Download 5th Grade Astronomy Test Study Guide

5th Grade Astronomy Test Study Guide
Name:__________________________________ Test date:_____________________________
Dear Parents,
Your child has an upcoming end of the unit test on astronomy. Attached you will find your child’s study
guide. This study guide can be used to help your child study and prepare for our test.. Please sign this
study guide and have your child return it the day of the test for extra credit points.
My child shared this study guide with me and studied at home for the test.
_________________________________________
Parent Signature
Important Vocabulary:
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Revolution: a single journey around an orbital path
Solar system: a group of objects in space that orbits a star
Planet: a very large object that orbits a star
Dwarf Planet: a nearly round object that orbits a star, is smaller than a planet, and is not a
satellite of another object
Asteroids: an irregularly shaped rock that orbits the sun
Comets: a space object made of ice and dust that orbits a star and develops a long bright tail as it
nears its star
Gravity: the force that pulls all objects towards each other
Gravitational Pull: when gravity attracts two objects together
Seasons: a period of the year that has special climate conditions.
Tilt: to lean or slate
Axis: an invisible line that an object spins on
Rotation: a single turn around something on its axis or a fixed point, spinning
Phases: the shape of the moon that is lit up and can be seen from Earth
Stars: a body in outer space made of hot gases that shines in the night sky
Constellations: group of stars with a recognizable shape
Lunar: having to do with the moon
Solar having to do with the sun
Eclipse: the blocking of light from shining onto the Moon, Earth, or Sun
Solar Eclipse: when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth casting a shadow on the Earth
Lunar Eclipse: when the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon casting a shadow on the Moon
Tides: the rise and fall of the ocean
Apparent Motion: When an object appears to move, but is not really moving
1 Design a model of the solar system that shows the relative order and scale of the planets, dwarf planets,
comets and asteroids to the sun.
1. The inner planet, Mars, is separated from the outer planet, Jupiter, by an asteroid belt.
2. Pluto, Ceres, and Eris are dwarf planets.
3. A comet is a ball of ice and dust that produces a long tail as it nears a star.
4. Name the planets and planetary objects in order starting with the planet closest to the Sun.
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Asteroid Belt
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Dwarf Planet (Pluto)
3 Explain how the revolution of the Earth around the sun defines a year.
5. It takes the Earth 365 ¼ days or a year to orbit the Sun.
6. The amount of time it takes a planet to orbit the Sun is equal to a year. The length of a year is
different for every planet because of a planet’s distance from the Sun. The further away the
planet. The longer it takes the planet to orbit the Sun.
2 Describe the motion of planets and moons in terms of rotation on axis and orbits due to gravity.
7. The planets and moons orbit the Sun because of the Sun’s gravitational pull.
8. Earth orbiting the Sun is an example of revolution.
9. The shape of planetary orbits is called an ellipse.
10. Earth spinning on its axis is rotation.
11. Earth orbiting the Sun and the Moon orbiting the Earth are all examples of revolution.
5 Explain the phases of the Moon.
12. We see different phases of the Moon because the Moon can be seen at different angles as it
orbits Earth.
13. New Moon is the name of the moon phase when we cannot see the Moon.
14. Full Moon is the name of the moon phase when we can see all of the Moon lit.
6 Explain lunar and solar eclipses.
15. Eclipses are the results of shadows being cast onto another object.
16. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks the light from the Sun and casts a shadow on the
Moon.
17. A solar eclipse is when the Moon is blocking light from the Sun and casts a shadow on the Earth.
4 Demonstrate and explain seasons using a model.
18. The seasons occur because Earth is tilted on its axis as it revolves the Sun. The side of the Earth
titled toward the Sun receives more direct sunlight and experiences seasons with warmer
temperatures. The side of the Earth tilted away from the Sun receives less direct sunlight and
experiences seasons with colder temperatures.
19. In the box below, draw an image of what the Earth would look like (from the prospective of outer
space) if it is summer in Michigan.
3 Explain the apparent motion of the stars (constellations) and the sun across the sky.
1. Apparent motion is when an object appears or seems to move across the sky, but really isn’t.
Objects that appear to rise in the east and set in the west are the Sun, stars, and constellations.
2. Apparent motion is caused by the Earth’s rotation and revolution. The Earth is the object that is
truly moving not the Sun, stars, or constellations.
6 Explain the tides of the oceans as they relate to the gravitational pull and orbit of the moon.
3. Tides occur as a result of the Moon’s gravitational pull.