Test Your Knowledge On Solar System! Trivia Questions

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  • 1/20 Questions

    parts of our solar system

    • Innerplanets, asteroids, outerplanets, dwarf planets, comets, moons, the sun
    • Andromeda galaxy
    • Exoplanets
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About This Quiz

Explore the dynamics of our solar system with 'Test Your Knowledge On Solar System! Trivia Questions'. This quiz assesses your understanding of planetary orbits, energy from the sun, and rotational periods, enhancing your grasp of basic astronomical concepts.

Test Your Knowledge On Solar System! Trivia Questions - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Earth revolves around the Sun in 365 days.  Mars revolves around the sun in 687 days.  Which planet has the shortest year?

    • Earth

    • Mars

    Correct Answer
    A. Earth
    Explanation
    The correct answer is Earth because it takes 365 days for Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun, while Mars takes 687 days to complete its revolution. Therefore, Earth has the shortest year compared to Mars.

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  • 3. 

    Jupiter rotates in 10 hours. Earth rotates in 24 hours. Which planet has the shortest day?

    • Earth

    • Jupiter

    Correct Answer
    A. Jupiter
    Explanation
    Jupiter has the shortest day because it rotates in only 10 hours, while Earth takes 24 hours to complete a rotation. Therefore, Jupiter completes a full rotation in a shorter amount of time compared to Earth, making its day shorter.

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  • 4. 

    Larger and further from the sun

    • Inner planets

    • Outer planets

    Correct Answer
    A. Outer planets
    Explanation
    The outer planets refer to the planets in our solar system that are located further from the sun compared to the inner planets. These outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are often referred to as "gas giants" due to their large size and composition primarily of gases. These planets are characterized by their large size, extensive atmospheres, and numerous moons. In contrast, the inner planets, which include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are smaller and closer to the sun.

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  • 5. 

    Earth

    • Inner planet

    • Outer planet

    • Dwarf planet

    • A moon

    Correct Answer
    A. Inner planet
    Explanation
    Earth is classified as an inner planet because it is one of the four rocky planets that are closest to the Sun in our solar system. Inner planets, also known as terrestrial planets, are characterized by their solid surfaces, smaller sizes, and higher densities compared to the outer planets. Earth, along with Mercury, Venus, and Mars, is composed primarily of rock and metal, and it has a relatively thin atmosphere. This classification distinguishes Earth from the outer planets, which are predominantly composed of gas, and the dwarf planets, which are smaller in size and do not have a clear path around the Sun.

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  • 6. 

    What are the Galilean Moons?

    • Jupiter's 4 largest moons

    • Mars' moons

    Correct Answer
    A. Jupiter's 4 largest moons
    Explanation
    The Galilean Moons refer to the four largest moons of Jupiter. These moons were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 and are named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. They are the most well-known and easily observable moons of Jupiter, and they are also among the largest moons in the entire solar system. These moons are of particular interest to scientists due to their unique characteristics, such as their geological activity, potential for hosting liquid water, and the possibility of harboring life.

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  • 7. 

    Which of the following is responsible for the movement of planets within the    solar system?

    • Heat

    • Size

    • Mass

    • Gravity

    Correct Answer
    A. Gravity
    Explanation
    Gravity is responsible for the movement of planets within the solar system. Gravity is a force that attracts objects towards each other, and it is the gravitational pull of the sun that keeps the planets in their orbits. The planets move in elliptical paths around the sun because of the gravitational force acting upon them. The strength of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the objects involved, so the larger the mass of the planet, the stronger its gravitational force and the faster it moves in its orbit.

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  • 8. 

     Which of the following is least like the other three?

    • Pluto

    • Saturn

    • Uranus

    • Neptune

    Correct Answer
    A. Pluto
    Explanation
    The given options are all planets in our solar system except for Pluto. In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union, which means it does not meet the criteria to be considered a full-fledged planet like the others. Therefore, Pluto is the least like the other three options.

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  • 9. 

    rotate on their axis

    • Inner planets

    • Outer planets

    • Both

    Correct Answer
    A. Both
    Explanation
    Both inner and outer planets rotate on their axis. Rotation refers to the spinning motion of a planet around its own axis. This rotation causes day and night on the planet. Inner planets, such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, as well as outer planets, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, all undergo rotation. Therefore, the correct answer is both.

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  • 10. 

    rocky, smaller, warmer planets with few moons

    • Inner planets

    • Outer planets

    Correct Answer
    A. Inner planets
    Explanation
    The given answer, "inner planets," is correct because rocky, smaller, warmer planets with few moons are typically found closer to the sun, within the inner region of a solar system. These planets, such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars in our own solar system, are characterized by their solid surfaces, smaller sizes compared to gas giants, and relatively higher temperatures. They also tend to have fewer moons compared to the outer planets. Therefore, the term "inner planets" accurately describes this specific type of planet.

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  • 11. 

