Chapter 21 Planets Test Flashcards
Which planet is known for its spectacular ring system?
Saturn
Which planet has belts of visible clouds?
Neptune
Which is the smallest planet in the solar system?
Mercury
Which planet has a has storm called the Great Red Spot?
Jupiter
Which planet has a storm system called the Great Dark Spot?
Neptune
Which planet tipped over onto its side?
Uranus
Which inner planet spins with a retrograde rotation?
Venus
Which is the only planet to contain life as we know it?
Earth
Which is the largest planet in our solar system?
Jupiter
What moon seems to have broken apart and been pieced back together by gravity?
Miranda
What moon is one of the most volcanic-ally active?
IO
What moon is larger than the planet Mercury?
Ganymede
What moon has an atmosphere very similar to early Earth?
Titan
What moon revolves around its planet in a retrograde orbit?
Triton
What moon is also known as Luna?
Earth’s Moon
What moon is the largest satellite relative to the size of its planet?
Titan
What moon is believed to be a captured asteroid?
Phobos and Deimos
What moon has geysers that eject nitrogen?
Triton
What moon originated when a planet sized body collided with Earth?
Luna (Earth’s moon)
Describe the current theory of the formation of the Earth’s moon?
A planet sized object collided with the Earth.
Is the far side of the moon always dark?
Yes, we only see one side of the moon from Earth.
Why is the study of comets, asteroids and meteoroids important in understanding the formation of the solar system?
Because they represent the building blocks of the solar system.
In your own words, write a definition for the astronomical unit.
The average distance between the Earth and the Sun
In your own words, write a definition for the term gas giant.
The outer planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
In your own words, write a definition for the term terrestrial planet?
The planets that are closest to the sun.
Describe why we see several impact craters on the moon but few on Earth.
Because of the weathering, erosion and atmosphere.
What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse? Why don’t they every month?
Because a solar eclipse is when the moon comes between the Earth and a lunar eclipse is when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon.
