Solar System Test - Grade 5

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.

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2. The Earth takes 365.25 days to orbit the Sun. Which of the following is a result of this
fact?
a. All calendars have 365 days.
b. February has 28 days instead of 30.
c. An extra day is added every four years.
d. Some holidays are on different dates each year.

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3. The majority of Asteroids are found in a belt located between what two planets?
a. Earth and Mars
b. Mars and Venus
c. Mars and Jupiter
d. Jupiter and Saturn

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4. What keeps the Earth in its orbit?

a. The Suns speed rotating
b. The Suns gravitational pull
c. The Earths spin direction
d. The Earths location between other planets

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Why does the Earth experience seasons?

a. The Earth is tilted on its axis
b. The Sun is hotter in the Spring and Summer
c. The Earth gets less sun in the Fall and Winter
d. The distance between the Sun and the Earth changes

5. A year on Jupiter is 4,333 days long. A year on Mercury is 88 days long. Why do planets
have different length years?
a. A year is longer on larger planets.
b. Each planet has its own orbital period.
c. Some planets are larger than other planets.
d. Planets exert a gravitational force on other planets.

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6. Why does the Earth experience seasons?

a. The sun gets hotter in the Spring and Summer.
b. The angle of sunlight hitting the Earth changes.
c. The Earth receives less sunlight in the Fall and Winter.
d. The distance between the Sun and the Earth changes.

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7. What causes the phases of the Moon?

a. The Moons tilt on its axis
b. The Earths shadow on the Moon
c. The relative positions of the Moon and the Earth
d. The pull of gravity between the Moon and the Earth

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8. When standing on the Earth, the Moon and Sun appear to move in the sky from East to
West. What is responsible for this apparent movement?
a. The Earth revolves around the Sun.
b. The Earth rotates counter clockwise.
c. The Moon and Sun rotate on their axis.
d. The Sun and Moon move from East to West in Space.

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9. The diagram below represents the Sun and planets of our solar system

Which planet on the above diagram represents Earth?

a.
b.
c.
d.

G
H
K
N

____ 10. A scientist has discovered a new planet. She noticed that a different half of the planet can
be seen from Earth every two weeks. Which of the following is a conclusion about this
planet that can be made based on this observation.
a. It is smaller than Pluto.
b. It does not have any moons.
c. It orbits the Sun slower than the Earth.
d. It rotates on its axis faster than the Moon.

____ 11. During summer camp you went out at night and studied-- night sky. Now that you are
back home and in school, you want to continue to look for your favorite constellations
but you cant find them. Which of the following explains why you are having this
problem?
a. The Earth has changed position in its orbit.
b. The Moon is blocking your view.
c. The Suns light is not being reflected.
d. The Constellation has moved its location.
____ 12. In Michigan we have more hours of daylight in the summer than in the winter. What
would you experience if you lived in a country at the Earths Equator?
a. The same hours of daylight all year long.
b. The most hours of daylight in the summer.
c. The most hours of daylight in the winter.
d. The most hours of daylight in the spring and fall.

Constructed Response
13. You want to make an accurate model of the solar system that will fit in your classroom
for a school science project.
1. Explain why this will be difficult to do.
2. How will you solve this problem?

14. Explain how moons stay in orbit around their planets rather than crash into the planet or
fly off into space.

15. Compare Comets to Asteroids. List one way they are alike and one way they are
different.