Minor Bodies of The Solar System: Preview

Minor Bodies of the Solar System Standardized Test Prep
Minor Bodies of the Solar System

Preview
• Multiple Choice
• Short Response
• Reading Skills
• Interpreting Graphics
Multiple Choice
1. Because of differences in surface gravity, how much
does a person who weighs 360 newtons (360 N) on
Earth weigh on the moon?
A. 36 N
B. 60 N
C. 180 N
D. 90 N
Multiple Choice
1. Because of differences in surface gravity, how much
does a person who weighs 360 newtons (360 N) on
Earth weigh on the moon?
A. 36 N
B. 60 N
C. 180 N
D. 90 N
Multiple Choice, continued

2. The point in the orbit of a satellite at which the satellite
is farthest from Earth is the satellite’s
F. apogee.
G. perigee.
H. barycenter.
I. phase.

2. The point in the orbit of a satellite at which the satellite
is farthest from Earth is the satellite’s
F. apogee.
G. perigee.
H. barycenter.
I. phase.

3. Which of the following statements accurately describes each ring of
Saturn?
A. It is divided into smaller ringlets, all of which orbit Saturn

together.
B. It consists of a single ring composed of rock and ice
pieces.
C. It is divided into smaller ringlets, each of which has an
individual orbit.
D. It is part of a set of rings that are unlike those found anywhere
else.

3. Which of the following statements accurately describes each ring of
Saturn?
A. It is divided into smaller ringlets, all of which orbit Saturn

together.
B. It consists of a single ring composed of rock and ice
pieces.
C. It is divided into smaller ringlets, each of which has an
individual orbit.
D. It is part of a set of rings that are unlike those found anywhere
else.

4. Which of the following statements describes why
temperature variation in the moon is so large?
F. The moon has no atmosphere to provide

insulation.
G. The atmosphere of the moon is made up of cold
gases.
H. Gases are dense and close to the surface.
I. Dark, smooth rocks absorb the sun’s heat.

4. Which of the following statements describes why
temperature variation in the moon is so large?
F. The moon has no atmosphere to provide

insulation.
G. The atmosphere of the moon is made up of cold
gases.
H. Gases are dense and close to the surface.
I. Dark, smooth rocks absorb the sun’s heat.
Short Response
5. Approximately how long does it take the moon to make
one orbit around Earth?
About 27.3 days (or one month)

Short Response, continued

6. What are the names of the four moons of Jupiter known
as the Galilean moons?
Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

Short Response, continued

7. When the moon is at its apogee, what part of its shadow
cannot reach Earth during an eclipse?
The umbra
Reading Skills
Read the passage below. Then, answer questions 8–11.
Kuiper Belt Objects
To explain the source of short-period comets, or comets that have a
relatively short orbit around the sun, the Dutch-American astronomer
Gerard Kuiper proposed in 1949 that a belt of icy bodies must lie beyond
the orbits of Neptune and Pluto. Kuiper argued that comets were icy
planetesimals that formed from the condensation that happened during
the formation of our galaxy.
Because the icy bodies are so far from any large planet’s gravitational
field (30 to 100 AU), they are able to remain on the fringe of the solar
system. Some theorists speculate that the large moons Triton and
Charon were once independent members of the Kuiper Belt before they
were captured by Neptune and Pluto, respectively, These moons and
short-period comets have similar physical and chemical properties.
Scientists now believe that the Kuiper Belt may be home to thousands of
objects that have diameters of more than 100 km.
Reading Skills, continued

8. According to the information in the passage, which of
the following did Gerard Kuiper think were actually icy
planetesimals?
A. outer planets
B. comets
C. moons of every planet
D. inner planets

8. According to the information in the passage, which of
the following did Gerard Kuiper think were actually icy
planetesimals?
A. outer planets
B. comets
C. moons of every planet
D. inner planets

