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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Kids Discover Planets Worksheet
After reading KIDS DISCOVER Planets, choose the best answer for each question.
Find your answer on the pages shown in the book icon next to each question.
Match the planet with its composition.
_____ 1. Earth
A. Gas giant
_____ 2. Jupiter
B. Rocky world
_____ 3. Mars
_____ 4. Mercury
_____ 5. Neptune
_____ 6. Saturn
_____ 7. Uranus
_____ 8. Venus
9. How are Ceres and Pluto alike?
a. They are both rocky worlds.
b. They are both dwarf planets.
c. They are both gas giants.
d. They are both asteroids
10. What causes the surface of Mercury to fold like the skin of a dry
apple?
a. The heat of the Sun.
b. The lack of water.
c. The slight shrinking of the planet as its iron core cools.
d. The freezing temperatures in the shadowed regions at the poles.
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
11. What is the largest known surface feature of Mercury?
a. Arecibo Vallis
b. Borealis Planitia
c. Caloris Basin
d. Resolution Rupes
12. How was the Caloris Basin on Mercury formed?
a. By a volcano.
b. By a comet.
c. By a meteorite.
d. By an asteroid.
13. What is a likely reason for Venus being hotter than Mercury?
a. Because carbon dioxide traps the Sun’s heat.
b. Because Venus has high winds.
c. Because it is named after the god of the Forge.
d. Because Venus is closer to the Sun than Mercury.
14. Which country landed a probe on the surface of Venus?
a. China
b. India
c. Soviet Union
d. United States
15. Why can’t we see the surface of Venus?
a. It is so far away.
b. It is covered by clouds.
c. It is so small.
d. The winds are so high.
16. How is Mars like Earth?
a. It has a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere.
b. It is cold, dry, and barren.
c. Its winter temperatures may be 200 degrees below freezing.
d. It has seasons.
17. The largest volcano in the Solar System is found on Mars. What is its name?
a. Arsia Mons
b. Elysium Mons
c. Olympus Mons
d. Ulysses Patera
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
18. Which of Jupiter’s moons may have life in its buried ocean?
a. Io
b. Europa
c. Ganymede
d. Callisto
19. Which of Jupiter’s moons has active volcanoes?
a. Io
b. Europa
c. Ganymede
d. Callisto
20. What is the Great Red Spot?
a. A hole in Jupiter’s clouds.
c. Colorful clouds in Jupiter’s atmosphere.
b. Remains of a comet collision. d. A gigantic storm.
21. For what is Saturn best known?
a. It’s color.
b. It’s moons.
c. It’s rings.
d. It’s size.
22. This moon of Saturn is larger than Mercury.
a. Enceladus
b. Hyperion
c. Mimas
d. Titan
23. This moon is the coldest place in the Solar System.
a. Miranda
b. Oberon
c. Puck
d. Triton
24. Uranus’s and Neptune’s atmospheres are made of hydrogen and…
a. carbon dioxide.
b. helium.
c. methane.
d. oxygen.
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Identify the planets in order by their distance from the Sun.
_____ 25. Earth
A. 1
_____ 26. Jupiter
B. 2
_____ 27. Mars
C. 3
_____ 28. Mercury
D. 4
_____ 29. Neptune
E. 5
_____ 30. Saturn
F. 6
_____ 31. Uranus
G. 7
_____ 32. Venus
H. 8
Rank the size of the planets in order from the largest to the smallest.
_____ 33. Earth
A. 1
_____ 34. Jupiter
B. 2
_____ 35. Mars
C. 3
_____ 36. Mercury
D. 4
_____ 37. Neptune
E. 5
_____ 38. Saturn
F. 6
_____ 39. Uranus
G. 7
_____ 40. Venus
H. 8
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Can You Planet?
(From Universe At Your Fingertips, Astronomical Society of the Pacific)
Sort out the planets. Next to each planet’s name, put “yes” if the statement is true (Jupiter is
larger than Earth – Yes) or “no” if it is not true (Earth has rings – No). Use this information to
place the planets on the Venn Diagram! (Use the Planetary Fact Sheet you have been given.)
Planetary Fact Sheet – Can You Planet?
