Focus On Physical Science: California Grade 8

Chapter 11: Our Solar System

Standard Assessment

1.
One astronomical unit is approximately equal to __________. 4.c
A)75 million km
B)the distance from Earth to the Sun
C)the distance from Pluto to the sun
D)250 million km
2.
What is a meteorite? 4.e
A)a dust ball that strikes Earth
B)a comet that strikes Earth
C)a meteoroid that strikes Earth
D)an asteroid that strikes Earth
3.
The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is __________. 4.e
A)an ocean of liquid hydrogen
B)a volcano
C)a mountain range
D)a tremendous storm
4.
A(n) _____ is composed of dust and rock particles mixed with frozen water, methane, and ammonia. 4.e
A)meteorite
B)asteroid
C)meteoroid
D)comet
5.
Why do planets closer to the Sun orbit the Sun faster than planets farther away do? 2.g
A)because of the Sun's gravity
B)because of their size
C)because of each planet's individual gravitational pull
D)because of the way the planets are lined up with each other in space
6.
Water is found on which inner planets? 4.e
A)Earth and Venus
B)Earth and Mars
C)Mars and Venus
D)Earth and Mercury
7.
What causes a solar eclipse? 4.d
A)the Sun's shadow on Earth
B)Earth's shadow on the Sun
C)the Moon's shadow on Earth
D)Earth's shadow on the Moon
8.
How many planets are in our solar system? 2.g
A)unknown
B)eight
C)ten
D)nine
9.
What causes moonlight? 4.d
A)reflected light from Earth
B)fusion in the Moon
C)reflected light from the Sun
D)nuclear reactions on the Moon's surface
10.
The inner planets are composed mainly of __________. 4.e
A)gases
B)rocks
C)water
D)methane
11.
What happened to the dust and gas that did not contribute to forming the Sun? 2.g
A)It created other stars.
B)It was lost forever.
C)It created the planets.
D)It was all burned up by the Sun.
12.
What separates inner and outer planets? 4.e
A)Saturn's rings
B)Jupiter
C)Mercury
D)the asteroid belt
13.
What is the difference between meteors and comets? 4.e
A)Most comets are found outside the solar system, and meteors are found within.
B)Meteors can burn up as they enter a planet's atmosphere and comets rarely enter a planet's atmosphere.
C)Comets are made of frozen ice and rock and meteors are made of rock.
D)all of the above
14.
Which is the only outer planet that is not a gas giant? 4.e
A)Saturn
B)Neptune
C)Pluto
D)Jupiter
15.
One orbit of Earth around the Sun is called a(n) __________. 4.e
A)orbit
B)rotation
C)spin
D)revolution
16.
How large are meteorites? 4.e
A)They can be as small as a pebble as large as several tons
B)smaller than pebbles
C)several miles in diameter
D)1 AU wide
17.
Which is the order during a lunar eclipse? 4.d
A)Earth, Sun, Moon
B)Sun, Moon, Earth
C)Earth, Moon, Sun
D)Sun, Earth, Moon
18.
Where might the Moon have come from? 4.d
A)from the orbit of another planet
B)the asteroid belt
C)material ejected from the sun
D)material ejected from Earth's mantle and crust
19.
The Sun appears to rise and set because of __________. 4.d
A)the orbit of the Moon
B)the orbit around the Sun
C)the rotation of Earth
D)the shape of the Sun
20.
What causes the change in seasons? 4.d
A)the orbit of the Moon around the Sun
B)the tilt of Earth's axis
C)the position of the Moon
D)the distance from the Earth to the Sun
Grade 8
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