Space Boot Camp
3.8D
Identify the planets in Earth’s solar system
and their position in relation to the Sun.
MS ?’s start on #30
2004 TAKS Information Booklet, #19
Planets That Can Be Seen Without a Telescope
1. Which planet has a year with a length closest to
the length of a year on Earth?
A Mercury
B Venus
C Mars
D Jupiter
2004 TAKS Information Booklet, #19
Planets That Can Be Seen Without a Telescope
1. Which planet has a year with a length closest to
the length of a year on Earth?
A Mercury
B Venus
C Mars
D Jupiter
TAKS 2003—#13 (51%)
2. Which two planets are closest to Earth?
A Mercury and Saturn
B Mars and Jupiter
C Mercury and Venus
D Venus and Mars
TAKS 2003—#13 (51%)
2. Which two planets are closest to Earth?
A Mercury and Saturn
B Mars and Jupiter
C Mercury and Venus
D Venus and Mars
TAKS 2003—#26 (61%)
3. Which of these best represents Mars?
F
G
H
J
Q
R
S
T
TAKS 2003—#26 (61%)
3. Which of these best represents Mars?
F
G
H
J
Q
R
S
T
4. The sun and the planets orbiting it
make up a—
A
B
C
D
galaxy
system
planet
unit
4. The sun and the planets orbiting it
make up a—
A
B
C
D
galaxy
system
planet
unit
5. A student memorizes the names of the
planets and their position related to the sun.
He remembers that the fifth planet from the
sun is –
A
B
C
D
Earth
Mercury
Jupiter
Saturn
5. A student memorizes the names of the
planets and their position related to the sun.
He remembers that the fifth planet from the
sun is –
A
B
C
D
Earth
Mercury
Jupiter
Saturn
6. Which is not a planet in our solar system?
A
B
C
D
Uranus
Neptune
Saturn
Venice
6. Which is not a planet in our solar system?
A
B
C
D
Uranus
Neptune
Saturn
Venice
7. What planet comes between the planets
Saturn and Neptune?
A
B
C
D
Pluto
Uranus
Jupiter
Venus
7. What planet comes between the planets
Saturn and Neptune?
A
B
C
D
Pluto
Uranus
Jupiter
Venus
8. The Earth comes between what two
planets?
A
B
C
D
Neptune and Pluto
Saturn and Uranus
Jupiter and Saturn
Venus and Mars
8. The Earth comes between what two
planets?
A
B
C
D
Neptune and Pluto
Saturn and Uranus
Jupiter and Saturn
Venus and Mars
9. Which of the following planets has the
shortest year?
A
B
C
D
Mercury
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
9. Which of the following planets has the
shortest year?
A
B
C
D
Mercury
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
**Because it’s closest to the sun**
10. Which planet comes between Mars and
Saturn?
A
B
C
D
Earth
Jupiter
Neptune
Mercury
10. Which planet comes between Mars and
Saturn?
A
B
C
D
Earth
Jupiter
Neptune
Mercury
11. Which statement best explains why the moon
appears much larger than Jupiter in the night sky?
A
B
C
D
The moon emits more light than Jupiter.
The moon has a larger gravitational pull than
Jupiter.
Jupiter is farther away from Earth than the
moon.
Jupiter is moving much faster through space
than the moon.
11. Which statement best explains why the moon
appears much larger than Jupiter in the night sky?
A
B
C
D
The moon emits more light than Jupiter.
The moon has a larger gravitational pull than
Jupiter.
Jupiter is farther away from Earth than the
moon.
Jupiter is moving much faster through space
than the moon.
12. Which of the following is the correct
order of the inner planets, from innermost to
outermost?
A
B
C
D
Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Saturn
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Mercury, Mars, Earth, Venus
Mars, Earth, Venus, Jupiter
12. Which of the following is the correct
order of the inner planets, from innermost to
outermost?
A
B
C
D
Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Saturn
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Mercury, Mars, Earth, Venus
Mars, Earth, Venus, Jupiter
13. What object is found in the center of our
solar system?