9. What two bodies do some scientists believe were once
independent Kuiper Belt objects?
F. Neptune and Charon

G. Neptune and Pluto
H. Triton and Neptune
I. Triton and Charon

9. What two bodies do some scientists believe were once
independent Kuiper Belt objects?
F. Neptune and Charon

G. Neptune and Pluto
H. Triton and Neptune
I. Triton and Charon

10. What did the moon Triton orbit before it was captured
by the gravity of Neptune?
A. the sun
B. Pluto
C. the solar system
D. Charon

10. What did the moon Triton orbit before it was captured
by the gravity of Neptune?
A. the sun
B. Pluto
C. the solar system
D. Charon

11. Why did it take until the middle of the 20th century for
astronomers to discover the presence of the Kuiper Belt?
Your answer should include the following points: Kuiper

Belt objects are usually very small; the Kuiper Belt was
not discovered until the middle of the 20th century
because previous technology had not been powerful
enough to detect the small objects that populate it; even
with today’s advanced technology, scientists speculate
that hundreds of Kuiper Belt objects remain
undiscovered.
Interpreting Graphics
The diagram below shows the waxing and waning of the
moon. Use this diagram to answer questions 12 and 13.
Interpreting Graphics, continued

12. How would the appearance of the moon in the Southern
Hemisphere be different from its appearance in the Northern
Hemisphere?
F. The phases of the moon would appear exactly the same.
G. The Southern Hemisphere would see a full moon when
the Northern Hemisphere sees a new moon.
H. The moon would wax from left to right instead of from
right to left.
I. The Southern Hemisphere would see a waxing moon
when the Northern Hemisphere sees a waning moon.

12. How would the appearance of the moon in the Southern
Hemisphere be different from its appearance in the Northern
Hemisphere?
F. The phases of the moon would appear exactly the same.
G. The Southern Hemisphere would see a full moon when
the Northern Hemisphere sees a new moon.
H. The moon would wax from left to right instead of from
right to left.
I. The Southern Hemisphere would see a waxing moon
when the Northern Hemisphere sees a waning moon.

13. What part of the moon is facing Earth during the new
moon in stage 1?
A. the near side

B. the far side
C. the north pole
D. the south pole

13. What part of the moon is facing Earth during the new
moon in stage 1?
A. the near side

B. the far side
C. the north pole
D. the south pole

14. The word wax means “to grow larger,” while wane means “to grow
smaller.” If the lighted portion of a waxing crescent is the same size
as that of a waning crescent, why do you think these terms are
used?
Your answer should include the following points: Waxing and

waning describe only the lighted part of the moon; during a waxing
moon, the lighted portion appears to enlarge each subsequent night;
the moon begins to wax after the new moon, when light is visible;
during a waning moon, the lighted portion appears to shrink each
subsequent night. The moon begins to wane after the full moon,
when the most light is visible.

The diagram below shows data about the interior structure
of the moon. Use this diagram to answer question 15.

15. Where is the crust of the moon the thickest?
F. at the poles
G. at the equator
H. on the near side
I. on the far side

15. Where is the crust of the moon the thickest?
F. at the poles
G. at the equator
H. on the near side
I. on the far side

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Minor Bodies of the Solar System Standardized Test Prep

Minor Bodies of the Solar System

Multiple Choice, continued

Multiple Choice, continued

Multiple Choice, continued

A. It is divided into smaller ringlets, all of which orbit Saturn

Multiple Choice, continued

A. It is divided into smaller ringlets, all of which orbit Saturn

Multiple Choice, continued

F. The moon has no atmosphere to provide

Multiple Choice, continued

F. The moon has no atmosphere to provide

About 27.3 days (or one month)

Short Response, continued

Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

Short Response, continued

Reading Skills, continued

Reading Skills, continued

Reading Skills, continued

F. Neptune and Charon

Reading Skills, continued

F. Neptune and Charon

Reading Skills, continued

Reading Skills, continued

Reading Skills, continued

Your answer should include the following points: Kuiper

Interpreting Graphics, continued

Interpreting Graphics, continued

Interpreting Graphics, continued

A. the near side

Interpreting Graphics, continued

A. the near side

Interpreting Graphics, continued

Your answer should include the following points: Waxing and

Interpreting Graphics, continued

Interpreting Graphics, continued

Interpreting Graphics, continued

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