    Which planet receives the most energy from the sun?

    • Earth

    • Neptune

    • Asteroid

    • Moon

    Correct Answer
    A. Earth
    Explanation
    Earth receives the most energy from the sun because it is the third planet from the sun and is located within the habitable zone, also known as the Goldilocks zone. This means that Earth is at the right distance from the sun to receive the optimal amount of solar energy. Additionally, Earth has an atmosphere that helps retain and distribute the sun's energy, making it the planet that receives the most energy from the sun.

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  • 12. 

    The inner planets are closer to the sun.  The outer planets are further from the sun.  Which planet takes the longest to orbit the sun?

    • Saturn

    • Mars

    • Jupiter

    • Neptune

    Correct Answer
    A. Neptune
    Explanation
    Neptune takes the longest to orbit the sun because it is the farthest planet from the sun among the given options. The distance from the sun affects the time it takes for a planet to complete one orbit. Since Neptune is the outermost planet, it has a larger orbit and therefore takes a longer time to complete one revolution around the sun compared to the inner planets like Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter.

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  • 13. 

    primarily orbit the sun

    • Inner planets

    • Outer planets

    • Both

    Correct Answer
    A. Both
    Explanation
    Both the inner planets and outer planets primarily orbit the sun. The inner planets, which include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are located closer to the sun and have shorter orbital periods. The outer planets, which include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are located farther from the sun and have longer orbital periods. Despite their differences in distance and orbital periods, both groups of planets are still primarily orbiting the sun as their central celestial body.

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  • 14. 

    How does the sun generate heat and light?

    • Nuclear fusion

    • Reflected light

    • Inertia

    Correct Answer
    A. Nuclear fusion
    Explanation
    The sun generates heat and light through a process called nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion occurs when the sun's core combines hydrogen atoms to form helium. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat and light. The high temperatures and pressures in the sun's core allow for this fusion reaction to take place, creating the heat and light that we observe from the sun.

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  • 15. 

    Of the inner planets, which has the shortest year?

    • Earth

    • Mars

    • Mercury

    • Venus

    Correct Answer
    A. Mercury
    Explanation
    Mercury has the shortest year among the inner planets because it is the closest planet to the Sun. With an orbital period of only 88 Earth days, Mercury completes its journey around the Sun much faster than the other inner planets.

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  • 16. 

    What is an asteroid?

    • Ice and dust

    • A large rock in space

    • A very small piece of rock

    Correct Answer
    A. A large rock in space
    Explanation
    An asteroid is a large rock in space. It is not composed of ice and dust, nor is it a very small piece of rock. Asteroids are celestial objects that orbit the Sun and are mainly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They can vary in size, ranging from small boulders to objects several hundred kilometers in diameter.

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  • 17. 

    A student creates a model of the solar system.  She uses a basketball to represent Jupiter and a golf ball to represent Earth.  Which would be best to use for representing Earth’s Moon?

    • An orange

    • A grapefruit

    • A pea

    • A baseball

    Correct Answer
    A. A pea
    Explanation
    A pea would be the best choice for representing Earth's Moon because it is small in size, similar to the actual size of the Moon compared to Earth. The other options, such as an orange, grapefruit, and baseball, are much larger in size and would not accurately represent the Moon's relative size to Earth.

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  • 18. 

    Which best completes the statement? As a planet’s distance from the Sun increases, the planet’s period of revolution ___.

    • Increases

    • Decreases

    • Shows no change

    Correct Answer
    A. Increases
    Explanation
    As a planet's distance from the Sun increases, the planet's period of revolution increases. This is because the gravitational force between the planet and the Sun decreases as the distance increases. According to Kepler's third law of planetary motion, the square of the period of revolution is directly proportional to the cube of the average distance between the planet and the Sun. Therefore, as the distance increases, the period of revolution also increases.

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  • 19. 

    Which best explains why we use models to represent the solar system?

    • The solar system is very far away and cannot be measured.

    • The solar system has never been explored, so only models are used.

    • The solar system is so large that real distances are hard to work with.

    • The solar system has many parts, so only models are used.

    Correct Answer
    A. The solar system is so large that real distances are hard to work with.
    Explanation
    Models are used to represent the solar system because the actual distances within the solar system are extremely large and difficult to work with. By using models, scientists can scale down the distances and sizes of the solar system's components to make them more manageable and easier to study and understand.

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  • 20. 

    If a rocket leaves Earth and travels through the solar system away from the sun, which object’s orbital path will the rocket pass first?

    • Moon

    • Venus

    • Pluto

    • Mars

    Correct Answer
    A. Moon
    Explanation
    As the rocket leaves Earth and travels through the solar system away from the sun, it will pass the moon first. The moon is the closest celestial object to Earth and is therefore the first object that the rocket will encounter on its journey through the solar system.

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  • Current Version
  • Dec 06, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • May 07, 2014
    Quiz Created by
    E050265
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