Name:
____________________
Grade 6 Science – Space Unit Test
Section A – Matching (10)
Match the vocabulary words listed at the bottom with
the definitions below. ALL words will be used once.
Write the words on the line provided. Spelling
counts!!!
1. _____________________ The moon appears to get bigger
2. _____________________
the Earth spins
The imaginary line on which
3. ____________________
A measure of mass and gravity
4. ____________________
A famous constellation
5. _____________________
equal Day/Night
A day when Earth experiences
6. ______________________
The longest day of the year
7. _____________________
makes up an object
The amount of matter that
8. _____________________
smaller
The moon appears to get
9. _______________________ The winter Solstice
10. ______________________
another larger object
An object that orbits
Word Bank:
Mass
Orion
Solstice
Weight
Waxing
Summer
Satellite
Waning
st
December 21
Axis
Equinox
Section B – True or False (10)
a) For about 30 days in the winter the Arctic
Circle does not get any sunlight ________
b) Astrology is a legitimate science __________
c) Planets and moons are all held in place by
gravity __________
d) The moon is the Earth’s closest star
__________
e) The tilt of the Earth’s axis changes as the
Earth revolves around the sun _________
f) It takes exactly 365 days for Earth to revolve
around the Sun __________
g) The Earth rotates at a faster speed than it
revolves __________
h) We only see one side of the moon because it
rotates and revolves at the exact same speed
___________
i) The Sun is one of the largest stars ___________
j) You weigh more on Earth than on the moon
____________
Section C – Multiple Choice (12)
Circle the best possible answer.
1. What do most of the outer planets have in common?
a)
b)
c)
d)
They enjoy long walks on the beach, and
candle lit dinners
They have rocky surfaces
They are made up of gases
They have the same number of moons
2. Why doesn’t the moon have any weather (wind,
rain, clouds, etc.)?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Because
Because
Because
Because
it has no gravity
it has no atmosphere
it is too far from the Sun
its axis is not tilted far enough
3. During the winter, what kind of rays is Winnipeg
getting from the Sun?
a) Light rays
b) Indirect rays c)
Direct rays
d) Ray Romano
4. What is a constellation?
a)
b)
c)
d)
A name given to a ring around a planet
One of the moon’s “faces”
An object that orbits around a planet
A group of stars that has been given a name
5. What can you use constellations as a point of
reference for?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Finding other stars
Finding your way across the sea
Finding other constellations
All of the above are correct
6. In July, the days in Australia (southern
hemisphere) are:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Long and hot because it’s summer there
Not going to invite the nights to its
birthday party
Equal to the nights in length because it’s
spring there
Short and cold because it’s winter there
7. The earth is tilted to how many degrees?
a) 32.5
b) 83.5
e) 28.5
c) 25.3
d) 23.5
8. What is the largest object in our Solar System?
a) Mr. Dolinski’s Brain
b) The Sun
c) Jupiter
d) Saturn
e) The Moon
f) The
milky way
9. Which of the following takes the least time to
occur?
a) One
b) One
c) One
d) One
revolution of the Earth around the Sun
rotation of the Earth around its axis
full cycle of the Moon’s phases
complete season on Earth
10. Which of the following is a method ancient
scientists used to determine the Earth is round?
a) Observing the shadows of 2 sticks planted in
Northern and Southern Egypt
b) Taking satellite photos of the Earth
c) Watching a ship sail off into the distance
d) Looking through a telescope
11. The Earth revolves around the Sun; therefore, it
is a ____________ of the Sun:
a) Revolution
b) Gravitational pull c)
Natural satellite d) Ellipse
12. What effect does the moon’s gravity have on
Earth?
a)
b)
c)
d)
It
It
It
It
causes
causes
causes
causes
ocean tides
the seasons
wolves to howl
changes in weather
Section D – Short/Long Answers
Answer all questions using complete sentences –
where possible. Remember to label diagrams.
1. Life in Space (5)
Identify one basic daily need that people have and
explain how this “need” is met in space. Think
about what you’ve learned about day to day living
in space.
Basic Daily Need _________________________________
Astronauts meet this need by…
2. Phases of the Moon (5)
In the spaces below, draw a picture that represents
the type of moon:
New
Gibbous
Quarter
Full
Crescent
3. Earth, Moon & Sun Relationship (14)
Answer the following questions using complete
sentences. Diagrams WILL help.
1. Explain the difference between rotation and
revolution (4).
2. Explain why we experience day and night on Earth
(2).
3. Explain the 2 factors that contribute to the
changing of the seasons, and how they work together
to create winter and summer (4).
4. In the space below (4):
a) Draw, label and describe a Lunar Eclipse
b) Draw, label and describe a Solar Eclipse
4. The Planets (24)
1. Fill in the blanks. Read each clue, then write
down the planet that goes with the clue.
a) I am the proud owner of a huge Red Spot, which
is actually an atmospheric storm travelling at 225
mph. I am ___________________.
b) I am called the “Sideways Planet” because my
axis is tilted at roughly 90° and my surface is
frozen methane crystals. I am ___________________.
c) Even though I’m so close to the sun, I can get
as cold as -183C, and as hot as 407C. I am
_______________.
d) I am the second biggest of all nine planets. I
am _________________.
e) I have thick, toxic, yellow clouds surrounding
me, so I am VERY hot. I am ___________.
f) My days are longer than my years, which are only
about 225 earth days. I am ___________.
g) I was the last “planet” to be discovered, and
was named after a Roman God. I am ___________.
h) Hello, I move very slowly around the sun (165
years for one orbit). Oh yeah, I have the Great
Dark Spot, but it vanished in 1994. I am
____________.
i) I am a small rocky planet that supports a
variety of life. I am ______________.
j) Some people say I’m not even a planet anymore,
just because I’m not rocky or gassy. I am _______
k) I get my red colour because of all the rust on
me. I am _____________.
l) I have rings that are made mostly of rocky
particles with icy coatings. I am ____________.
2. Draw a simple diagram of the solar system. Scale
doesn’t count.
***Include: a) the sun, b) the planets, c) identify
the inner planets, d) identify the gas giants
BONUS: Who is the Canadian astronaut that just left
on a 6 month mission to maintain and repair the
International Space Station?