Diameter (mi)
Length of Day
Moons
Rings
Earth
7,900
24 hours
1
No
Jupiter
88,500
10 hours
63
Yes
Mars
4,300
25 hours
2
No
Mercury
3,100
59 days
0
No
Neptune
30,000
16 hours
13
Yes
Saturn
65,000
11 hours
63
Yes
Uranus
31,000
17 hours
27
Yes
Venus
7,500
243 days
0
No
Planetary Facts Helping Table
Larger than Earth
Has Ring(s)
Has Moon(s)
Earth
Jupiter
Mars
Mercury
Neptune
Saturn
Uranus
Venus
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Use the information from the chart to place the planets in the correct circle or
intersection of circles.
Has rings
& moons
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
Only has moon(s)
Only has rings
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Use the information from the chart to place the planets in the correct circle or
intersection of circles!
Only larger than
Earth
Only has moon(s) & larger than Earth
Only has rings & larger than Earth
1.
2.
3.
4.
Has moon(s), rings & larger
than Earth
1.
2.
Only has moon(s)
and rings
Only has moon(s)
Only has rings
7|Page
Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Use the Venn Diagram, chart, and fact sheet to answer the following questions.
Identify the planets larger than Earth.
_____ 1. Venus
A. No
_____ 2. Uranus
B. Yes
_____ 3. Saturn
_____ 4. Neptune
_____ 5. Mercury
_____ 6. Mars
_____ 7. Jupiter
8. Which two sets of planets are closest in size?
a. Earth and Venus
b. Jupiter and Saturn
c. Mars and Mercury
d. Neptune and Uranus
Identify the planets with one or more moons.
_____ 9. Venus
A. No
_____ 10. Uranus
B. Yes
_____ 11. Saturn
_____ 12. Neptune
_____ 13. Mercury
_____ 14. Mars
_____ 15. Jupiter
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
16. What is the total number of known moons in our Solar System?
______________
17. What is the average number of moons per planet? _______________________
(Round your answer).
(total number of moons divided by 8)
Identify which planets fit into all three categories.
_____ 18. Venus
A. No
_____ 19. Uranus
B. Yes
_____ 20. Saturn
_____ 21. Neptune
_____ 22. Mercury
_____ 23. Mars
_____ 24. Jupiter
Comparison of Rocky Planets and Gas Giants
(modified from a graphic organizer found at Amazing Space)
Using the Solar System Fact Sheet, compare and contrast comets and asteroids.
Rocky Planets
Gas Giants
Composition (of what are the rocky
planets made)
Composition (of what are gas giants
made)
List the rocky planets
List the gas giants
a.
c.
a.
c.
b.
d.
b.
d.
9|Page
Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Rocky Planets
Gas Giants
Can a spacecraft land on the rocky
planets?
Can a spacecraft land on the gas giants?
Type of atmosphere (thick, thin, thick to
very thick, etc.)
Type of atmosphere (thick, thin, thick to
very thick, etc.)
Where found in Solar System (near to
Sun or far away)
Where found in Solar System (near to
Sun, or far away)
Temperature range of planets (lowest to
highest)
Temperatures of range planets (lowest to
highest)
Are the rocky planets larger or smaller
compared to gas giants?
Are the gas giants larger or smaller
compared to rocky planets?
Number of moons (many or from few to
none)
Number of moons (many or from few to
none)
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Comparing the Rocky Inner Planets
Mercury
Venus
Distance from Sun:
Distance from Sun:
Diameter:
Diameter:
Number of Moons:
Number of Moons:
Rings:
Rings:
Atmosphere:
Atmosphere:
Weight on planet:
Weight on planet:
Earth
Mars
Distance from Sun:
Distance from Sun:
Diameter:
Diameter:
Number of Moons:
Number of Moons:
Rings:
Rings:
Atmosphere:
Atmosphere:
Weight on planet:
Weight on planet:
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Objective
Describe and compare the components of the Solar System.
Comparing the Outer Gas Giants
Jupiter
Saturn
Distance from Sun:
Distance from Sun:
Diameter:
Diameter:
Number of Moons:
Number of Moons:
Rings:
Rings:
Atmosphere:
Atmosphere:
Weight on planet:
Weight on planet:
Uranus
Neptune
Distance from Sun:
Distance from Sun:
Diameter:
Diameter:
Number of Moons:
Number of Moons:
Rings:
Rings:
Atmosphere:
Atmosphere:
Weight on planet:
Weight on planet:
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