A
B
C
D
Jupiter
Pluto
The moon
The sun
13. What object is found in the center of our
solar system?
A
B
C
D
Jupiter
Pluto
The moon
The sun
14. The sun is at the center of our solar
system. Which of the following is another
word for our sun?
A
B
C
D
Star
Planet
Galaxy
Meteorite
14. The sun is at the center of our solar
system. Which of the following is another
word for our sun?
A
B
C
D
Star
Planet
Galaxy
Meteorite
15. The sun is at the center of our solar
system, and all the planets orbit it. Why do
the planets orbit the sun?
A
B
C
D
The sun’s magnetic energy attracts all of
the planets.
The sun is the only object in the sky.
The sun has the most mass and the most
gravitational pull.
The sun is more dense, so it is the only
object in the sky with gravity.
15. The sun is at the center of our solar
system, and all the planets orbit it. Why do
the planets orbit the sun?
A
B
C
D
The sun’s magnetic energy attracts all of
the planets.
The sun is the only object in the sky.
The sun has the most mass and the most
gravitational pull.
The sun is more dense, so it is the only
object in the sky with gravity.
16. Which of the following planets is closest
to the sun?
A
B
C
D
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Pluto
16. Which of the following planets is closest
to the sun?
A
B
C
D
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Pluto
17. Which of the following planets is farthest
from the sun?
A
B
C
D
Saturn
Jupiter
Mars
Earth
17. Which of the following planets is farthest
from the sun?
A
B
C
D
Saturn
Jupiter
Mars
Earth
18. What is the curved path that a planet
follows as it revolves around the sun called?
A
B
C
D
Phase
Orbit
Satellite
Eclipse
18. What is the curved path that a planet
follows as it revolves around the sun called?
A
B
C
D
Phase
Orbit
Satellite
Eclipse
19. Which of the following is the correct
order of the outer planets, from innermost to
outermost?
A
B
C
D
Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Saturn
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
19. Which of the following is the correct
order of the outer planets, from innermost to
outermost?
A
B
C
D
Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Saturn
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
20. Why is the sun the only star that we usually see
during the daytime?
A
B
C
D
The other stars do not shine in the daytime.
The other stars are cooler during the daytime.
The sun is brighter because it is closer than the
other stars.
The Earth’s atmosphere makes it impossible to
see the other stars.
20. Why is the sun the only star that we usually see
during the daytime?
A
B
C
D
The other stars do not shine in the daytime.
The other stars are cooler during the daytime.
The sun is brighter because it is closer than the
other stars.
The Earth’s atmosphere makes it impossible to
see the other stars.
21. Which of the following lists objects from
largest to smallest?
A
B
C
D
Moon, star, Earth
Planet, sun, moon
Sun, planet, moon
Earth, moon, sun
21. Which of the following lists objects from
largest to smallest?
A
B
C
D
Moon, star, Earth
Planet, sun, moon
Sun, planet, moon
Earth, moon, sun
22. In the diagram below, the letter A
represents Mercury and the letter C
represents Earth. Which planet is
represented by the letter B?
A
B
C
22. In the diagram below, the letter A
represents Mercury and the letter C
represents Earth. Which planet is
represented by the letter B?
A
B
Venus
C
23. In the diagram below, the letter A
represents Saturn and the letter C represents
Neptune. Which planet is represented by the
letter B?
A
B
C
23. In the diagram below, the letter A
represents Saturn and the letter C represents
Neptune. Which planet is represented by the
letter B?
A
B
Uranus
C
24. In the diagram below, the letter A
represents Earth and the letter C represents
Jupiter. Which planet is represented by the
letter B?
A
B
C
24. In the diagram below, the letter A
represents Earth and the letter C represents
Jupiter. Which planet is represented by the
letter B?
A
B
Mars
C
25. Which of the following shows the list of planets
in our solar system in the correct order starting from
the Sun?
A
B
C
D
Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune
Venus, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter,
Saturn, Neptune
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune
Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth,
Venus, Mercury
25. Which of the following shows the list of planets
in our solar system in the correct order starting from
the Sun?
