Download Solar System Practice Test

Solar System Practice Test
Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Day and night are caused by
a. the tilt of Earth’s axis. b. Earth’s revolution around the sun. c. eclipses. d. Earth’s rotation on its axis.
2. One complete revolution of Earth around the sun takes about
a. one rotation. b. one season. c. one year. d. one eclipse.
3. Earth has seasons because
a. Earth rotates on its axis. b. the distance between Earth and the sun changes. c. Earth’s axis is tilted as it
moves around the sun. d. the temperature of the sun changes.
4. When the north end of Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun, North America will experience
a. more indirect rays and shorter days. b. more indirect rays and longer days. c. more direct rays and shorter
days. d. more direct rays and longer days.
5. The phase of the moon you see depends on
a. where you are on Earth’s surface. b. how much of the sunlit side of the moon faces Earth. c. how much
of the moon’s surface is lit by the sun. d. whether or not an eclipse is occurring.
6. From new moon phase to full moon phase you see
a. an increasing amount of the lighted side of the moon. b. a decreasing amount of the lighted side of the
moon. c. the same amount of the lighted side of the moon. d. more of the lighted side, then less of the
lighted side of the moon.
7. For a solar eclipse to occur,
a. the sun must be directly between Earth and the moon. b. the moon must be directly between Earth and the
sun. c. the moon must be directly behind Earth. d. Earth must be directly between the sun and the moon.
8. During what phase can a lunar eclipse occur?
a. new moon b. first quarter c. waxing gibbous d. full moon
9. When are tides highest?
a. during the moon’s first quarter phase b. when the sun, Earth, and the moon are nearly in a line c. during
the moon’s third quarter phase d. when the moon is at a right angle to the sun
10. Tides are caused mainly by
a. Earth’s rotation on its axis, which causes water to move. b. differences in how much the sun pulls on
different parts of Earth. c. strong winds blowing water onto coasts. d. differences in how much the moon
pulls on different parts of Earth.
11. How large is the moon compared to Earth?
a. about the same diameter as Earth b. about one half the diameter of Earth c. about one fourth the diameter
of Earth d. about one eighth the diameter of Earth
12. Earth’s rotation takes about
a. 365 days. b. 6 months. c. 24 hours. d. 1 month.
13. Because the moon rotates once for each revolution around Earth,
a. you see some phases more than others. b. a different side of the moon faces Earth each day. c. you never
see the far side of the moon. d. the far side of the moon is visible only during the full moon phase.
14. The amount of the lighted side of the moon you can see is the same during
a. new moon and full moon phase. b. new moon and first quarter phase. c. first quarter and third quarter
phase. d. full moon and third quarter phase.
15. You are more likely to see a solar eclipse than a lunar eclipse because
a. the moon’s shadow covers all of Earth during a solar eclipse. b. new moon phases occur less often than
full moon phases. c. only people on the daytime side of Earth can see a solar eclipse. d. you must be in the
moon’s shadow to see a solar eclipse.
16. When do neap tides occur?
a. at new moon b. when the sun’s pull is in the same direction as the moon’s c. when the sun’s pull is at
right angles to the moon’s d. at full moon
17. The sun produces energy by
a. attracting it with the force of gravity. b. nuclear fission. c. burning fuels such as oil. d. nuclear fusion.
18. There is enough fuel remaining in the sun to last for another
a. 1 billion years. b. 5 billion years. c. 10 billion years. d. 15 billion years.
19. What layer are you looking at when you look at a photograph of the sun?
a. photosphere b. chromosphere c. corona d. prominence
20. The solar wind is a stream of electrically charged particles produced by the sun’s
a. chromosphere. b. photosphere. c. corona. d. core.
21. When compared to the gases around them on the sun, sunspots are
a. hotter. b. the same temperature. c. cooler. d. brighter.
22. What solar feature can increase the solar wind, sometimes causing electrical power problems on Earth?
a. prominences b. sunspots c. core emissions d. solar flares
23. What do all of the inner planets have in common?
a. They have the same period of revolution. b. They have the same period of rotation. c. They have the
same diameter. d. They are small and have rocky surfaces.
24. Aside from Earth, which inner planet once had water on its surface?
a. Mercury b. Europa c. Venus d. Mars
25. The atmospheres of the gas giant planets cannot escape into space because
a. the gases are too heavy. b. the gases solidify at higher elevations. c. the planets have very strong
gravities. d. although they are big, the planets have little mass.
26. What do the first four outer planets have in common?
a. They are much larger than Earth and are made mainly of gases. b. They are about the same size as Earth
and are made mainly of gases. c. They are much larger than Earth and are solid. d. They are about the same
size as Earth and are solid.
27. Some astronomers think Pluto should not be called a planet because it
a. is too far away. b. has such a large moon. c. is so small. d. cannot be seen without a telescope.
28. What shape are the orbits of most comets?
a. long, narrow ellipses b. circles c. nearly circular ellipses d. spherical
29. The asteroid belt is located
a. between Earth and Mars. b. between Mars and Jupiter. c. between Jupiter and Saturn. d. between Saturn
and Uranus.
30. Meteoroids usually come from
a. debris from other planets. b. solar winds. c. beyond the solar system. d. comets or asteroids.
31. When a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, it produces a streak of light called a
a. meteor. b. asteroid. c. meteorite. d. comet.
32. The hypothesis that Mars may once have had the conditions needed to support life is based on
a. its similar size to Earth. b. its reddish surface. c. surface patterns that look like dried stream beds. d. the
system of canals seen by Schiaparelli.
33. Solar prominences
a. are cooler than the rest of the chromosphere. b. link different parts of sunspot regions together. c. cannot
be seen during an eclipse. d. are hotter than the rest of the chromosphere.
34. Earth is unique among the planets because of
a. its rocky surface. b. its oceans. c. its large size. d. the direction in which it rotates.
35. Venus and Earth are much alike in terms of
a. their size and density. b. their rates of rotation. c. their atmospheres. d. their direction of rotation.
36. Saturn’s rings are made up mostly of
a. nitrogen and helium. b. ice and water vapor. c. volcanic dust particles. d. chunks of ice and rock.
37. Uranus is different from most other planets because it
a. is the farthest from the sun. b. is mostly nitrogen and helium. c. rotates on its side. d. has the most
moons.
Short Answer
38. Draw the positions of the Earth, Sun and moon during a solar eclipse. Extra credit for labeling the umbra and
penumbra.
39. Draw the positions of the Earth, Sun and moon during a lunar eclipse. Extra credit for labeling the umbra and
penumbra.
40. Where are meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites found?
Solar System Test
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
D
C
C
D
B
A
B
D
B
D
C
C
C
C
D
C
D
B
A
C
C
D
D
D
C
A
C
A
B
D
A
C
B
B
A
D
C
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
SHORT ANSWER QU.
33338.
38.
Sun
Moon
Earth
umbra
penumbra
39.
Sun - Earth - Moon
Sun
Earth
Umbra
Moon
penumbra
40. ANS:
Meteors are seen streaking through our atmosphere.
Meteoroids are found in space.
Meteorites are found on Earth’s surface.