Earth's Place in the Universe

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Earth Science › Earth's Place in the Universe

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of the following statements is true?

only planets rotate and revolve

all galaxies rotate in the same direction

objects in the universe rotate and revolve at different speeds

all of these

none of these

Explanation

The answer is "objects in the universe rotate and revolve at different speeds."

Stars, planets, moons, and other objects in space orbit around each other due to gravity. This type of motion is called revolution. Many objects in space also spin in place. This motion is called rotation.

One Earth rotation is the length of an Earth day and is the reason we experience night and day. One Earth revolution around the sun is the length of a year. Other planets have different lengths of days and years because they rotate and revolve at different speeds.

All planets in our solar system revolve around the sun in the same direction. Most of them (with the exception of uranus and venus) rotate in the same direction as well. About half of the galaxies in the universe rotate clockwise, and the other half rotate counter clockwise. Galaxies are also moving away from each other due to the expansion of the Universe brought on by the Big Bang.

2

Which of the following is the primary difference between a planet and a moon?

a planet revolves around a star and a moon revolves around a planet

a planet rotates and a moon does not

planets are part of the solar system but moons are part of the asteroid belt

all of these

none of these

Explanation

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

3

When examining galaxies outside our own, we notice that they are "red-shifted." This means that these galaxies are moving away from the observer. How does this observation support the Big Bang Theory?

It indicates that the universe is expanding.

It means the Earth is the center of the universe.

It shows that the Earth is spinning.

It suggests our galaxy was the first one to form.

Explanation

The answer is "It indicates that the universe is expanding."

Stars, planets, moons, and other objects in space orbit around each other due to gravity. This type of motion is called revolution. Many objects in space also spin in place. This motion is called rotation.

One Earth rotation is the length of an Earth day and is the reason we experience night and day. One Earth revolution around the sun is the length of a year. Other planets have different lengths of days and years because they rotate and revolve at different speeds.

All planets in our solar system revolve around the sun in the same direction. Most of them (with the exception of uranus and venus) rotate in the same direction as well.About half of the galaxies in the universe rotate clockwise, and the other half rotate counter clockwise. Galaxies are also moving away from each other due to the expansion of the Universe brought on by the Big Bang.

4

Which of the following space objects is the largest in size?

Jupiter

The Sun

The Milky Way

an asteroid

Explanation

The answer is "The Milky Way." Distances in the universe are so vast that they can be difficult to comprehend. We measure distances in space using light years. A light year is about 6 trillion miles, the distance light travels in one Earth year.

We live on Earth, a planet in a solar system that orbits our sun. Our solar system is only part of a much larger system of many billions of stars called the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way is shaped like a disk with concentrations of brighter stars and clouds of gas shaped like a whirlpool. The Milky Way is only one galaxy of many billions of galaxies in the universe.

In order from smallest to largest, some important terms to remember are: planets and stars, solar systems, galaxies, the universe. Each term is a component of the next. (Aside from planets and stars which are both different components of solar systems.)

5

Which of the following space objects is the largest in size?

Jupiter

The Sun

The Milky Way

an asteroid

Explanation

The answer is "The Milky Way." Distances in the universe are so vast that they can be difficult to comprehend. We measure distances in space using light years. A light year is about 6 trillion miles, the distance light travels in one Earth year.

We live on Earth, a planet in a solar system that orbits our sun. Our solar system is only part of a much larger system of many billions of stars called the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way is shaped like a disk with concentrations of brighter stars and clouds of gas shaped like a whirlpool. The Milky Way is only one galaxy of many billions of galaxies in the universe.

In order from smallest to largest, some important terms to remember are: planets and stars, solar systems, galaxies, the universe. Each term is a component of the next. (Aside from planets and stars which are both different components of solar systems.)

6

Which of the following answer choices is a satellite that orbits a planet and reflects light from a star?

a moon

another planet

a star

an asteroid

Explanation

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

7

When examining galaxies outside our own, we notice that they are "red-shifted." This means that these galaxies are moving away from the observer. How does this observation support the Big Bang Theory?

It indicates that the universe is expanding.

It means the Earth is the center of the universe.

It shows that the Earth is spinning.

It suggests our galaxy was the first one to form.

Explanation

The answer is "It indicates that the universe is expanding."

Stars, planets, moons, and other objects in space orbit around each other due to gravity. This type of motion is called revolution. Many objects in space also spin in place. This motion is called rotation.

One Earth rotation is the length of an Earth day and is the reason we experience night and day. One Earth revolution around the sun is the length of a year. Other planets have different lengths of days and years because they rotate and revolve at different speeds.

All planets in our solar system revolve around the sun in the same direction. Most of them (with the exception of uranus and venus) rotate in the same direction as well.About half of the galaxies in the universe rotate clockwise, and the other half rotate counter clockwise. Galaxies are also moving away from each other due to the expansion of the Universe brought on by the Big Bang.

8

Which of the following statements is true?

only planets rotate and revolve

all galaxies rotate in the same direction

objects in the universe rotate and revolve at different speeds

all of these

none of these

Explanation

The answer is "objects in the universe rotate and revolve at different speeds."

Stars, planets, moons, and other objects in space orbit around each other due to gravity. This type of motion is called revolution. Many objects in space also spin in place. This motion is called rotation.

One Earth rotation is the length of an Earth day and is the reason we experience night and day. One Earth revolution around the sun is the length of a year. Other planets have different lengths of days and years because they rotate and revolve at different speeds.

All planets in our solar system revolve around the sun in the same direction. Most of them (with the exception of uranus and venus) rotate in the same direction as well. About half of the galaxies in the universe rotate clockwise, and the other half rotate counter clockwise. Galaxies are also moving away from each other due to the expansion of the Universe brought on by the Big Bang.

9

Which of the following is the primary difference between a planet and a moon?

a planet revolves around a star and a moon revolves around a planet

a planet rotates and a moon does not

planets are part of the solar system but moons are part of the asteroid belt

all of these

none of these

Explanation

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

10

Which of the following answer choices is a satellite that orbits a planet and reflects light from a star?

a moon

another planet

a star

an asteroid

Explanation

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

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