A
B
C
D
Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune
Venus, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter,
Saturn, Neptune
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune
Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth,
Venus, Mercury
26. What determines the length of a planet’s
year?
A
B
C
D
How large the planet is
The number of days in its year
The time it takes to rotate on its axis
The time it takes to revolve around the
sun
26. What determines the length of a planet’s
year?
A
B
C
D
How large the planet is
The number of days in its year
The time it takes to rotate on its axis
The time it takes to revolve around the
sun
27. A student is building a model of the solar
system. Which planet should be placed on
peg 6?
F
G
H
J
Saturn
Jupiter
Earth
Mars
27. A student is building a model of the solar
system. Which planet should be placed on
peg 6?
F
G
H
J
Saturn
Jupiter
Earth
Mars
28. What is the closest star to Earth?
A
B
C
D
the Moon
North Star
Saturn
the Sun
28. What is the closest star to Earth?
A
B
C
D
the Moon
North Star
Saturn
the Sun
A Diagram of the Inner Planets
29. Which number in the diagram represents
the planet Earth?
A
B
C
D
1
2
3
4
A Diagram of the Inner Planets
29. Which number in the diagram represents
the planet Earth?
A
B
C
D
1
2
3
4
Start of MS ?’s
30. Students researched the Internet to learn who
discovered the planets. To their amazement,
only 3 of the 8 planets had “official” discoverers
because all the other planets are easily seen
with the unaided human eye. For the discovery
of the 3 planets, it required a good –
A.
B.
C.
D.
Camera
Microscope
Pair of binoculars
Telescope
30. Students researched the Internet to learn who
discovered the planets. To their amazement,
only 3 of the 8 planets had “official” discoverers
because all the other planets are easily seen
with the unaided human eye. For the discovery
of the 3 planets, it required a good –
A.
B.
C.
D.
Camera
Microscope
Pair of binoculars
Telescope **since you can’t easily see it with an
unaided eye**
31. Which force is responsible for the orbiting
motion of the planets around the sun?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Magnetism
Friction
Motion
Gravity
31. Which force is responsible for the orbiting
motion of the planets around the sun?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Magnetism
Friction
Motion
Gravity
32. Students decide to construct a table to display the
information collected from their research on the sun and
the eight planets. What types of data would be most
helpful in displaying the relationship between the
planets and the sun?
A. Planet name, distance from the sun, and period of
revolution
B. Planet name, distance from the sun, and period of
rotation
C. Planet name, distance from the sun, and number of
moons
D. Planet name, distance from the sun, and year of discovery
32. Students decide to construct a table to display the
information collected from their research on the sun and
the eight planets. What types of data would be most
helpful in displaying the relationship between the
planets and the sun?
A. Planet name, distance from the sun, and period of
revolution
B. Planet name, distance from the sun, and period of
rotation
C. Planet name, distance from the sun, and number of
moons
D. Planet name, distance from the sun, and year of discovery
33. Which of the following accurately
compares the positions of Jupiter and
Earth from the sun?
A. Earth is positioned closer to the sun and
Jupiter.
B. Jupiter is positioned closer to the sun than
Earth
C. Jupiter’s orbit is shorter than Earth’s orbit
around the sun.
D. Earth’s orbit is longer than Jupiter’s orbit
around the sun.
33. Which of the following accurately
compares the positions of Jupiter and
Earth from the sun?
A. Earth is positioned closer to the sun and
Jupiter.
B. Jupiter is positioned closer to the sun than
Earth
C. Jupiter’s orbit is shorter than Earth’s orbit
around the sun.
D. Earth’s orbit is longer than Jupiter’s orbit
around the sun.
34.The following are identified as planets in
Earth’s solar system EXCEPT –
A.
B.
C.
D.
Mercury
Venus
Sun
Saturn
34.The following are identified as planets in
Earth’s solar system EXCEPT –
A.
B.
C.
D.
Mercury
Venus
Sun
Saturn
35. Below is a linear model of the solar
system:
Which planet is identified as the 5th planet
from the sun?
