1. A rotating cloud of gas and dust from which Earth’s solar system may have formed is called a
A. solar nebula.
B. supernova.
C. solar eclipse.
D. nova explosion.
2. A small body from which a planet originated in the early stages of development of the solar system is called a
A. planetarium.
B. solar planet.
C. planetesimal.
D. protoplanet.
3. When the solar system formed, smaller bodies joined together through collision and the force of gravity to form larger bodies called
A. planetariums
B. solar planets
C. planetesimals
D. protoplanets
4. The difference between inner planets and outer planets in a solar system is that
A. the inner planets are considerably larger than the outer planets.
B. the inner planets are gaseous and the outer planets are more dense.
C. the inner planets have solid surfaces and the outer planets are more gaseous.
D. the inner planets have a greater elliptical movement around the sun than the outer planets.
5. Young Earth formed a core, mantle, and crust in a process called
A. layering.
B. settling.
C. dispersion.
D. differentiation.
6. According to nebular hypothesis, the features of newly formed planets depend on the distance between the protoplanet and the
A. moon.
B. orbiting stars.
C. developing sun.
D. rings of Saturn.
7. The early atmosphere developed when many volcanic eruptions released large amounts of gases in a process called
A. lava flow.
B. outgassing.
C. combustion.
D. ozone.
8. About 99% of all matter that was contained in the solar nebula now composes the
A. sun.
B. moons.
C. planets.
D. protoplanets.
9. Around the core of Earth is an iron and magnesium-rich rock layer called the
A. atmosphere.
B. mantle.
C. crust.
D. magma.
10. Some scientists think that a portion of Earth’s water may have come from space by way of
A. meteorites.
B. ice dust.
C. comets.
D. hydrogen clouds
11. Early fresh water oceans became salty when
A. rainwater carried dissolved solid rock to the oceans.
B. coral reefs created a salty ocean bottom.
C. salt particles fell from the atmosphere into the oceans.
D. floods carried salty soil to the deltas and then into the oceans.
12. The Earth’s solar system is composed of the sun and
A. inner planets, outer planets, and moons.
B. inner planets, gas giants, dwarf planets, and moons.
C. protoplanets, planets, and moons.
D. nebula, planets, and moons.
13. How did oxygen become part of Earth’s atmosphere?
A. Oxygen was released when the early atmosphere cooled.
B. Oxygen was present in the cloud of dust and gas from which the sun and planets were formed.
C. Oxygen was released as a byproduct of photosynthesis.
D. Oxygen was brought by comets that collided with early Earth.
14. Kepler’s first law states that planets orbit the sun in paths called
A. ellipses.
B. ovals.
C. epicycles.
D. periods.
15. The shape of an orbit can be described by a numerical form called
A. elongation.
B. parabolic.
C. foci.
D. eccentricity.
16. Kepler’s first law is also known as the law of
A. ovals.
B. epicycles.
C. ellipses.
D. periods.
17. Kepler’s second law states that equal areas are covered in equal amounts of time as an object
A. spins on its axis.
B. travels one light year.
C. orbits the sun.
D. completes an eclipse.
18. Kepler’s second law explains that when a planet is orbiting close to the sun, it
A. spins faster on its axis.
B. travels the same speed as when it is orbiting far from the sun.
C. travels slower than when it is orbiting far from the sun.
D. travels faster than when it is orbiting far from the sun.
19. A planet’s orbital speed changes because
A. the orbital path is not a perfect circle.
B. the planet must cover a larger area in a shorter amount of time.
C. the sun’s gravity is stronger on one side than the other.
D. inertia is stronger close to the sun.
20. Kepler’s third law describes the relationship between the average distance of a planet from the sun and the planet’s
A. orbital period.
B. average temperature.
C. gravitational pull.
D. inertia.
21. The orbital period is the time required for a planet to
A. complete 25% of an orbit.
B. complete a single orbit.
C. move from the point farthest from the sun to the point closest to the sun.
D. rotate once through its axis.
22. Which of Kepler’s three laws is used to determine how far a planet is from the sun?
A. the law of ellipses.
B. the law of equal areas.
C. the law of periods.
D. the law of retrograde motion.
23. Kepler’s second law is also known as the law of
A. periods.
B. ellipses.
C. equal areas.
D. ovals.
24. What concept did Isaac Newton use to explain the movements
