(1 marks)

Total Marks: /20

Extension

A student suspended a spring from a laboratory stand and then hung a weight from the spring.

Figure 1 shows the spring before and after the weight is added.

Figure 1

(a) Which distance gives the extension of the spring?

Tick one box.

from J to K

from K to L

from J to L

(1)

(b) The graph shows the increase in length of a spring against load (force).
 Give the letter that is used to label:

(i) the model Sun;

.............. (1 mark)

(ii) the model Earth;

.............. (1 mark)

(iii) the model Moon;

.............. (1 mark)

(iv) the model planet with the largest orbit.

.............. (1 mark)

Q2. The bar chart below shows the relative size of seven planets, compared with the
Earth.

(a) Uranus is four times larger than the Earth

On the chart, draw a bar for the planet Neptune. Make sure that you use a ruler.
(1 mark)

(b) Give the name of a planet which is closest in size to the Earth

................................................................
 (1 mark)

(c) Name the largest planet in the Solar System

................................................................
(1 mark)

Q3. (a) Complete the list of planets in our Solar System, moving outward from the Sun:

Mercury

………………..

………………..

Mars

………………..

Saturn

Uranus

………………..
(4 marks)

(b) Name the planet which is likely to have the lowest average temperature

…………………………..
(1 mark)

(c) Name the planet which is likely to be the hottest

…………………………..
(1 mark)

Q4. Give the name for the path taken by a planet around the Sun. What shape does
this path normally take?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(2 marks)

Q5. (a) Give the name for the imaginary line which runs between the Earth’s north and
south poles, around which the planet rotates

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(1 mark)

(b) Explain how we know that the Earth takes 24 hours to complete one full rotation around this
line

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(2 marks)
Q6. The graph below shows the length of a day on each of the planets in our Solar
 System:

(a) Name the planet which spins the fastest around its axis. Make sure that you justify your answer with
data from the graph

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(2 marks)

(b) Name the planet which spins the slowest around its axis. Make sure that you justify your answer
with data from the graph

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(2 marks)

Total Marks: / 22

Extension

The diagram shows the Earth travelling on orbit around the Sun.

not to scale
(a) What season is it in Britain? Explain your answer

……………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………

(2 marks)

(b) State the angle at which the Earth is tilted on its axis

………….
(1 mark)

(c) Australia is in the southern hemisphere, while the UK is found in the northern hemisphere.
State and explain what season it’ll be in Australia during the UK’s Summer

……………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………

(2 marks)

Total Marks: / 27

Complete your mastery matrix with your total marks for Homework 5.

Homework 6 Observing the Solar System

Q1.The diagram below shows the Hubble telescope in

orbit around the Earth.

not to scale

(a) Which force keeps the telescope in orbit around the Earth? Tick the correct box.

air resistance friction

gravity magnetism
1 mark

(b) The Hubble telescope is a satellite used for looking at planets and stars.

Give one other use of satellites.

........................................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) Fill each of the gaps in the following sentences with a different word from the box
below.
 absorbs produces reflects

You can see the Sun because it .............................................. light.

You can see a satellite because it ........................................... light.

2 mark

(e) (i) Arrange the following in order of size, starting with the smallest.

Sun Hubble telescope Earth

....................................... ...................................... ......................................

smallest largest
1 mark

(ii) Some stars are bigger than the Sun but they look smaller.
Why do they look smaller than the Sun? Tick the correct box.

1 mark

Q2.
(a) The diagram below shows the positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth during a solar
eclipse.

Write numbers (1–4) on the diagram below to label the features during an eclipse.

1. the Earth
2. the Moon
3. the Sun
4. a region where the total eclipse of the Sun is taking place

2 marks

(b) Scientists discovered a regular cycle of eclipses. It is called the Saros cycle.
The table below shows the dates of some eclipses in this cycle.

Complete the table by predicting the date of the next eclipse in the Saros cycle.
 eclipse date

eclipse 1 20th July 1963

eclipse 2 31st July 1981

eclipse 3 11th August 1999

eclipse 4
2 marks

Q3.Pluto was discovered in 1930. It was classified as a

planet. In 2006, scientists agreed that Pluto is not a planet.
(a) The diagram below shows our solar system.

(i) From the diagram, what supports the idea that Pluto
is a planet?

...............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) From the diagram, what supports the idea that Pluto is not a planet?

...............................................................................................................
1 mark

(b) The table below shows information about planets in our solar system.

planet diameter (km)

Mercury 4800

Venus 12200

Earth 12800

Mars 6800

Jupiter 142600

Saturn 120200

Uranus 49000

Neptune 50000

Pluto has a diameter of 2 300 km.

How does this information suggest to scientists that Pluto is not a planet?

........................................................................................................................
1 mark
 (c) An object called Charon orbits Pluto.

How does the presence of Charon support the idea that Pluto is a planet?

........................................................................................................................
1 mark

(d) The table below shows the composition of the atmosphere of some of the objects in our
solar system.

object atmosphere

Mercury none

Venus mainly carbon dioxide

Earth mainly nitrogen and oxygen

Neptune hydrogen, helium and methane

Earth’s moon none

Titan (a moon) nitrogen and methane

Pluto nitrogen and methane

Atmosphere is not used to classify objects as moons or planets.

Use the information above to suggest a reason for this.

......................................................................................................................1 mark

(e) Why do you think scientists found it difficult to decide how Pluto should be classified?

........................................................................................................................1 mark

Q4.Until 1781 scientists thought there were only six planets in the
solar system. Then a scientist called Herschel looked through a very
large telescope that could turn to follow objects in space. He watched a
bright object in the night sky for a few months and made drawings of
what he saw. He concluded it was a planet.

(a) What method did Herschel use to discover the new planet?
Tick the correct box.

He carried out practical He asked scientists’

tests in the laboratory. opinions.

He observed the He gathered data

environment. from books.

1 mark
 (b) Scientists today use satellites as well as telescopes to observe the universe.

Suggest one way that developments in equipment have changed the information
scientists collect about planets.

.....................................................................................................................1 mark

(c) Before 1781, scientists believed there were 6 planets in our solar system. Now scientists
believe there are 10 planets.

What do these ideas suggest about our knowledge of our solar system?

.....................................................................................................................1 mark

(d) What causes scientists to reject an idea and replace it with a new one?

.....................................................................................................................1 mark

EXTENSION

Q5.The diagram shows the Sun and the orbits of the five inner planets.
The distances (but not the sizes of the Sun and Jupiter) are to scale.

(a) On the diagram, draw a dot to show the Earth’s

position when Earth and Jupiter are moving
parallel to each other and in the same
direction.
Label the dot E.
1 mark

(b) As Jupiter moves in its orbit, it appears to

move across the pattern of stars in the
background.
When Jupiter and the Earth are moving
parallel to each other, Jupiter appears to
move backwards across the pattern of stars.
Explain why.

……….……………………………………………………………………………… 1 mark

(c) The light from the Sun takes about 8.3 minutes to reach the Earth.
Using the diagram above, estimate how long it takes for light to travel from Jupiter to the
Earth when they are the shortest possible distance apart. Show your working.

……….………………………………………………………………………………

……….………………………………………………………………………………

……….………………………………………………………………………………
2 marks