A. Mars
B. Jupiter
C. Saturn
D. Uranus
35. Below is a linear model of the solar
system:
Which planet is identified as the 5th planet
from the sun?
A. Mars
B. Jupiter
C. Saturn
D. Uranus
36. The diagram shows the inner planets and the sun.
Which statement best describes the relationship between the
planets and the sun?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The planets rotate around the sun in the same direction.
The planets revolve around the sun in the same direction
The sun supplies the same amount of heat to all the planets.
The sun’s gravity provides gravity to all the planets.
36. The diagram shows the inner planets and the sun.
Which statement best describes the relationship between the
planets and the sun?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The planets rotate around the sun in the same direction.
The planets revolve around the sun in the same direction
The sun supplies the same amount of heat to all the planets.
The sun’s gravity provides gravity to all the planets.
37. Many students have misconceptions about our
solar system. Some students incorrectly believe
Earth is the center of our solar system. Others
believe the objects in the solar system are close
together, when actually the solar system is so
large that models are constructed to study it. All
of the following are reasons why scientists use
models EXCEPT –
A.
B.
C.
D.
To see an example
To visit the planets
To make predictions
To visualize their ideas
37. Many students have misconceptions about our
solar system. Some students incorrectly believe
Earth is the center of our solar system. Others
believe the objects in the solar system are close
together, when actually the solar system is so
large that models are constructed to study it. All
of the following are reasons why scientists use
models EXCEPT –
A.
B.
C.
D.
To see an example
To visit the planets
To make predictions
To visualize their ideas
38. This picture shows the sun and the eight planets.
What would be beneficial for students to change
about this picture to increase their knowledge of
the solar system?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Position planets in a different order
Make all the planets the same size
Identify each planet and the sun
Show the other stars in the solar system
38. This picture shows the sun and the eight planets.
What would be beneficial for students to change
about this picture to increase their knowledge of
the solar system?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Position planets in a different order
Make all the planets the same size
Identify each planet and the sun
Show the other stars in the solar system
39. Which planet shown in the picture above is the
most massive?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Jupiter
Earth
Saturn
Venus
39. Which planet shown in the picture above is the
most massive?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Jupiter
Earth
Saturn
Venus
40. What is one advantage of constructing a model like the
one in the above picture?
A. To test the effects of the sun’s gravity on each planet
B. To identify and compare the order of the planets in the
solar system
C. To show the distance of each planet from other stars
D. To form a hypothesis of how long it takes each planet to
spin on its axis
40. What is one advantage of constructing a model like the
one in the above picture?
A. To test the effects of the sun’s gravity on each planet
B. To identify and compare the order of the planets in the
solar system
C. To show the distance of each planet from other stars
D. To form a hypothesis of how long it takes each planet to
spin on its axis
41. Which of the following is a question that can be
answered by using the model constructed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
How long does it take the moon to orbit Earth?
Which planet is closets to the sun?
How far away is Earth from the sun?
How long would it take a spacecraft to get to Neptune?
41. Which of the following is a question that can be
answered by using the model constructed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
How long does it take the moon to orbit Earth?
Which planet is closets to the sun?
How far away is Earth from the sun?
How long would it take a spacecraft to get to Neptune?
42. Students researched the planets in Earth’s solar system
and shared their findings with the class. Which of the
following is NOT a valid reason for students to share
their findings or conclusions?
A. Sharing findings provides an opportunity to expand the
knowledge of their classmates.
B. Sharing conclusions provides students opportunities to
ask questions and examine evidence.
C. Sharing findings provides students the opportunity to
criticize other students.
D. Sharing conclusions provides students the opportunity to
compare their own findings with the findings of others.
42. Students researched the planets in Earth’s solar system
and shared their findings with the class. Which of the
following is NOT a valid reason for students to share
their findings or conclusions?
A. Sharing findings provides an opportunity to expand the
knowledge of their classmates.
B. Sharing conclusions provides students opportunities to
ask questions and examine evidence.
C. Sharing findings provides students the opportunity to
criticize other students.
D. Sharing conclusions provides students the opportunity to
compare their own findings with the findings of others.