Solar System Formation and Characteristics

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How long ago did our solar system form?

5.2 billion years ago

6.0 billion years ago

3.9 billion years ago

4.6 billion years ago (correct)

What caused the Earth to be bombarded by asteroids, meteors, and comets?

The gravitational pull of the Sun

The formation of the Earth's core

The presence of the Moon

The early formation of our solar system (correct)

When did the bombardments of asteroids, meteors, and comets end?

4.6 billion years ago

3.9 billion years ago (correct)

4.1 billion years ago

3.5 billion years ago

What significant event happened after the bombardments ended?

The emergence of life (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why did the bombardments of asteroids, meteors, and comets hinder the emergence of life?

They caused the Earth to be too unstable for life to form (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate diameter of the Earth?

12,700 km (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate diameter of the Heliosphere?

200 AU (A) Signup and view all the answers

How long would it take to travel around the Earth in a car at 100 km/hr?

17 days (B) Signup and view all the answers

How many light-years wide is the Solar Neighborhood?

40 light-years (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of Earth?

Rock (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the shape of the Earth?

Spherical (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a light-year approximately equal to?

10 trillion kilometers (A) Signup and view all the answers

How long would it take light to travel around the Earth?

0.13 seconds (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the average distance of Pluto from the Sun?

40 AU (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these objects are NOT found in the solar system?

Galaxies (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate diameter of the region described as the Solar Neighborhood?

40 light-years (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate distance light travels in one year?

10 trillion kilometers (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate distance of 1 AU?

150 million kilometers (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the largest elliptical galaxy in the Local Group?

None of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What do the stars in the image represent in terms of their size?

Their relative brightness (C) Signup and view all the answers

How many galaxies are estimated to comprise the Local Group?

60 (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific definition of "Solar Neighborhood"?

The term is vague and not scientifically defined (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Local Group?

It is a supercluster of galaxies. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a large spiral galaxy in the Local Group?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate diameter of the Local Group?

6,500,000 light-years (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Astronomical Unit (AU) primarily used for?

Measuring distances within the solar system (D) Signup and view all the answers

How far is one Astronomical Unit (AU) approximately in kilometers?

150,000,000 km (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Astronomical Unit considered the best unit for measuring certain distances?

It's based on the distance between Earth and the Sun (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Astronomical Unit?

It can vary significantly over time (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Astronomical Unit (AU) specifically measure?

The distance between Earth and the Sun (C) Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary gases that compose the Sun?

Hydrogen and helium (C) Signup and view all the answers

What process does the Sun use in its core to generate heat and light?

Nuclear fusion (C) Signup and view all the answers

What shape is the Sun?

Spherical (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the diameter of the Sun?

1.39 million kilometers (B) Signup and view all the answers

What forces does the Sun's nuclear fusion help to resist?

Gravitational forces (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate diameter of the Local Group of galaxies?

6.5 million light-years (A) Signup and view all the answers

How thick is the Milky Way Galaxy?

1,000 light-years (B) Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take the Sun to complete one orbit around the Milky Way's center?

250 million years (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the distance of the Sun from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy?

30,000 light-years (A) Signup and view all the answers

How many stars are estimated to be in the Milky Way Galaxy?

200 billion stars (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for using the light year as a unit of measurement in astronomy?

Most objects are located far away, making AU insufficient. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How far can light travel in one year, as measured in kilometers?

Around 9500 billion km. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the unit 'Astronomical Unit' primarily measure?

The distance from the Earth to the Sun. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following expresses distances between stars most appropriately?

Light years. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of astronomical distances makes the AU insufficient?

Most celestial objects are located very far away. (D) Signup and view all the answers