Quiz 1: Size and Scale of the Solar System RETAKE
Please mark the correct answer on the scantron provided.
NOTE: THERE IS A DATA TABLE ON PAGE 3.
1. An astronomical unit is
a. The average speed of the earth around the Sun.
b. The length of time it takes the earth to revolve around the Sun
c. The diameter of the earth to the Sun
d. Any basic unit used in astronomy
e. The average distance from the center of the earth to the center of the Sun
2. Mars is approximately
a. 3 times larger than the Moon and 1/3 the size of the Earth
b. 5 times larger than the Moon and ¼ the size of the Earth
c. 2 times smaller than the Moon and 4 times smaller than the Earth
d. 2 times larger than the Moon and ½ the size of the Earth
e. 3 times smaller than the Moon and 2 times larger than the Earth
3. The Sun contains approximately what percent of the mass in the solar system?
a. 89.99%
b. 99.98%
c. 9.98%
d. 2%
e. .02%
4. The inner planets, in order of increasing planetary radius, are
a. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
b. Mars, Mercury, Venus, Earth
c. Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth
d. Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars
e. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
5. Sam is creating a scale model of the Solar System. His Earth is 2 centimeters. How large
will the Sun be?
a. 220 centimeters
b. 2 meters
c. 110 centimeters
d. 440 centimeters
e. .02 centimeters
Planetary Science
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Quiz 1: Size and Scale of the Solar System RETAKE
6. Based on the Pocket Solar System model created in class, the inner ¼ of the solar system
contains which planets?
a. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars, Pluto
b. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Kuiper Belt
c. All 8 planets, but no dwarf planets
d. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
e. It does not contain planets (due to the high temperature of the Sun)
7. Most of the asteroids of our solar system move around the Sun between the orbits of
which planets?
a. Jupiter and Saturn
b. Venus and Earth
c. Earth and Mars
d. Mars and Jupiter
e. Saturn and Uranus
8. The planet closest in diameter to Earth is
a. Mars
b. Mercury
c. Venus
d. The Moon
e. Pluto
9. If the Earth were the size of a 6 inch ball, about what distance would represent the
distance to the Moon?
a. 600 inches
b. 6 inches
c. 60 inches
d. 600 inches
e. 180 inches
10. The Kuiper Belt is
a. A donut shaped region around the sun beyond Mars’s orbit that consists of many
asteroids
b. A donut shaped region around the sun beyond Neptune’s orbit that consists of
many comets.
c. A spherical region around the sun near the outer boundary of the solar system
that consists of many comets.
Planetary Science
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Quiz 1: Size and Scale of the Solar System RETAKE
Diameter
(km)
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Moon
Mars
Jupiter
Europa
1,390,000
4,880
12,103
12,756
3,476
6,794
142,984
3,131
Io
3,630
Ganymede
5,262
Callisto
4,800
Distance From the Sun
(km)
57,910,000
108,200,000
149,600,000
227,940,000
778,330,000
Use the data table above to complete questions 11 – 13
YOU MUST SHOW ALL CALCULATIONS FOR COMPLETE CREDIT
11. How many of Jupiter’s moon Ganymede could fit across the diameter of Jupiter?
12. You are creating a scale model of the gas giant planet Jupiter and its very geologically
active moon Io. You have chosen Jupiter to be 50 centimeters in diameter. Calculate the
scale diameter of Io.
13. Calculate how many times larger Callisto is than our Moon?
Planetary Science
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Quiz 1: Size and Scale of the Solar System RETAKE
Use the circle below to draw and label the diagram of the Solar System. Include the
following: Sun, Asteroid belt, Kuiper belt, Oort Cloud, Mars’ orbit and Jupiter’s orbit.
Planetary Science
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