Chapter 9 Solar System Test
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. The sun produces energy by
a. / attracting it with the force of gravity.b. / nuclear fission.
c. / burning fuels such as oil.
d. / nuclear fusion.
____ 2. In a heliocentric system, Earth revolves around
a. / Mars.b. / the stars.
c. / the moon.
d. / the sun.
____ 3. What do all of the inner planets have in common?
a. / They all have rings.b. / They all have abundant liquid water.
c. / They all have many moons.
d. / They all are small and have rocky surfaces.
____ 4. Aside from Earth, which inner planet once had liquid water on its surface?
a. / Mercuryb. / Europa
c. / Venus
d. / Mars
____ 5. The atmospheres of the gas giant planets cannot escape into space because
a. / the gases are too heavy.b. / the gases solidify at higher elevations.
c. / the planets have very strong gravitational pulls.
d. / although they are big, the planets have little mass.
____ 6. What do the first four outer planets have in common?
a. / They are much larger than Earth and are made mainly of hydrogen and helium.b. / They are about the same size as Earth and are made mainly of hydrogen and helium.
c. / They are much larger than Earth and are made mainly of iron.
d. / They are about the same size as Earth and are made mainly of iron.
____ 7. The fact that each planet’s orbit is an ellipse was discovered by
a. / Copernicus.b. / Galileo.
c. / Kepler.
d. / Brahe.
____ 8. What shape are the orbits of most comets?
a. / long, narrow ellipsesb. / circles
c. / nearly circular ellipses
d. / spherical
____ 9. The asteroid belt is located
a. / between Earth and Mars.b. / between Mars and Jupiter.
c. / between Jupiter and Saturn.
d. / between Saturn and Uranus.
____ 10. Meteoroids usually come from
a. / debris from other planets.b. / the solar wind.
c. / meteorites.
d. / comets or asteroids.
____ 11. When a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, it produces a streak of light called a(n)
a. / meteor.b. / asteroid.
c. / meteorite.
d. / comet.
____ 12. One of the conditions required for life on Earth is
a. / alternating day and night cycles.b. / extreme temperatures.
c. / polar ice caps.
d. / liquid water.
____ 13. Copernicus explained that
a. / the sun is at the center of the system of planets.b. / the sun and the planets revolve around Earth.
c. / the geocentric system is correct.
d. / there are only six planets.
____ 14. Venus and Earth are much alike in terms of
a. / their size and density.b. / their rates of rotation.
c. / their atmospheres.
d. / their direction of rotation.
____ 15. Saturn’s rings are made up mostly of
a. / nitrogen and helium.b. / ice and water vapor.
c. / volcanic dust particles.
d. / chunks of ice and rock.
____ 16. Uranus is different from most other planets because it
a. / is the farthest from the sun.b. / is mostly nitrogen and helium.
c. / rotates on its side.
d. / has the most moons.
____ 17. The solar system consists of the sun, several kinds of smaller objects such as comets and asteroids, and
a. / nine planets and their moons.b. / the star Proxima Centauri.
c. / six planets and their moons.
d. / more than 100 planets.
____ 18. What is distinctive about Jupiter?
a. / Its axis of rotation is tilted 90 degrees.b. / It is smaller and denser than the other outer planets.
c. / It is the planet with the most spectacular rings.
d. / It is the largest and most massive planet.
____ 19. Neptune is very similar in size and color to
a. / Jupiter.b. / Saturn.
c. / Uranus.
d. / Earth.
____ 20. Which is the smallest terrestrial planet?
a. / Marsb. / Mercury
c. / Venus
d. / Earth
Modified True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false. If false, change the identified word or phrase to make the statement true.
____ 21. Earth is thought to be at the center of the solar system in the geocentric model. ______
____ 22. The sun’s surface layer is the photosphere. ______
____ 23. The first four inner planets are gas giants. ______
____ 24. The gas giants are small, dense, and have rocky surfaces. ______
____ 25. The Great Red Spot is a huge storm on Saturn. ______
____ 26. Most comets are found in either the Oort cloud or the asteroid belt. ______
____ 27. A comet or asteroid can break up to form a chunk of rock called a meteoroid. ______
Completion
Complete each statement.
28. Most ancient astronomers thought that all celestial objects revolved around ______.
29. Nuclear fusion occurs in the ______, or center, of the sun.
30. The planets that are closer to the sun than Earth are Venus and ______.
31. A meteoroid that hits Earth’s surface is called a(n) ______.
32. The gas giants are composed mainly of ______and helium.
33. An Earth-centered model of the universe is called a(n) ______model.
34. Copernicus further developed the ______model.
35. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a(n) ______larger than Earth.
Short Answer
Use the diagram to answer each question.
36. Write the name of the planet that is labeled with each number.
1______/ 2______/ 3______/ 4______37. Which planet is closer to the sun, the one labeled 10 or the one labeled 11? Is it always closer to the sun?
38. What objects are found at 5? Why are they not considered to be planets?
39. What is object 7? Compare its size and orbit to those of the planets.
40. Name object 9 and explain why it appears different from the other gas giant planets.
41. What planet is labeled 6? How does its mass compare to those of the other planets?
Use the diagram to answer each question.
42. Identify area A. When is this area visible to the human eye?
43. Identify area B. Describe its appearance during a total solar eclipse.
44. Identify area C and define it.
45. Identify the objects in area D. Explain why they appear to be darker than surrounding parts of the sun.
46. Identify area E and define it.
47. Identify area F. Describe what happens in this area.