The solar system - SS1 Geography Past Questions and Answers - page 2
What causes the Earth to have a slightly flattened shape at the poles and bulging at the equator?
The Moon's gravitational pull
The Earth's magnetic field
Earth's rotation
Tectonic plate movement
What is the approximate surface area of the Earth?
100 million square kilometers
300 million square miles
510.1 million square kilometers
200 million square miles
Which celestial objects develop tails when they approach the Sun?
Planets
Moons
Comets
Asteroids
Which planet in the solar system is often referred to as the "Red Planet" due to its reddish appearance?
Earth
Mars
Venus
Saturn
What is the region between Mars and Jupiter that is home to many small rocky objects called?
Kuiper Belt
Oort Cloud
Asteroid Belt
Comet Cluster
Describe the shape of the Earth and explain why it has this shape.
The shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid, which means it is mostly spherical but slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. This shape is due to the Earth's rotation.
Name and describe the primary components of the solar system and their characteristics.
The primary components of the solar system include the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets. The Sun is a massive star at the center, and planets are celestial bodies that orbit it. Moons are natural satellites of planets, asteroids are small rocky objects, comets are icy bodies with tails, and dwarf planets are similar to planets but don't meet all the criteria.
Explain why Earth is considered a unique planet in the solar system in terms of its ability to support life.
Earth is unique in the solar system because it has the right conditions to support life, including a stable climate, liquid water, and a protective atmosphere.
What are comets, and what causes them to develop tails when they approach the Sun?
Comets are icy bodies that develop tails when they approach the Sun due to the Sun's heat. The heat causes the ice in the comet to vaporize and create a glowing tail that points away from the Sun.
Define and distinguish between a planet and a dwarf planet in the context of the solar system.
Planets are larger celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, while dwarf planets are similar but don't meet all the criteria to be considered full-fledged planets. An example of a dwarf planet is Pluto.