Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
Name ___________________________________________________________________
Size and Scale of the Universe Assessment
1. The Solar System is found in the…
a. Andromeda Nebula.
b. Coma Berenices supercluster.
c. Large Magellanic Cloud
d. Milky Way Galaxy.
2. What unit is used to measure distance in space?
a. Astronomical Unit (AU)
b. Light Year
c. Kilometers
d. Miles
3. Compared to the universe, how big is The Milky Way galaxy? The Milky Way is …
a. very, very tiny.
b. about 1/10 of the universe.
c. about 1/3 of the universe.
d. over ½ of the universe.
Matching. Order the following objects from the smallest to the largest.
_____ 4. Smallest
A. Earth
_____ 5.
B. Milky Way
_____ 6.
C. Solar System
_____ 7.
D. Sun
_____ 8. Largest
e. Universe
9. Which of the following statements about the Solar System is true?
a. The largest planets are closest to the Sun.
b. The outer planets are farther away from each other than the inner planets.
c. The inner planets are farther away from each other than the outer planets.
d. The smallest planets are made of dense gases.
1
Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
Use the graph to answer the next question.
Distance from Sun
(millions of miles)
Distance to the Sun
3,000 2,800
2,500
1,800
2,000
1,500
886
1,000
500
0
484
67
36
93
141
Planet
10. The chart shows each planet’s distance from the Sun. Based on what you have learned about
how far each planet is from the Sun, which planet is Saturn?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Explain why.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2
Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
Name ______________________________________________________________________
Size and Scale of the Universe Assessment – Short Answer
Why the Universe is All History (modified)
by David Powell, Special to SPACE.com (original article), 16 October 2007
In our everyday lives, light is so fast that we see our surroundings in real time. Look up into the
night sky and this begins to change.
"Because light takes time to get here from there ... we see all objects at some time in the past,"
explains Floyd Stecker of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Light-years
We see the Moon as it was 1.2 seconds ago. We see the Sun as it was about 8 minutes ago. These
measurements—1.2 light-seconds and 8 light-minutes—can be thought to describe both time and
distance.
The distance to objects such as stars is so great it is measured in light-years. A light year is the
distance light will travel in a year (6 trillion miles). Even the nearest star system, Proxima Centauri,
lies more than four light-years away. We see it as it was just over four years ago when the light
began its journey.
In this way, light's limited speed gives us a valuable view into the past. As we look deeper into the
universe we look further back in time.
"In the case of distant galaxies, we see them as they were billions of years ago when the universe
was relatively young," Stecker said.
Out of sight
Some galaxies are so distant their light hasn't had enough time to reach us. This is true even
though it has been traveling for about 13.7 billion years. There could also be more distant objects
that will forever remain unknown to us.
"Because the universe is expanding and the expansion appears to be [speeding up], there may be
distant galaxies that, because their light has not had time to reach us, we will never see," Stecker
said.
3
Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
We can never see the universe as it is. We see it only as it was at various stages of growth.
To see these distant parts of the universe—to see them as they are now—would require some way
to travel faster than light which. Einstein's special theory of relativity says it’s impossible to travel
faster than the speed of light.
2. We see the universe as it is today.
a. True
b. False
Defend your answer.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Some galaxies are so distant their light hasn't had enough time to reach us.
a. True
b. False
Defend your answer.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4
Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
___________________________________________________________________
Size and Scale of the Universe Assessment – Key
1. The Solar System is found in the…
a. Andromeda Nebula.
b. Coma Berenices supercluster.
c. Large Magellanic Cloud
d. Milky Way Galaxy.
d. Milky Way Galaxy
2. Why are distances in space often measured in light years?
a. The light year is a commonly used unit of measure.
b. Distances in space are so great that a large unit is needed.
c. Scientists always use metric units like light years.
d. Light years are easy to measure and understand.
b. Distances in space are so great that a large unit is needed.
3. Compared to our galaxy, how big is our Solar System? The Solar System is …
a. Very, very tiny.
b. about 1/10 of the galaxy.
c. about 1/3 of the galaxy.
d. Over ½ of the galaxy.
a. Very, very tiny.
(5 Choices)
A 4. Smallest
A. Earth
D 5.
B. Milky Way
C 6.
C. Solar System
B 7.
D. Sun
E 8. Largest
E. Universe
9. Which of the following statements about the Solar System is true?
a. The largest planets are closest to the Sun.
b. The outer planets are farther away from each other than the inner planets.
c. The inner planets are farther away from each other than the outer planets.
d. The smallest planets are made of dense gases.
5
Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
b. The outer planets are farther away from each other than the inner planets.
Use the graph to answer the next question.
Distance from Sun
(millions of miles)
Distance to the Sun
3,000 2,800
2,500
1,800
2,000
1,500
886
1,000
500
0
484
67
36
93
141
Planet
10. The chart shows each planet’s distance from the Sun. Based on what you have learned about
how far each planet is from the Sun, which planets is Saturn?
a. Planet 1
b. Planet 2
c. Planet 3
d. Planet 4
e. Planet 5
f. Planet 6
g. Planet 7
h. Planet 8
f. Planet 6
6
Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
Size and Scale of the Universe Assessment – Short Answer – Key
1. Complete the Venn diagram below, using the information from the table above.
Spiral
Irregular
Pinwheel Shape
Thin Disk
Rich in gas & dust
Young & old stars
present
No regular shape
May show signs of a
disk.
Held together by
gravity
Huge; contains
stars, gas, & dust
Has bulge
Halo present
Little cool gas & dust
No disk
Old stars present
Round to oval shape
Elliptical
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Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
2. We see the universe as it is today.
a. True
b. False
Defend your answer.
Sample response:
The distances in space are huge. They are so large, it takes time for the light to reach us.
This means we see the universe as it was in the past, not as it is today. For example, it
takes the Sun’s light eight minutes to reach
3. Some galaxies are so distant their light hasn't had enough time to reach us.
a. True
b. False
Defend your answer.
Sample response:
Some objects are so far away, their light hasn’t reached us. Because the expansion of the
universe is speeding up, we will never see the light from some distance object.
8
Objective – 4.1b-d Use scale models to show size & distance between objects in solar system, galaxy and universe.
Size and Scale of the Universe Assessment – Scoring Guide
9-10 – 3
7-8 – 2.5
6–2
5 – 1.5
4–1
1-3 – .5
0–0
One short answer correct – +.5
Two short answers correct – +1
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