Objective – Compare the size and distance of objects within systems in the universe.
Smallest to Largest
Using the information below, complete the worksheet identifying the smallest object to
the largest.
Galaxy – A large body, made up of billions of stars, gas, and dust and is held together
by gravity. Size – galaxies range from hundreds of thousands to millions of light
years in across.
Giant Stars – A giant star is an old star that has expanded to a diameter between one
and two billion miles in diameter.
Globular Cluster – A round group of hundreds of thousands to about a million stars,
also held together by gravity. Globular clusters seem to be made of very old stars.
They are between 60 and 300 light years in diameter.
Neutron Star - A neutron star is about 15-20 miles in diameter and has
the mass of about 1.4 times that of our Sun. This means that a neutron star is
so dense that on Earth, one teaspoonful would weigh a billion tons! They result from
massive stars which have mass greater than 4 to 8 times that of our Sun.
Quasar – Very bright centers of some distant galaxies, where some sort of energetic
action is occurring, most probably due to the presence of a supermassive black hole at
the center of that galaxy. It is about one light year in diameter.
Solar System – Planets and other small bodies around a central star or stars. The
planets are kept in place by gravity. Our Solar System is about eight billion miles
in diameter.
Star – A ball of hot gas held together by its own gravity. Gravity also causes stars to
undergo nuclear fusion within their interior. The energy release causes the star to
shine. Most stars are less than one billion miles in diameter.
Supergiant Stars – An older star that has expanded to a diameter over two billion
miles in diameter.
White Dwarf – What stars like the Sun become after they have used up their nuclear
fuel. A typical white dwarf is half as massive as the Sun, yet only slightly bigger than
Earth. A white dwarf is 200,000 times as dense as the original star. They are about
8,000 miles in diameter.
Objective – Compare the size and distance of objects within systems in the universe.
Name ____________________________________________________________
Smallest to Largest Worksheet
_____ 1. Galaxy
A. 1
_____ 2. Giant Stars
B. 2
_____ 3. Globular Cluster
C. 3
_____ 4. Neutron Star
D. 4
_____ 5. Quasar
E. 5
_____ 6. Solar System
F. 6
_____ 7. Star
G. 7
_____ 8. Supergiant Stars
H. 8
_____ 9. White Dwarfs
I. 9
_____ 10. Universe
J. 10
Objective – Compare the size and distance of objects within systems in the universe.
Smallest to Largest Worksheet – Key
I 1. Galaxy (10 choices)
D 2. Giant Stars (10 choices)
G 3. Globular Cluster (10 choices)
A 4. Neutron Star (10 choices)
H 5. Quasar (10 choices)
F 6. Solar System (10 choices)
C 7. Star (10 choices)
D 8. Supergiant Stars (10 choices)
B 9. White Dwarfs (10 choices)
J 10. Universe (10 choices)
Objective – Compare the size and distance of objects within systems in the universe.
Smallest to Largest Worksheet
Scoring Guide
9-10 – 4
8 – 3.5
7–3
6–2
5–1
1-4 – .5
0–0