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Questions on the Earth in Space

Q11.

Until 1781 scientists thought there were only six planets in the solar system. Then a scientist called Herschel looked through a very large telescope that could turn to follow objects in space. He watched a bright object in the night sky for a few months and made drawings of what he saw. He concluded it was a planet.

(a) What method did Herschel use to discover the new planet?

A: He carried out practical tests in the laboratory.

B: He asked scientists' opinions.

C: He observed the environment.

D: He gathered data from books.

1 mark

(b) Scientists today use satellites as well as telescopes to observe the universe. Suggest one way that developments in equipment have changed the information scientists collect about planets. .

1 mark

(c) Before 1781, scientists believed there were 6 planets in our solar system. Now scientists believe there are 8 planets. What do these ideas suggest about our knowledge of our solar system?

1 mark

(d) What causes scientists to reject an idea and replace it with a new one?

1 mark

maximum 4 marks