Astronomy Formative Assessment
Name: 


  1. Why is it warmer in the summer and colder in the winter?
    Earth is closer to the Sun in summer
    The Sun releases more energy in the summer
    The angle of Earth's tilt on its axis realtive to the the Sun
    There is less wind in summer to blow the heat away


  1. In terms of time, compared to a calendar (or "regular") year, a light year is
    less than a calendar year
    the same as a calendar year
    more than a calendar year


  1. Rank the following, from closest to Earth to furthest from Earth
        1 2 3 4 5 6 7
    Sun  
    Moon  
    Mars  
    Asteroid Belt  
    The stars  
    The edge of the solar system  
    The edge of the galaxy  


  1. Rank the planets (including Pluto!) from closest to the Sun to furthest from the Sun
        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
    Earth  
    Jupiter  
    Saturn  
    Neptune  
    Mercury  
    Mars  
    Uranus  
    Pluto  
    Venus  


  1. If you measure the solar system from the Sun to the edge of Pluto's orbit, which planet is closest to halfway out to the edge of the solar system?
    Mars
    Saturn
    Jupiter
    Uranus
    Neptune


  1. About how old is Earth?
    4,500 years
    4.5 million years
    4.5 billion years
    14.5 billion years


  1. About how old is the universe?
    3,500 years
    3.5 million years
    13.5 billion years
    13.5 trillion years


  1. We know what distant stars are made of because
    we have sent satellites to them
    we analyze the light received from them
    we read about it in books
    people have landed on them at night when it is safe


  1. Rank the following from MOST ot LEAST
        1 2 3 4
    Number of cells in the human body  
    Grains of sand on all the beaches in the entire world  
    Numbers of stars in the entire universe  
    Number of galaxies in the universe  


  1. Look at the attached picture of some of the phases of the Moon. What is the reason we see the different shapes?

    Earth casts a shadow on the Moon.
    The Sun casts a shadow on the Moon.
    The relative positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
    Clouds on Earth sometimes block part of the Moon from view.
    Clouds on the Moon sometimes bloc kpart of it from view.
    Varying degrees of soalr intensity.


  1. Imagine you look up in the sky and see the Moon as it appears in the attached image. Based only upon this information, you should assume the Sun is

    to the east
    to the west
    down because it is midnight
    high in the sky because it is noon


  1. A lunar eclipse can occur
    twice in a single month
    only during a full Moon
    only during a new Moon
    during both a full and a new Moon.


  1. Which of the following is true?
    Light waves are faster the radio waves.
    Radio waves are faster than light waves.
    Radi waves and light waves move at the same velocity.


  1. Gravity is the force that attracts massive obecjects such as the Sun, Earth, and Moon, and keeps them in orbit. Electron repulsion is the tendency of electons at the atomic level to repel each other. Which of the following is true?
    The force of gravity is stronger than electron repulsion.
    Electron repulsion is stronger than gravity.
    The two forces are identical in all circumstances.


  1. Which of the following statements is most accurate?
    When you look up at the stars, you are looking into the past.
    When you look up at the stars, you are looking into the future.
    When you look up at the stars, you are seing the present.


  1. A dimension is a magnitude of something in a specific direction. For example, length is a dimension. Think about the world around you. How many dimensions are there?
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    More than 12





Mr. Holm