Test Your Knowledge On Solar System! Trivia Questions

Reviewed by Editorial Team
The ProProfs editorial team is comprised of experienced subject matter experts. They've collectively created over 10,000 quizzes and lessons, serving over 100 million users. Our team includes in-house content moderators and subject matter experts, as well as a global network of rigorously trained contributors. All adhere to our comprehensive editorial guidelines, ensuring the delivery of high-quality content.
Learn about Our Editorial Process
| By E050265
E
E050265
Community Contributor
Quizzes Created: 9 | Total Attempts: 42,733
| Attempts: 22,307 | Questions: 20
Please wait...
Question 1 / 20
0 %
0/100
Score 0/100
1. parts of our solar system

Explanation

The correct answer includes the different components that make up our solar system. It mentions the inner planets (such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars), asteroids, outer planets (such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), dwarf planets (such as Pluto), comets, moons, and the sun. These are all important elements that exist within our solar system. The Andromeda galaxy and exoplanets are not part of our solar system, so they are not included in the correct answer.

Submit
Please wait...
About This Quiz
Test Your Knowledge On Solar System! Trivia Questions - Quiz

Explore the dynamics of our solar system with 'Test Your Knowledge On Solar System! Trivia Questions'. This quiz assesses your understanding of planetary orbits, energy from the sun,... see moreand rotational periods, enhancing your grasp of basic astronomical concepts. see less

2. Earth revolves around the Sun in 365 days.  Mars revolves around the sun in 687 days.  Which planet has the shortest year?

Explanation

The correct answer is Earth because it takes 365 days for Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun, while Mars takes 687 days to complete its revolution. Therefore, Earth has the shortest year compared to Mars.

Submit
3. Jupiter rotates in 10 hours. Earth rotates in 24 hours. Which planet has the shortest day?

Explanation

Jupiter has the shortest day because it rotates in only 10 hours, while Earth takes 24 hours to complete a rotation. Therefore, Jupiter completes a full rotation in a shorter amount of time compared to Earth, making its day shorter.

Submit
4. Larger and further from the sun

Explanation

The outer planets refer to the planets in our solar system that are located further from the sun compared to the inner planets. These outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are often referred to as "gas giants" due to their large size and composition primarily of gases. These planets are characterized by their large size, extensive atmospheres, and numerous moons. In contrast, the inner planets, which include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are smaller and closer to the sun.

Submit
5. Earth

Explanation

Earth is classified as an inner planet because it is one of the four rocky planets that are closest to the Sun in our solar system. Inner planets, also known as terrestrial planets, are characterized by their solid surfaces, smaller sizes, and higher densities compared to the outer planets. Earth, along with Mercury, Venus, and Mars, is composed primarily of rock and metal, and it has a relatively thin atmosphere. This classification distinguishes Earth from the outer planets, which are predominantly composed of gas, and the dwarf planets, which are smaller in size and do not have a clear path around the Sun.

Submit
6. What are the Galilean Moons?

Explanation

The Galilean Moons refer to the four largest moons of Jupiter. These moons were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 and are named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. They are the most well-known and easily observable moons of Jupiter, and they are also among the largest moons in the entire solar system. These moons are of particular interest to scientists due to their unique characteristics, such as their geological activity, potential for hosting liquid water, and the possibility of harboring life.

Submit
7. Which of the following is responsible for the movement of planets within the    solar system?

Explanation

Gravity is responsible for the movement of planets within the solar system. Gravity is a force that attracts objects towards each other, and it is the gravitational pull of the sun that keeps the planets in their orbits. The planets move in elliptical paths around the sun because of the gravitational force acting upon them. The strength of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the objects involved, so the larger the mass of the planet, the stronger its gravitational force and the faster it moves in its orbit.

Submit
8.  Which of the following is least like the other three?

Explanation

The given options are all planets in our solar system except for Pluto. In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union, which means it does not meet the criteria to be considered a full-fledged planet like the others. Therefore, Pluto is the least like the other three options.

Submit
9. rotate on their axis

Explanation

Both inner and outer planets rotate on their axis. Rotation refers to the spinning motion of a planet around its own axis. This rotation causes day and night on the planet. Inner planets, such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, as well as outer planets, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, all undergo rotation. Therefore, the correct answer is both.

Submit
10. rocky, smaller, warmer planets with few moons

Explanation

The given answer, "inner planets," is correct because rocky, smaller, warmer planets with few moons are typically found closer to the sun, within the inner region of a solar system. These planets, such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars in our own solar system, are characterized by their solid surfaces, smaller sizes compared to gas giants, and relatively higher temperatures. They also tend to have fewer moons compared to the outer planets. Therefore, the term "inner planets" accurately describes this specific type of planet.

