Grade 9 Science Unit 4 Space Quiz

Grade 9 Academic Science – Space Practice Test #2 Part A - Multiple Choice 1. Which planet is the smallest planet in our Solar System? a. Mercury b. Mars c. Earth d. Pluto

2. What two components describe a Red Giant star? a. Big and hot b. Small and hot c. Big and cold d. Small and cold

3. What theory describes the start of our Solar System? a. Big Bang Theory b. Black Hole Theory c. Solar Nebula Theory d. Red Shift

4. Where are stars born? a. Nebula b. Black Hole c. Supernova d. Neutron Star

5. What is a Sunspot? a. An area of burn gas on the surface of the Sun b. A relatively cool, dark area on the surface of the Sun c. Deep, dark craters on the surface of the Sun d. An electromagnetic explosion producing areas of think gas on the surface of the Sun

6. What is the reason we observe Mars undergoing Retrograde Motion in the night sky? a. Mars stopped forward motion and began moving backward in its orbit b. Earth is moving faster than Mars, overtaking Mars for a short time, making Mars seem to move backward. c. The motion of Mars in a direction opposite to that of its normal motion relative to the motion of other celestial bodies d. The Sun is the centre of our Solar System

7. What gas is our Sun burning? a. Hydrogen b. Helium c. Oxygen d. Nitrogen

8. What is a “common term” for a comet? a. Minor Planet b. Shooting Star c. Dirty Snowball d. Asteroid e. None of the above f. All of the above 9. This forms when the core of the star is “swallowed” by its own gravity. a. Black Hole b. Red Giant c. Nebula d. Neutron Star

10.What is another name for the North Star? a. Southern Cross b. Polaris c. Andormeda d. Alpha Centauri

11.What type of star forms after a Supernova explosion? In this star, the centre collapses so that protons and electrons combine to form neutrons. The star is so very, very dense that one teaspoon on Earth would weigh 1 billion tons. a. Black Hole b. Red Giant c. Nebula d. Neutron Star

12.The type of reaction when two hydrogen nuclei join to form one helium nucleus a. Nuclear Fission b. Nuclear Fusion c. Nuclear Explosion d. Nuclear Union

13.The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is 149,597,890 km. What is this distance called? a. Astronomical Unit b. Light Year c. A Very Long Way d. Retrograde Motion

14.Which of the following is NO LONGER a planet? a. Mercury b. Saturn c. Jupiter d. Pluto

15.What is a Light Year? a. The distance light travels in a vacuum in one year b. The distance between Earth and the Sun c. Unit of distance used the measure distances with our Solar System d. 9.46 X 1012 cm e. None of the above

16.Stars can be different colours. For example, Betelgeuse is reddish-white and Rigel is bluish- white. These are the primary stars of the Orion constellation. What does the colour of a star tell you? a. Its brightness or luminosity b. Its chemical composition c. Its mass d. Its surface temperature e. None of the above 17.The star Proxima Centauri is 4.01 X 1013 km from Earth. If 1 Light Year is 9.46 X 1012 km, what is the distance to Proxima Centauri in Light Years a. 4.24 Light Years b. 30.64 Light Years c. 49.56 Light Years d. 13.47 Light Years

18.What does the Moon help create on Earth? a. Shadows b. Children Story Books c. Wind d. Tides

Part B – Short Answer 19.How does a star “turn on”?

20.Why did early astronomers (early humans) believe the Earth was the centre of the universe?

21.How do you know you are looking at a planet in the night sky and not a star? Provide TWO ideas

22.In the very, very far future, our Sun will burn out and possibly collapses to become a Black Hole. Why would Earth not be sucked into the Black Hole?

23.What is the difference between a Meteor and a Meteorite?

24.Draw AND label (1) a Solar Eclipse and (2) a Lunar Eclipse

25.How does the Earth remain in its orbit around the Earth? In other words, why does the Sun’s gravity not pull the Earth into the Sun? Provide TWO reasons. Use a diagram if it helps.

26.Many things occur at the surface of the Sun including Solar Flares and Solar Prominences. Name TWO impacts that these features of the Sun have on the Earth.

27.There are three things that prove the Universe started with the Big Bang. Name TWO of the explanations.

28.In your own words, what is a Singularity with respect to the beginning of the Universe and the Big Bang Theory?

29.If one grain of sand represents one star, how many grains of sand on Earth would be required to represent all the stars in the entire Universe?

30.Our Sun has an Apparent Magnitude of -26.8 and an Absolute Magnitude 4.83. The star Betelgeuse has an Apparent Magnitude of 0.41 and an Absolute Magnitude of -5.60. Recall, Apparent Magnitude is the brightness of star as viewed from Earth, while Absolute Magnitude is the star’s brightness if all stars were located 33 Light Years from Earth. Given the information, which star is brighter? Provide one reason with your answer.

31.What is bigger: Universe, Galaxy or Solar System? ANSWERS - MULTIPLE CHOICE

Question Answer Question Answer 1 A 10 B 2 C 11 D 3 C 12 B 4 A 13 A 5 B 14 D 6 B 15 A 7 A 16 D 8 C 17 A 9 A 18 D