Lesson 3: The Terrestrial Planets

Question 1

Fill in the blank. ______ is the closest planet to the Sun.

Answer 1

Mercury

Question 2

What is the list of planets it our solar system in the order of increasing distance from the Sun?

Answer 2

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Question 3

As it refers to planets in our solar system, what definition best fits the term Terrestrial?

Answer 3

Earth-like

Question 4

Because Jupiter is a large gaseous planet, we classify it as which of the main two types of planets?

Answer 4

Jovian

Question 5

What are the two types of planets?

Answer 5

Terrestrial and Jovian

Question 6

A ______ eclipse is when the Moon’s shadow passes across the Earth’s surface; the Moon is directly in between the Earth and the Sun.

Answer 6

Solar

Question 7

True or False: “new moon” is when we see a fully lit side of the moon.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

All of the following are distinctive properties of Earth (when compared to the other Terrestrial planets) except:

1) a strong magnetic field
2) large amounts of accessible liquid water
3) low relative levels of atmospheric CO2
4) high composition density

Answer 8

4) high composition density

Question 9

A _____ eclipse is when the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.

Answer 9

Lunar

Question 10

Which of the following planets has the highest average surface temperature?

1) Jupiter
2) Venus
3) Mars
4) Mercury

Answer 10

2) Venus

Question 11

What planet has the hottest surface temperature?

Answer 11

Venus

Question 12

The greenhouse effect dominates which planet?

Answer 12

Venus

Question 13

What is not a way in which the Terrestrial and Jovian planets differ?

Answer 13

The Jovian planets have a higher temperature than Terrestrial planets do.

Question 14

Which planet has an atmosphere of mostly nitrogen?

Answer 14

Earth

Question 15

During a lunar eclipse, the Moon is located between Earth and the Sun.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

A moon that is full will appear at it’s highest point in the sky at what time of the night or day?

Answer 16

Midnight

Question 17

True or False: a planet that spins very rapidly would probably be Terrestrial.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

True or False: the majority if the planets in out solar system have moons.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

What are the two types of planets?

Answer 19

Terrestrial and Jovian

Question 20

WHAT HAPPENED TO WATER ON VENUS?

Answer 20

It evaporated and was lost to space.

Question 21

Which planet closely resembles our moon?

Answer 21

Mercury

Question 22

HOW MUCH DO THE SIZES OF EARTH, VENUS, AND MARS COMPARE?

Answer 22

Earth is slightly larger than Venus and much larger than Mars.

Question 23

True or False: a planet located 9 AU from the Sun would probably be Jovian.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

What protects Earth from harmful radiation from the Sun?

Answer 24

Our strong magnetic field.

Question 25

When is Mercury most visible in the night sky?

Answer 25

At most, two hours before sunrise or after sunset.

Question 26

What happened to water on Mars?

Answer 26

It is frozen in the soil.

Question 27

True or False: the atmosphere of Mars is composed primarily of nitrogen.

Answer 27

False

Question 28

True or False: both moons of Mars are most likely captured objects.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

Crescent Moon

Answer 29

A thin sliver of the Moon is visible.

Question 30

Full Moon

Answer 30

Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.

Question 31

Last Quarter

Answer 31

This phase occurs halfway between full and new moon.

Question 32

Gibbous Moon

Answer 32

Most, but not all, of the Moon’s face is illuminated.

Question 33

New Moon

Answer 33

The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.