Astronomy: Earth Place in the Solar System Worksheet

Question 1

List the first four planets in order from the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The first four planets in order from the Sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Question 2

What number planet is Earth from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Earth is the third planet from the Sun.

Question 3

Explain why the Sun is important to Earth.

Accepted Answer

The Sun is important to Earth because it gives Earth light and heat. This energy helps keep Earth warm enough for living things and helps plants grow.

Question 4

Earth spins once on its axis about every 24 hours. What does this spinning cause?

Accepted Answer

Earth's spinning causes day and night. The side facing the Sun has day, and the side facing away from the Sun has night.

Question 5

Earth travels around the Sun once in about 365 days. What do we call this length of time?

Accepted Answer

We call this length of time one year. One year is the time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun once.

Question 6

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: Earth orbits the Sun in a path called an orbit, which is shaped like a nearly round oval called an ____.

Accepted Answer

Earth's orbit is shaped like a nearly round oval called an ellipse.

Question 7

Name Earth's natural satellite.

Accepted Answer

Earth's natural satellite is the Moon. It travels around Earth.

Question 8

How are Earth and the Moon different?

Accepted Answer

Earth is a planet that orbits the Sun, while the Moon is a natural satellite that orbits Earth. Earth also has air, liquid water, and many living things, while the Moon does not have these in the same way.

Question 9

Which two planets are Earth's closest neighbors in order from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Earth's closest neighbors in order from the Sun are Venus and Mars. Venus is closer to the Sun than Earth, and Mars is farther from the Sun than Earth.

Question 10

Explain why Earth is called a rocky planet.

Accepted Answer

Earth is called a rocky planet because it has a solid surface made of rock and metal. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are all rocky planets.

Question 11

Write one reason Earth can support life.

Accepted Answer

One reason Earth can support life is that it has liquid water. Earth also has air and temperatures that allow many living things to survive.

Question 12

Look at this list: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Which planets are closer to the Sun than Earth?

Accepted Answer

Mercury and Venus are closer to the Sun than Earth because they come before Earth in the order of planets from the Sun.

Question 13

Look at this list: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Which planets are farther from the Sun than Earth?

Accepted Answer

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are farther from the Sun than Earth because they come after Earth in the order of planets from the Sun.

Question 14

A model shows the Sun as a basketball and Earth as a small bead placed far away. What does this model help show about the solar system?

Accepted Answer

This model helps show that the Sun is much larger than Earth and that there is a lot of space between objects in the solar system.

Question 15

A student says, "The Sun goes around Earth once each day." Explain what is wrong with this idea.

Accepted Answer

The idea is wrong because Earth spins on its axis once each day, making the Sun appear to move across the sky. Earth orbits the Sun, not the other way around.

Astronomy: Earth Place in the Solar System

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