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Content Benchmark E.8.B.2
Students know the solar system includes a great variety of planetary moons, asteroids, and
comets. I/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Recognize the difference between moons, asteroids, and comets.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Each of the following are objects found in our solar system EXCEPT
A. quasars.
B. comets.
C. asteroids.
D. planets.
2. Planets known to have rings include each of the following EXCEPT
A. Uranus.
B. Mercury.
C. Jupiter.
D. Saturn.
3. Asteroids are located in a
A. spherical cloud-like region surrounding our solar system.
B. disk-like layer found a little beyond Neptune’s orbit.
C. wide belt found within the gaps of the rings of Saturn.
D. region of space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
4. Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the orbits of moons, comets and
asteroids?
A. Moons, comets and asteroids all are found in orbit around planets.
B. Moons orbit planets, but comets and asteroids are in orbit about the sun.
C. Moons are in orbit about the sun, while comets and asteroids orbit planets.
D. Moons and comets orbit planets, but asteroids orbit both planets and the sun.
5. Earth’s moon was first to be seen. The next moons to be discovered in the solar system were
found in orbit around the planet
A. Jupiter.
B. Mars.
C. Saturn.
D. Venus.
6. Comets are one of the sources of meteorites which strike Earth. The other source is
A. stars.
B. solar flares.
C. asteroids.
D. small moons.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
7. Which one of the following answers is the best explanation as to why the gas giant planets
have so many moons as compared to the inner planets?
A. Solar flares burned up the very small moons associated with the inner planets.
B. The gas giant planets have a stronger gravitational pull capable of holding more moons.
C. The inner planets rotate so rapidly that they throw off the moons.
D. New moons periodically grow from the thick atmospheres of the gas giant planets.
8. Use the diagram below illustrating the main asteroid belt in the solar system to answer the
following question.
(From http://www.solarviews.com/eng/asteroid.htm)
Which statement MOST accurately describes the asteroid belt? The asteroid belt
A. is located between 2.7 and 22 astronomical units from the sun.
B. has an orbit which is breaking apart, and it will soon vanish from the solar system.
C. consists of many individual asteroids scattered in a wide band throughout its orbit.
D. is located more closely to the orbit of Jupiter than it is to the orbit of Mars.
9. Moons have more similarities to planets than do asteroids. Each of the following is a correct
example of a similarity between moons and planets EXCEPT
A. many moons and most planets have measurable atmospheres.
B. volcanic eruptions have been observed both on moons and planets.
C. liquid matter has been found to exist on some moons and some planets.
D. moons and planets both have been discovered with living organisms.
10. Which of the following statements describing comets and asteroids is accurate?
A. Comets and asteroids are similar to each other in that both develop tails in the portion
of their orbit nearest to the sun.
B. After comets have burned off all their ices and gases, the leftover rocky debris
migrates to a new orbit within the asteroid belt.
C. Each revolves around the sun, but the orbital period of comets is far greater than is
the orbital period of asteroids.
D. Asteroids are the seed from which comets form as vapors from the solar wind are
deposited in icy layers around the rock.
Constructed Response E.8.B.2.
1. Use the diagram and information on the orbits of comets and asteroids to answer the
question below.
Both asteroids and comets are found in orbit about the Sun. The majority of asteroids are
located in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The white arrow outside Jupiter’s
orbit indicates the direction of revolution of asteroids within the asteroid belt. Comets
originate in the Oort Cloud. The Oort Cloud is a spherical cloud surrounding our solar
system, and contains billions of comets. The many arrows above and below the orbital plane
of planets in the solar system show the chaotic orbits of comets, and one comet is pictured in
an orbit which takes it into the inner solar system.
(From http://faulkes-telescope.com/files/faulkestelescope.com/archive/projects/asteroids_comets/asteroids/neo_science.pdf)
A. Describe similarities and differences of the orbital path of asteroids and the orbital paths
of comets.
B. Two asteroids have been labeled A and B. Two comets have been labeled C and D.
Identify which of those, the two asteroids or the two comets; most likely have a similar
orbital path and period of revolution. Explain your reasoning.
Content Benchmark E.8.B.2
Students know the solar system includes a great variety of planetary moons, asteroids, and
comets. I/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. A, DOK Level 1
2. B, DOK Level 1
3. D, DOK Level 1
4. B, DOK Level 1
5. A, DOK Level 1
6. C, DOK Level 1
7. B, DOK Level 2
8. C, DOK Level 2
9. D, DOK Level 2
10. C, DOK Level 2
Constructed Response E.8.B.2 Score Rubric:
Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.
3 points
A. Asteroids and comets are similar in that both revolve around the
Sun in measurable orbits. Differences are that asteroids orbit
within the plane of the ecliptic and generally in the same
direction of revolution, while the orbits of comets are randomly
oriented to the plane of the ecliptic and the direction of
revolution of comets is widely variable.
B. B. The two asteroids, A and B, will have the most similar orbital
path and period of revolution. This is because they are located
within the same plane and are closer to the Sun than are comets
C and D.
2 points
Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor
errors.
1 point
Response does not address all parts of the question.
0 points
The response is totally incorrect or no response provided.