Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe

Section 1: Overview of our Solar System

Overview of Our Solar System

1
When a planet is closest to the Sun it is at __________.
A)an epicycle
B)aphelion
C)1 AU
D)perihelion

2
What is the distance between the Sun and Earth called?
A)1 astronomical unit
B)1 mile
C)1 year
D)1 light year

3
The __________ of a planet is its apparent backwards movement as seen from Earth's sky.
A)epicycle
B)retrograde motion
C)perihelion
D)eccentricity

4
The eccentricity of a perfect circle is __________ and a very elongated ellipse is __________.
A)zero, one
B)nearly zero, one
C)zero, nearly one
D)one, zero

5
What explains why the Sun governs the motion of all planets in our solar system?
A)the law of universal gravitation
B)Kepler's third law
C)retrograde motion of planets
D)telescopic observations of the planets

6
What is the Sun-centered model of our solar system called?
A)epicycle
B)geocentric
C)heliocentric
D)eccentric

7
What shape describes the orbits of the planets?
A)an ellipse
B)a line
C)a sphere
D)a circle
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