GCSE level questions on the Earth in Space
Q1.
(a) A student finds data on the Internet for her project on the Solar System. She checks this data on other websites. The table shows the checked data.
Name of planet |
Diameter/km |
Distance from Sun
/millions of km
|
Period/days |
Mercury |
4,840 |
58 |
87 |
Venus |
12,390 |
108 |
224 |
Earth |
12,760 |
149 |
365 |
Mars |
6,800 |
228 |
686 |
Jupiter |
142,800 |
778 |
4,332 |
Saturn |
119,400 |
1,428 |
10,759 |
| Uranus |
47,600 |
2,870 |
30,685 |
Neptune |
48,400 |
4,497 |
60,190 |
|
(i) In the table, the period of each planet is given in days. What is meant by the period of a planet? (1 mark)
The period is the time (for a planet) to orbit the Sun. 
(ii) Suggest why the student checks the data on other websites. (1 mark)
Information from the internet is
not always reliable / accurate so it is a good idea to check the data.
(iii) What is the relationship, if any, between a planet's distance from the Sun and its period? (1 mark)
The greater the distance (from the
Sun) the greater the (planet’s)
period. (There is a positive correlation).
Do not accept they are (directly) proportional - they are NOT! Do not accept 'quicker period'.
(iv) What is the relationship, if any, between a planet's diameter and its period? (1 mark)
There is not a relationship.
(b) What is the force which provides the centripetal force to keep planets in their orbits? (1 mark)
(Sun’s / star’s) pull of gravity keeps planets in their orbits.
(c) What is the name of the galaxy which contains the Solar System?
(1 mark)
Milky Way
(d) Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word from those listed as A to D below:.
The universe is made up of
| A |
hundreds |
| B |
thousands |
| C |
millions |
| D |
billions |
of galaxies. (1 mark)
(Total 7 marks)
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