Download Study guide for Space Unit Key

Study Guide for Space Unit Test
Name _________________________
Date _______________Period _____
1. a. Arrange the following in order from greatest to least in size: Galaxy, Universe, Solar System, Planet
Universe, Galaxy, Solar System, Planet
b. What is the Milky Way? It’s the galaxy we live in; the name of our galaxy
2. What is a constellation? A group of stars that form a pattern in the sky.
3. What are planetary rings primarily made of? Mostly chunks of water ice, small particles of rocks and dust.
4. How does an impact crater form? Impact craters are formed when objects hit the surface and leave a hole.
5. What do the Sun, eight other planets, and smaller bodies make up? Our solar system
6. What is the order of the planets in our solar system starting with the one closest to the sun?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
7. Explain why Venus is sometimes called Earth’s twin. It is about the same size and has about the same
amount of gravity.
8. Compare and contrast the atmospheres of Venus, Earth and Mars. Density: Venus-densest; Mars – least
dense. Composition: Venus-very thick, mostly carbon dioxide, clouds of sulfuric acid droplets, greenhouse
effect; Earth-3/4 nitrogen gas, ¼ oxygen, clouds of water droplets; Mars- extremely thin, mostly carbon
dioxide.
9. What are some problems that a colony on Mars would have to solve in order to survive?
Unless they settle at the equator, they would have to cope with freezing temperatures. Unless they melt ice
from the polar caps, they would have no water except for what they brought with them from Earth. They
would need to live under a dome of some kind to protect them from harmful radiation. They would need to
figure out how to fill the dome with air since Mar’s atmosphere is very thin and mostly carbon dioxide.
There isn’t even enough carbon dioxide to support plants. Also, Mar’s soil is not suitable for growing plants,
so they would have to grow food hydroponically or radically amend the soil for farming. Recycling would
become crucial since resupply from Earth would take at least two years.
10. What is the atmosphere of a gas giant like? Their atmospheres are very cold and deep. The outermost
atmosphere is thin and extremely cold, but as it goes to the core, it gets denser and warmer. Jupiter and
Saturn are mostly hydrogen gas. Jupiter has clouds of frozen ammonia. Uranus and Neptune also contain
hydrogen with the addition of helium, methane, ammonia, and water. Neptune has clouds of methane
crystals which give it its characteristic blue color.
11. Compare and contrast comets and asteroids. Both orbit the sun. Comets are basically dirty snowballs
(ice, dust, few rocks) with outgassing which creates their reflective tails. Asteroids are very dense and most
contain iron.
12. What is a falling star? Falling stars are meteors which glow because of the friction they have with our
atmosphere.
13. What is the difference between a meteor and a meteorite? A meteor is still in the atmosphere while a
meteorite has hit the surface of the Earth.
14. What is a satellite? What is a natural satellite? Any body that orbits a larger body is a satellite. Natural
satellites are not manmade. Our moon is an example of a natural satellite.
15. What holds objects together in space and enables planets to have atmospheres? Gravity
16. Why do Scientists express distance in the solar system in AUs? AU’s are astronomical units. Each one is
equal to 93,000,000 miles. The distances in the solar system are so vast that using AU’s is more convenient
and easier than using numbers with so many zeroes.
17. What separates the inner planets and the outer planets? The asteroid belt
18. What can Probes do? They can explore places that are hostile to human life. They send back data on the
physical characteristics of celestial bodies.
19. List a few Space Technology spinoffs that came from space exploration. Fire retardant materials, memory
foam, cordless tools like cordless drills, materials used in Invisiline braces, Teflon, etc.
20. What is the relationship between Earth and the Sun? The Earth revolves around the Sun.
21. Explain how a revolution is different from a rotation. A revolution requires two bodies, one orbits around
the other. A rotation requires only one body which spins around its own axis.
22. What causes the seasons? The Earth’s tilt on its axis and the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
23. What causes day and night? The Earth’s rotation on its axis.
24. Why are there different time zones? As the Earth turns, parts of it go into darkness while others become
exposed to the sun’s light. Different parts of the Earth receive the Sun’s light at different times.
25. What causes phases of the moon? Half of the moon is always illuminated by the Sun. We see more or
less of the illuminated side depending on the Moon’s position relative to the Earth.
26. What causes eclipses? One celestial body blocks the sunlight so that its shadow falls on the other
celestial body.
27. a. What is MOST responsible for causing tides? Moon
b. How many high tides are there in a day? 2 How many low tides are there in a day? 2
28. Explain spring tides and neap tides. Include the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon in your answer.