Science Quiz 2: The Sun's Family

Galileo discovered ______ of Jupiter's 67 satellites.

4

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Jovian planets

this planet is referred to as the "red" planet

Mars

planet closest to the sun

Mercury

this planet has a dense atmosphere of carbon dioxide

Venus

The numerous asteroids may have been _____.

a planet

these masses of rock orbit between Mars and Jupiter

asteroids

the Earth rotates on this

axis

these members of the solar system are made of ice and dust

comets

Comets have long, indefinite life spans. true/false

false

The rings of Saturn consist of particles of ________

ice

The force of gravity on Mercury is less than the Earth because:

its mass is less

In size, Jupiter is the ________ planet in the solar system.

largest

What is unique about Pluto's orbit around the sun?

most elliptical orbit and inclined more than other planets

The predicted location of Neptune was made possible because _____.

of a detailed study of Uranus

The direction of rotation of Venus is ________ to the direction of Earth's rotation.

opposite

a revolution around the sun

orbit

The two major components of the Earth's atmosphere are _____ and _____.

oxygen and nitrogen

The satellites of Uranus revolve around the planet in planes almost ______ to it's orbit.

perpendicular

these celestial bodies shine by reflected light

planets

The mass and gravity of the Earth are used as a _____ of comparison with other planets.

standard and measure

Most comets travel around the ______ in elongated _____ orbits.

sun and elliptical

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

terrestrial planets

It is not likely that any living organism could survive on the Martian surface because of _____.

ultraviolet radiation