Submit
11. Which planet receives the most energy from the sun?

Explanation

Earth receives the most energy from the sun because it is the third planet from the sun and is located within the habitable zone, also known as the Goldilocks zone. This means that Earth is at the right distance from the sun to receive the optimal amount of solar energy. Additionally, Earth has an atmosphere that helps retain and distribute the sun's energy, making it the planet that receives the most energy from the sun.

Submit
12. The inner planets are closer to the sun.  The outer planets are further from the sun.  Which planet takes the longest to orbit the sun?

Explanation

Neptune takes the longest to orbit the sun because it is the farthest planet from the sun among the given options. The distance from the sun affects the time it takes for a planet to complete one orbit. Since Neptune is the outermost planet, it has a larger orbit and therefore takes a longer time to complete one revolution around the sun compared to the inner planets like Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter.

Submit
13. primarily orbit the sun

Explanation

Both the inner planets and outer planets primarily orbit the sun. The inner planets, which include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are located closer to the sun and have shorter orbital periods. The outer planets, which include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are located farther from the sun and have longer orbital periods. Despite their differences in distance and orbital periods, both groups of planets are still primarily orbiting the sun as their central celestial body.

Submit
14. How does the sun generate heat and light?

Explanation

The sun generates heat and light through a process called nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion occurs when the sun's core combines hydrogen atoms to form helium. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat and light. The high temperatures and pressures in the sun's core allow for this fusion reaction to take place, creating the heat and light that we observe from the sun.

Submit
15. Of the inner planets, which has the shortest year?

Explanation

Mercury has the shortest year among the inner planets because it is the closest planet to the Sun. With an orbital period of only 88 Earth days, Mercury completes its journey around the Sun much faster than the other inner planets.

Submit
16. What is an asteroid?

Explanation

An asteroid is a large rock in space. It is not composed of ice and dust, nor is it a very small piece of rock. Asteroids are celestial objects that orbit the Sun and are mainly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They can vary in size, ranging from small boulders to objects several hundred kilometers in diameter.

Submit
17. A student creates a model of the solar system.  She uses a basketball to represent Jupiter and a golf ball to represent Earth.  Which would be best to use for representing Earth's Moon?

Explanation

A pea would be the best choice for representing Earth's Moon because it is small in size, similar to the actual size of the Moon compared to Earth. The other options, such as an orange, grapefruit, and baseball, are much larger in size and would not accurately represent the Moon's relative size to Earth.

Submit
18. Which best completes the statement? As a planet's distance from the Sun increases, the planet's period of revolution ___.

Explanation

As a planet's distance from the Sun increases, the planet's period of revolution increases. This is because the gravitational force between the planet and the Sun decreases as the distance increases. According to Kepler's third law of planetary motion, the square of the period of revolution is directly proportional to the cube of the average distance between the planet and the Sun. Therefore, as the distance increases, the period of revolution also increases.

Submit
19. Which best explains why we use models to represent the solar system?

Explanation

Models are used to represent the solar system because the actual distances within the solar system are extremely large and difficult to work with. By using models, scientists can scale down the distances and sizes of the solar system's components to make them more manageable and easier to study and understand.

Submit
20. If a rocket leaves Earth and travels through the solar system away from the sun, which object's orbital path will the rocket pass first?

Explanation

As the rocket leaves Earth and travels through the solar system away from the sun, it will pass the moon first. The moon is the closest celestial object to Earth and is therefore the first object that the rocket will encounter on its journey through the solar system.

Submit
View My Results

Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Dec 6, 2024 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Dec 06, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • May 07, 2014
    Quiz Created by
    E050265
Cancel
  • All
    All (20)
  • Unanswered
    Unanswered ()
  • Answered
    Answered ()
Parts of our solar system
Earth revolves around the Sun in 365 days.  Mars revolves around...
Jupiter rotates in 10 hours. ...
Larger and further from the sun
Earth
What are the Galilean Moons?
Which of the following is responsible for the movement of planets...
 Which of the following is least like the other three?
Rotate on their axis
Rocky, smaller, warmer planets with few moons
Which planet receives the most energy from the sun?
The inner planets are closer to the sun.  The outer planets are...
Primarily orbit the sun
How does the sun generate heat and light?
Of the inner planets, which has the shortest year?
What is an asteroid?
A student creates a model of the solar system.  She uses a...
Which best completes the statement? ...
Which best explains why we use models to represent the solar system?
If a rocket leaves Earth and travels through the solar system away...
Alert!

Advertisement