SNC1P Textbook: Nelson Science Connections 9
NAME:_______________________
Unit D: Space Exploration
Definitions – As you read through the text (do not go straight to the glossary), record the definitions for the
following terms:
Absolute magnitude
Altitude
Apparent magnitude
Asterism
Asteroids
Astronomical unit (AU)
Aurora
Axis
Azimuth
Big Bang Theory
Celestial object
Circumpolar
Comet
Constellation
Craters
Dwarf planet
Equinoxes
Galaxies
Geocentric model
Gravitational force
Heliocentric model
Light year
Luminosity
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Luminous
Lunar cycle
Lunar eclipse
Meteor
Meteoroid
Natural satellite
Non-luminous
Nuclear reactions
Orbit
Phases of the Moon
Planet
Red shift
Revolve
Rotate
Solar eclipse
Solar flare
Solar system
Solar wind
Solstice
Star
Star cluster
Sunspot
Time zone
Universe
Waning
Waxing
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Stars (pg. 292)
1. Our sun is a __________________ sized star.
2. It is located __________________ million kilometers from earth.
3. Why does our sun appear to be larger than other stars?
Planets (pg.293)
4. Are planets luminous or non-luminous? (circle one)
5. Name the planets in our solar system. List them in order of their distance from the sun.
6. Fill in the table below:
Type of Planet
Terrestrial Planet
Gas Giants
Characteristics of this type of planet
Examples from our Solar System
Are these planets closer to the sun or further?
7. Which 5 planets are visible from Earth with the unaided eye?
Moons (pg. 294)
8. Are moons luminous or non-luminous? (circle one)
9. What do moons orbit? __________________
10. Fill in the table below:
Planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Jupiter
Saturn
Number of Moons
Galaxies (pg. 294)
11. What is the name of our galaxy? ____________________
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The Moon (pg. 301)
12. Describe the NASA experiments which lead scientists to conclude that the moon was mostly solid.
13. If the above experiments were performed on Earth, what results would you expect?
14. How are craters formed?
15. Does the moon have an atmosphere? Yes or No (circle one)
16. Surface temperatures on the moon range from ______________________________________.
Planets (pg. 305)
17. What are the characteristics that set Pluto apart from the rest of the planets?
18. List the names of the 5 dwarf planets.
Stars (pg.308)
19. The colour of stars depends on their temperature. Order the following colours from coldest to hottest:
blue, red, yellow, green, orange & violet.
Coldest __________ -__________ -__________ -__________ -__________ -__________ Hottest
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Sun (pg.312)
20. Describe the nuclear reactions taking place in the sun.
21. Atoms of which element provide the fuel for the suns nuclear reactions? __________________.
22. The suns core can reach temperatures of about ____________________________.
23. Draw a cross-sectional diagram of the sun. Label all the layers, zones, and events on the surface and
include a brief description under each label.
24. Every ________________, the sun releases enough _______________ to meet the needs of every
_______________ on _______________ for the next _______________ years.
25. The sun is the driving force behind Earth’s _____________ and _____________ and also provides the
energy needed for _____________ to exist on Earth.
26. How is the energy from the sun used here on Earth?
27. How fast does the solar wind travel? ____________________________.
28. What causes the northern and southern lights?
29. What is another name for the northern lights? ____________________________.
30. What is another name for the southern lights? ____________________________.
Galaxies (pg. 318)
31. Name the four basic types of galaxies: _________________________________________________.
32. Identify the galaxies below:
33. What type of galaxy is the Milky Way? ______________________________.
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34. The pictures represent two models of the solar system. Identify the geocentric and the heliocentric
model.
35. One astronomical unit (1AU) is equal to ________________________kilometers or, it is the average
distance between the _____________ and the _____________.
Other Objects in the Solar System (pg. 332)
36. Indicate the location of the asteroid belt below.
37. Label each of the planets & Pluto in the diagram above.
38. What is a “shooting star?”
39. Comets are also known as “dirty snowballs.” Explain why this is a fitting name.
40. The ______________ a planet is from the sun, the ______________ it moves along its orbit and the
______________ it takes to orbit the sun.
41. How long does it take Earth to revolve around the Sun once? ___________________________.
42. How long does it take Earth to rotate around its axis once? _____________________________.
43. What direction does Earth rotate? _________________________________________________.
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44. How many time zones does Canada have? __________________________________________.
45. What time zone do we live in? ____________________________________________________.
Seasons (pg. 337)
46. Summer in northern hemisphere means the north pole is tilted: a) toward the sun b) away from the sun
(circle one).
47. If the Earth was not tilted, would we still have seasons? Yes or No (circle one)
Star Patterns (pg. 340)
48. How many known constellations are there? ___________________________________.
49. Give one example of a circumpolar star:
_____________________________________.
a. What is another name for this star: ____________________________________.
50. Familiarizing yourself with some of the constellations in the northern hemisphere may benefit you in
what way?
The Lunar Cycle (pg. 349)
51. How long does it take the moon to revolve once around the Earth? ___________________________
52. How long does it take the moon to rotate once on its axis? __________________________________
Eclipses (pg. 351)
53. Identify each type of eclipse below:
_______________________
_______________________
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