Middle School Earth and Space Science : Define planets, solar systems, and galaxies
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Middle School Earth and Space Science
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Which of the following images best represents a galaxy?
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #1 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Which of the following lists celestial bodies in order from smallest to largest?
planet, galaxy, solar system, star, universe
star, planet, solar system, galaxy, universe
planet, solar system, star, galaxy, universe
planet, star, solar system, galaxy, universe
planet, star, solar system, galaxy, universe
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #2 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Which of the following best defines the term "galaxy?"
a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes it glow
a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #3 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Which of the following terms is defined as, "a ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of is extremely hot and produces energy"?
a galaxy
a star
a gas planet
a nebula
a star
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #4 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Which of the following is the primary difference between a planet and a moon?
a planet rotates and a moon does not
none of these
all of these
planets are part of the solar system but moons are part of the asteroid belt
a planet revolves around a star and a moon revolves around a planet
a planet revolves around a star and a moon revolves around a planet
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #5 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Which of the following answer choices is a satellite that orbits a planet and reflects light from a star?
a star
an asteroid
a moon
another planet
a moon
The answer is "a moon" because moons revolve around planets.
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #6 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Where would a new star likely form?
in a nebula
in a pulsar
inside a blackhole
in a supernova
in a nebula
The answer is "in a nebula" because a nebula is a cloud of interstellar dust, hydrogen and helium, the components of star.
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #7 : Earth's Place In The Universe
Which of the following is the best description of the Milky Way Galaxy?
a type of nebula
a collection of planets that rotates around a single star
the portion of space filled with asteroids just past Jupiter
a spiral shaped cloud of billions of stars
a spiral shaped cloud of billions of stars
The answer is "a spiral shaped cloud of billions of stars."
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #8 : Earth's Place In The Universe
What characteristics are shared by the first four planets in our solar system?
They all have many moons.
They are solid and rocky.
They have similar length of day.
They are large and gaseous.
They are solid and rocky.
The answer is "They are solid and rocky."
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
Example Question #1 : Define Planets, Solar Systems, And Galaxies
Which of the following lists of objects contains only space objects that reflect light?
moons, planets, comets
moons, suns, comets
suns, moons, stars
suns, volcanic planets, asteroids
moons, planets, comets
The answer is "moons, planets, comets."
Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction
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