Planetary Science Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the name given to the change in the appearance of the Moon as it orbits the Earth?

Phases of the Moon (correct)

Solar eclipse

Lunar eclipse

Lunar cycle

Which of the following is NOT a phase of the Moon?

Full moon

Lunar eclipse (correct)

Waxing gibbous

Waning crescent

What is the name of the phase when the Moon is completely illuminated by the Sun?

Last quarter

New moon

Full moon (correct)

First quarter

What are meteors?

Bits of dust and rock that move through the sky (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a meteorite?

Any meteor that lands on Earth (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a planet in our solar system?

Uranus (D) Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for the Earth to complete one full orbit around the Sun?

365 ¼ days (B) Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for the Moon to complete one full orbit around the Earth?

27 days 7 hours (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a full moon and a new moon?

A full moon is when the moon is completely illuminated by the sun, while a new moon is when the moon is not illuminated at all. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which diagram represents a solar eclipse?

Sun Earth Moon <pre><code> eclipse (A) </code></pre> Signup and view all the answers

How does the diagram of the sun's path through the sky change during the winter compared to the summer?

The path of the sun would be lower in the sky and shorter during winter. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of satellites orbiting the Earth?

Both A and B. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between a natural and an artificial satellite?

Natural satellites are formed by natural processes, while artificial satellites are designed and launched by humans. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between waxing and waning phases of the moon?

Waxing refers to the period when the visible illuminated portion of the moon is increasing, while waning refers to the period when it is decreasing. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the difference between a comet and a meteor?

Comets are made of ice and dust, while meteors are made of rock. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the first quarter and the third quarter moon phases?

The first quarter moon is illuminated on the right side, while the third quarter moon is illuminated on the left side. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which sequence correctly lists the planets of our Solar System in order from the Sun outwards?

Mercury - Venus - Earth - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a difference between the inner and outer planets in our Solar System?

Inner planets are more distant from the Sun, while outer planets are closer to the Sun. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What causes day and night on Earth?

Earth's rotation around its axis. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines a year?

The time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of seasonal changes on Earth?

The tilt of Earth's axis. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes a lunar eclipse?

The Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following planets has the shortest orbital period around the Sun?

Mercury (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the information provided, what is a natural satellite?

A large object orbiting a planet (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between a meteor, a meteorite, and a comet?

Comets are large, icy objects that orbit the Sun. When they pass close to the Sun, they shed dust and ice particles, which become meteors. Meteorites are pieces of a comet that have fallen to Earth. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why do seasons occur on Earth?

The Earth's rotation axis is tilted, meaning the northern and southern hemispheres receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

The time it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis is called a year. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which planet takes the longest to complete an orbit around the Sun?

Neptune (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content provided, which of the following is an example of an artificial satellite?

The International Space Station (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the average surface temperature of planets in our solar system?

The average surface temperature of a planet is influenced by its atmosphere and its distance from the Sun. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Planetary Information

Planets in order from the sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Mars: Orbit time - 687 Earth days; surface temperature -82°C to 0°C; distance from sun - 228 million km
Jupiter: Orbit time - 12 Earth years; surface temperature -150°C; distance from sun - 778 million km
Saturn: Orbit time - 29 Earth years; surface temperature -170°C; distance from sun - 1427 million km

Planetary Temperatures and Distance

Surface temperature of planets is related to their distance from the sun
The farther a planet is from the sun, the colder its average surface temperature is likely to be
Uranus is approximately 2870 million km from the sun; Estimate its surface temperature

Planetary Orbits

Jupiter takes longer to orbit the Sun than Mars due to greater distance from the Sun and slower speed
Two reasons Jupiter takes longer:
- Further distance from the sun leads to a longer orbital path
- Gravitational effects from other planets

Meteors, Meteorites, and Comets

Meteor - bits of dust or rock moving through space
Meteorite - a meteor that lands on Earth
Comet - a huge snowball of ice and dust orbiting the sun

Student Descriptions (Corrected)

Student A describes a comet
Student B describes a meteorite
Student C describes a meteor

Lunar Eclipse

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon
Earth's shadow blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon, causing it to appear dark

International Space Station (ISS)

The ISS is an example of an artificial satellite

Moon Phases

The Moon goes through phases as it orbits the Earth
The phases are: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent

Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth, blocking sunlight from reaching the Earth

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Description

Test your knowledge on the planets of our solar system, their distances from the sun, surface temperatures, and orbital periods. This quiz covers key facts about Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.