Astronomy Test #1-A

Test your knowledge of the Solar System!

Models of the Solar System Match each astronomer with the most correct description of their work. Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomer that published a work in 1543 that promoted the heliocentric model of the solar system. Tycho Brahe & Johannes Kepler Astronomers that used detailed observations and calculations to determine that the orbits of the planets around the Sun were ellipses or ovals, not circles. Galileo Galilei Astronomer that used a telescope to discover four moons orbiting Jupiter and that Venus goes through a series of phases similar to the Moon's thus providing more evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system. Ptolemy Ancient Greek astronomer who thought that Earth was at the center of the universe and that the planets moved in small circles carried along in bigger circles. His idea of a geocentric universe lasted for 1500 years. Aristarchus Ancient Greek astronomer that believed in the heliocentric model of the solar system but lacked evidence to support his theory. This idea was not well received because people could not accept that Earth was not at the center of the universe. Types of Planets Match each planet with the correct group that describes them. Inner Planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Outer Planets Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Dwarf Planets Pluto Planetary Data Table Use the planetary data table above and your knowledge of the planets to complete this table. Use a + if the characteristic applies to the planet and a - if the characteristic does not apply. Planets Rings Satellites Average Density < 5 g Orbital velocity > 30 km Relative Mass > Earth Period of Rotation < Earth Mercury - - - + - - Venus - - - + - - Earth - + - - N.A. N.A. Mars - + + - - - Jupiter + + + - + + Saturn + + + - + + Uranus + + + - + + Neptune + + + - + + The Features of the Sun Label each part of the diagram with the following words: corona, flare, radiation zone, chromosphere, prominence and sunspot. Spelling counts so make sure you spell each word correctly below! Also make sure that each letter of every word is lower case! corona chromosphere flare sunspot prominence radiation zone Solar System Formation - Use the word bank below to fill in the blanks in the text below! The solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago when dense clouds of ice, dust, Hydrogen, Helium and other materials began to pull together due to the force of gravity, collapse and rotate. As the spinning continued the planetesimals were pulled together and what was rock, ice, dust and gas were formed into the planets we know today. When Hydrogen atoms are pressed together they form Helium. This nuclear fusion gave off massive amounts of energy in the form of light and our Sun was born. This planet known as Earth's twin due to its similar size, has a thick atmosphere that has caused a runaway green house effect which has resulted in it being the hottest planet in the solar system even though it is not the closest planet to the Sun. Mars Mercury Jupiter Venus This small planet boasts the largest volcanoes and canyons in our solar system and could have once had liquid water and life. This planet also has a robot that is currently checking for seismic activity in its crust. Saturn Mars Mercury Venus This planet is the smallest in our solar system (slightly larger than our Moon) and has the greatest temperature range of any planet (-279 degrees Fahrenheit at night to 801 degrees Fahrenheit during the day) due to its very thin atmosphere and close proximity to the Sun. Mercury Mars Venus Earth This planet is the second largest in the solar system and has the most spectacular and complex ring system of any of the Gas Giants. This planet has also been known since ancient times and is the farthest to have been discovered with the unaided human eye! Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune This planet is the largest in the solar system (about 1,321 Earths could fit inside it) and has a gigantic storm about the size of two to three Earth's that's been raging for hundreds of years. Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune This planet has a single, large moon relative to our size, resides in the "Goldilocks" or habitable zone of our Sun - not too hot and not too cold - for liquid water to exist and has a plethora of organisms. Mercury Venus Earth Mars This planet is an ice giant that has the coldest recorded temperature (-371 degrees Fahrenheit), multiple rings and rotates on its side most likely due to a collision with a large object during the formation of the early solar system. Neptune Saturn Uranus Jupiter This planet is the furthest from the Sun (about thirty times further than the distance from the Earth to the Sun) and is the windiest planet (winds on this planet are three times stronger than Jupiter's and nine times stronger than Earth's) in our solar system. Uranus Saturn Neptune Jupiter Challenge Question - Draw a Scale Model of the Planets of Our Solar System: (This question is optional and you don't lose any points for trying. If you are successful you could receive up to 10 extra points toward your overall test grade, so you don't have anything to lose! Good luck!!) Use the art tools below to draw the Sun and the innerplanets of our solar system to scale (distances only) using astronomical units. Make sure to label your planets and write down their astronomical units! If you make each grid line 0.05 AU then how many inner planets could you fit horizontally on your picture below? Mr. Gallegos' Most Ridiculous, Amazing, Seriously No One Can Answer This Question Correctly, Hardest, Were You Really Paying Attention in Science class?, You Are A TOTAL Science BOSS If You Answer This Question Correctly, BUT YOU WON'T Question of the Test! (This question is optional, like eating a Ghost pepper crossed with a Carolina Reaper while doing back flips on a high wire over a grand canyon filled with piping hot LAVA - Do it if you dare!!!!!!!!!!) This question is also worth five points. If you get this question correct it will raise your overall test grade! If you don't get it correct, it won't count against you, so give it a shot, you risk-takers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) This is an excerpt from the book on page 79 about Ancient Observations of the Solar System:"Many early observers thought Earth was at the center of the universe. Some _ observers thought Earth was under a dome of stars."Write the number of years in the space below. How much $$ would you bet that your answer is correct??? Congratulations!!! You finished the test!! Now sit back and quietly enjoy this meme! ;)