Section #: 29.1
Overview of Our Solar System
Practice Test
1.
The __________ of a planet is its apparent backwards movement as seen from Earth's sky.
a.
epicycle
b.
perihelion
c.
retrograde motion
d.
eccentricity
Hint
2.
What is the distance between the Sun and Earth called?
a.
1 astronomical unit
b.
1 year
c.
1 light year
d.
1 mile
Hint
3.
When a planet is closest to the Sun it is at __________.
a.
aphelion
b.
an epicycle
c.
perihelion
d.
1 AU
Hint
4.
The eccentricity of a perfect circle is __________ and a very elongated ellipse is __________.
a.
one, zero
b.
zero, one
c.
zero, nearly one
d.
nearly zero, one
Hint
5.
What shape describes the orbits of the planets?
a.
a sphere
b.
an ellipse
c.
a line
d.
a circle
Hint
6.
What is the Sun-centered model of our solar system called?
a.
heliocentric
b.
eccentric
c.
geocentric
d.
epicycle
Hint
7.
What explains why the Sun governs the motion of all planets in our solar system?
a.
telescopic observations of the planets
b.
the law of universal gravitation
c.
Kepler's third law
d.
retrograde motion of planets
Hint