The Solar System Quiz

Question 1

The Oort cloud is an immense spherical cloud with over 6 trillion icy objects extending

Accepted Answer

about two-thirds of the way to the next nearest star system., approximately 3 light years outward from the Sun.

Question 2

The planet Mercury is the densest of all the planets - this means that

Accepted Answer

it has more material compacted together.

Question 3

Comets can best be described as

Accepted Answer

dirty snowballs with highly elongated orbits.

Question 4

Definition of a planet includes that it orbits the Sun, is not a satellite, is round and

Accepted Answer

has cleared its orbit of debris.

Question 5

What is the major difference between terrestrial planets and Jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

terrestrial planets are smaller and have solid surfaces

Question 6

All planets in our solar system orbit _____ around the Sun - as seen from the north pole.

Accepted Answer

counterclockwise

Question 7

Where is the asteroid belt located?

Accepted Answer

mostly between the orbit of Mars & Jupiter

Question 8

Comparative planetology compares and contrasts properties of worlds to see how they evolved.

Accepted Answer

TRUE

Question 9

Asteroids are also known as

Accepted Answer

"minor planets."

Question 10

Exoplanet evolution can also be explained using comparative planetology.

Accepted Answer

TRUE

Question 11

The Jovian planets (gas giants) have the most

Accepted Answer

moons.

Question 12

Our solar system also includes one ______ and countless asteroids & comets.

Accepted Answer

star, sun

Question 13

Which statement best describes the definition of a moon?

Accepted Answer

a natural satellite orbiting a larger body

Question 14

Except for a slight off-set of the planet _____ - all planets orbit in the same plane.

Accepted Answer

Mercury

Question 15

There are _____ major planets in our solar system.

Accepted Answer

eight

Question 16

So far there has been six _____ planets that have been discovered - including Pluto & beyond.

Accepted Answer

dwarf

Question 17

KBO's - or Kuiper Belt Objects - exist beyond the orbit of Neptune and contains

Accepted Answer

many minor & dwarf planets like Pluto, Eris & Sedna.

Question 18

Asteroids are small rocky/metallic leftovers from the

Accepted Answer

beginning of the solar system.

Question 19

In order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune.

Accepted Answer

FALSE

Question 20

Which statement best describes a dwarf planet?

Accepted Answer

object that is round but has not cleared its orbital debris

Questions 20