Grade 12 Science Worksheet: Space Challenge Practice

Space Challenge Practice

Grade 12 Science Space Challenge Practice Challenging 10 Questions 15 Views

Classroom Worksheet

Grade 12 Science Worksheet: Space Challenge Practice

Space Challenge Practice

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Score______ / 10

Grade: Grade 12

Subject: Science

Topic: Space

Time: 20 Minutes

Difficulty: Challenging

Questions: 10

Instructions:
Read each question carefully and show your work where needed. Answer in complete sentences for written responses. Use appropriate scientific reasoning, units, and formulas. Questions increase in difficulty.

Skills Practiced:

Space
Science
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving

1Question

List the four inner planets in order from closest to farthest from the Sun.

2Question

Explain why planets do not collide with the Sun even though gravity pulls them toward it.

3Question

A star is observed to have a spectrum with dark absorption lines. What do these lines tell scientists about the star’s outer layers?

4Question

A satellite completes one orbit around Earth in 90 minutes. Is this satellite in a high orbit or a low orbit? Explain your reasoning.

5Question

If the Sun suddenly disappeared, what would happen to Earth’s motion about 8 minutes later?

6Question

A telescope on Earth detects that a galaxy’s light is shifted toward longer wavelengths. What does this indicate about the galaxy’s motion relative to Earth?

7Question

A star has the same surface temperature as the Sun but is much more luminous. What can be concluded about the star’s size?

8Question

Using the inverse-square relationship for gravity, determine how the gravitational force changes if the distance between two objects is doubled.

9Question

A planet has twice Earth’s mass and the same radius as Earth. How would its surface gravity compare to Earth’s? Explain.

10Question

A newly discovered exoplanet orbits a star in the habitable zone, but scientists are unsure whether it can support life. Name three other factors, besides distance from the star, that should be investigated and explain why each matters.

Answer Key

#	Answer
1	Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
2	Planets move forward fast enough that they continuously fall around the Sun rather than into it. Their orbital motion balances the Sun’s gravitational pull, producing a stable orbit.
3	The dark absorption lines show that specific wavelengths of light are being absorbed by cooler gases in the star’s outer atmosphere. They help identify the elements present in the star.
4	It is in a low orbit. Short orbital periods mean the satellite is closer to Earth and moving faster because gravity is stronger at lower altitudes.
5	About 8 minutes later, Earth would no longer feel the Sun’s gravity or receive sunlight. Earth would stop orbiting the Sun and move in a straight line tangent to its orbit, according to inertia.
6	The galaxy is moving away from Earth. This is called redshift and is evidence that space is expanding.
7	It must be larger than the Sun. If two stars have the same surface temperature, the more luminous one has a greater surface area and therefore a larger radius.
8	The gravitational force becomes one-fourth as strong. Gravity varies inversely with the square of distance, so doubling the distance makes the force 1/2^2 = 1/4 of the original.
9	Its surface gravity would be about twice Earth’s. Surface gravity depends on mass divided by radius squared, so doubling the mass while keeping the radius the same doubles the gravitational acceleration.
10	Possible factors include: 1) atmosphere composition and pressure, because they affect temperature and liquid water stability; 2) presence of liquid water, because it is essential for known life; 3) stellar activity, because strong flares and radiation can damage atmospheres and life; 4) planet mass/gravity, because it affects whether the planet can hold an atmosphere; 5) magnetic field, because it may protect the surface from charged particles. Any three well-explained factors are acceptable.