8L Earth in space

Question 1

Which statement is true?
A In Britain we get more daylight in summer and less in winter.
B Daylight and night are the same length in summer and winter.
C We get less daylight in summer and more in winter.
D We get most daylight in the spring.

Answer 1

A In Britain we get more daylight in summer and less in winter.

Question 2

What s is the shape of the Earth?

Answer 2

A sphere

Question 3

What o is the name given to the elliptical path taken taken by a planet around the sun?

Answer 3

Orbit

Question 4

Why can’t we see a new moon?

Answer 4

The lit side of the Moon is facing away from the Earth.

Question 5

Stars are:
A lumps of hot rock in space.
B huge balls of burning gas, like the Sun.
C balls of burning gas, like the Moon.
D all very close to the Earth.

Answer 5

B huge balls of burning gas, like the Sun.

Question 6

Which list shows things in order of size, starting with the smallest?
A galaxy, star, planet
B planet, star, galaxy
C star, planet, galaxy
D star, galaxy, planet

Answer 6

B planet, star, galaxy

Question 7

Where does the force of gravity on Earth pull or push you?

Answer 7

It pulls you towards the centre of the Earth.

Question 8

Gravity:
A gets less if two objects get closer together.
B gets stronger if two objects get further apart.
C gets less if two objects get further apart.
D does not depend on distance

Answer 8

C gets less if two objects get further apart.

Question 9

What is the equation to calculate weight?

Answer 9

Weight = mass x gravity

Question 10

A solar system is…..

Answer 10

……a star with planets and other objects orbiting around it.

Question 11

The planets stay in their orbits around the Sun because of:
A the gravity of the Moon.
B the gravity of the Sun.
C magnetism.
D the gravity pull of the Earth.

Answer 11

B the gravity of the Sun.

Question 12

What did Ptolemy say about the universe?

Answer 12

He said that the Earth was at the centre and everything else moved around it.

Question 13

Why did ancient people realise that the Earth was not flat?

Answer 13

They watched ships approaching their shores. The flag at the top of the mast appeared first, then more and more mast, then the hull.

Question 14

Which is the best description of a constellation?
A a group of stars that appear to be close to one another when we look at them.
B millions of stars that form a spiral shape
C a group of stars that are only a few light years from each other
D lines in the sky that join stars to each other

Answer 14

A a group of stars that appear to be close to one another when we look at them.

Question 15

Why do we have a day and a night?

Answer 15

We have day and night because the Earth spins on its axis and half of the Earth is in sunlight and half in shade at any time.

Question 16

Why do we see different phases of the moon on Earth?

Answer 16

The moon orbits the Earth and the half of the moon which faces the sun is lit up.

Only the lit part of the moon can be seen from Earth and this changes shape from night to night as the moon orbits the Earth.

Question 17

The Earth’s north magnetic pole is:
A near the North pole.
B near the South pole.
C at the South pole.
D at the North pole.

Answer 17

A near the North pole.

Question 18

Why do we believe that our current model of the Solar System is correct?
A We can see the elliptical orbits.
B It can accurately predict the movements of the planets.
C It agrees with religious ideas.
D We have sent people to visit the Moon.

Answer 18

B It can accurately predict the movements of the planets

Question 19

Why do astronomers use light years?

Answer 19

The distances in space are huge and so very long numbers are needed for distances. Using light years makes these shorter (the numbers have fewer zeros!)

Question 20

Which statement best describes our current ideas about the Solar System?
A The planets all move in circular orbits around the Earth.
B The planets all move in circular orbits around the Sun.
C The planets all move in elliptical orbits around the Sun.
D The planets all move in elliptical orbits around the Earth.

Answer 20

C The planets all move in elliptical orbits around the Sun.

Question 21

We have different seasons during the year because:
A the Earth’s axis is tilted.
B the Moon moves around the Earth.
C the Sun moves around the Earth.
D there are 12 months in the year.

Answer 21

A the Earth’s axis is tilted.

Question 22

Which statement is not true?
A The Earth attracts objects because it has a large mass.
B You are attracting this quiz paper with a small force of gravity.
C Only large objects like the Earth produce a force of gravity.
D Your body is attracting the Earth.

Answer 22

C Only large objects like the Earth produce a force of gravity.

Question 23

What is a moon?

Answer 23

A rock which orbits a planet.

Question 24

A bag of sugar has a mass of 1 kg. What is its weight on Earth?
A 1 N
C 10 kg
B 10 N
D 0.1 N

Answer 24

B 10 N

Question 25

Why is the length of day different at different times of the year?

Answer 25

The Earths axis is tilted.

Question 26

The Sun feels warmer in summer because:
A the Earth is closer to the Sun.
B the Earth is further away from the Sun.
C the Sun’s rays are more concentrated.
D the Sun’s rays are more spread out.

Answer 26

C the Sun’s rays are more concentrated.

Question 27

How long does it take the Earth to go around the Sun once?

Answer 27

365.25 days ( but 365 is fine as an answer!)

Question 28

The Sun at midday:
A is highest in the spring.
B is highest in the summer.
C is highest in the autumn.
D is highest in the winter.

Answer 28

B is highest in the summer.

Question 29

What p was classed as a planet until 2006 but is now known as a dwarf planet?

Answer 29

Pluto.

Question 30

The Sun rises and sets every day because:
A the Sun moves around the Earth.
B the Earth moves around the Sun.
C the Earth spins on its axis once every 12 hours.
D the Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours.

Answer 30

D the Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours.

Question 31

Which statement is not true?
A A south pole repels a north pole.
B A south pole repels a south pole.
C A north pole attracts a south pole.
D A north pole repels a north pole.

Answer 31

A A south pole repels a north pole.

Question 32

A magnetic field is:
A a piece of ground with lots of iron in it.
B the space around a magnet where it attracts magnetic materials.
C the space around a magnet where it attracts all metals.
D the space around a magnet where it repels magnetic materials.

Answer 32

B the space around a magnet where it attracts magnetic materials.

Question 33

The Moon appears to be different shapes at different times because:
A the Moon orbits the Earth.
B the Moon spins on its axis once each month.
C we cannot always see all of the lit part of the Moon.
D there is no air on the Moon.

Answer 33

C we cannot always see all of the lit part of the Moon.

Question 34

The stars appear to move across the sky at night because:
A the Earth is orbiting the Moon.
B the Earth is orbiting the Sun.
C the Earth is spinning on its axis.
D the Earth’s axis is tilted.

Answer 34

C the Earth is spinning on its axis.

Question 35

What is the sun?

Answer 35

A star

Question 36

What is a light year?

Answer 36

The distance that light travels in a year.