:
1. star-
Burning sphere of gases
2. comet-
Small mass of ice and dust that orbits the sun
3. telescope -
Instrument used to observe a distant object
4. axis-
Imaginary line the Earth rotates around
5. satellite-
An object that moves around another
6. planet-
Large object that moves around a star
7. outer planets-
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
8. solar system-
Central star and the objects that move around it
9. space probe-
Vehicle sent to explore space
10. gas giants-
Large spheres made mostly of gases
11. orbit-
Path an object takes when revolving around another object
12. asteroids-
Objects that move between Mars and Jupiter
13. rotation-
Spinning movement of Earth
14. phases-
Changes in apparent shape of the moon
15. revolution-
Movement of Earth around the sun
16. inner planets-
Planets between the asteroid belt and the sun
17. How are rings around planets formed ?
rock, ice crystals, and dust. These particles are trapped in the gravity around each of
those planets.
18. What are orbits like for planets that are close to the sun?
orbit faster than the outer planets
19. What has a space probe found that could prove liquid water may have once existed on
Mars?
sedimentary rocks- which are formed by water. Polar ice caps.
20. What does Earth have that other planets do not?
liquid water (also living things)
21. What is the source of almost all the energy in our solar system?
the sun
22. How long does the moon’s cycle of phases take to complete?
About 28 - 29 days
23. What causes Earth’s seasons?
As the Earth revolves around the sun, it tilts on an imaginary line called the axis.
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, the Southern Hemisphere is
tilted away from the sun. The N. Hemisphere is having summer and the S. Hemisphere is
having the opposite- winter.
24. Why do we see phases of the moon?
The moon just looks like it’s changing shapes but it’s not. The phases are caused by the
movement of the Earth and the moon. As the Earth orbits the sun, the moon is orbiting
the Earth. As they move, different amounts of sunlight are reflected to the Earth cuasing
the moon to change in appearance.
25. What does Earth’s orbit look like?
An oval or elliptical path. (Like an egg.)
26. Revolution and Rotation: Be able to explain the difference between these 2 terms as
they apply to the Earth. Be sure to include the time involved.
1. revolution- The Earth makes one revolution around the sun in 365 days or 1
year. This means the Earth follows a path around the sun. The other planets are
also making a revolution around the sun but in different amounts of time.
2. rotation- The Earth makes one rotation on its axis, an imaginary line from pole
to pole, every 24 hours or one day. That means the Earth spins on around.
27. Use your mnemonic to help you list the planets in order starting closest to the sun:
M- Mercury
V- Venus
U- Uranus
N- Neptune
E- Earth
M- Mars
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J- Jupiter
S- Saturn