1. Name the eight planets in order by increasing distance from the sun:
A: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
2. What are two pieces of technology that have helped scientists explore the solar system?
A: space shuttles, probes, telescopes
3. What two things combine/balance to keep planets in orbit around the sun? (as opposed to
spiraling into the sun or leaving our solar system)
A: gravity and inertia
4. Do planets orbit the sun in perfect circles? If no, what are their orbits called?
A: No, elliptical orbits
5-Why would calling the “gas giants” the “liquid giants” be a more suitable name?
A: Hydrogen & Helium exist on these planets in liquid form
6-Which planet spins on its side (>90 degrees)?
A: Uranus
7-How do you determine a planet’s day ? How do you determine a planet’s year?
A: Day- the rotation around the axis Year- Revolution/Orbit around Sun
8-Which of the geocentric, heliocentric models of our solar systems shows the sun as the center
of our solar system?
A: heliocentric
9-Which of the geocentric, heliocentric models of our solar systems do we support today?
A: heliocentric
10-What are the four main components that make up our solar system?
A: Sun, planets, moons, other various smaller objects
11-What does a planet revolve around?
A: the sun
12-What does a moon revolve around?
A: a planet
13-How far in AU is Earth from the sun?
A: 1 AU
14-How far in AU is Neptune from the sun?
A: 30.1 AU
15-If you are a high mass star, after you are off the main sequence, what two ends may be your
fate?
A: Red Supergiant then black hole or neutron star
16-What is the name of the wide belt of objects that extends beyond Pluto in our solar system?
A: Kuiper Belt
17-What is the name of the cloud in our solar system beyond the Kuiper Belt, where many
comets are?
A:Oort Cloud
18-Nearly all the mass of our solar system is where?
A:the Sun
19-The distance between stars is measured using what unit?
A: Light-Years
20-If there is a red shift in a galaxies spectrum in which way is the galaxy moving from Earth?
A: Away
21-What are the three stipulations you must follow to be a planet?
A: 1-Orbit sun , 2-Pull into a sphere by gravity, 3-Clear other things out of your orbit
22-About how many AU does our solar system extend to?
A: 50,000 AU
23-What is the major difference between a protostar and a star?
A: A star has the process of fusion happening within it
24-What two forces balance in a star so it remains stable?
A: Gravity – in and Thermal Pressure- out
25-In what layer of the sun does fusion occur?
A: The Core
26-Is the sun a star?
A: Yes
27-What are three features of the sun’s atmosphere?
A: Solar flares, sunspots, prominences
28-What percentage of stars can be found on the main sequence?
A: 90%
29-What is the most abundant element found in a main sequence star? Second most abundant
element?
A: 1st-Hydrogen, 2nd- Helium
30-What do scientists use parallax for?
A: Distance of stars from our sun
31-What are galaxies made up of?
A: Individual stars, star systems, clusters, dust, gas
32-What kind of galaxy do we live in?
A: Spiral or Barred-Spiral Galaxy
33-If you are a low or medium mass star, after you are off the main sequence, what kind of star
do you become?
A: red giant then white dwarf
34-What are the properties of stars astronomers use to classify them?
A: Color, size, brightness, temperature
35-Looking at the Hertsprung-Russell diagram on pg 838 :
How many GIANT (not Super Giant) stars shown are hotter than our sun?
What is the name of the coldest Super Giant, and what color is it?
A: None, Betelgeuse, Red
36-Put low, medium, high mass stars in order by increasing life span.
A: high mass, medium mass, low mass