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GCSE level questions on the Earth in Space

Q8.Our Sun is a star.

(a) Name the galaxy is the Sun is in.

The Milky Way

[1 mark]

(b) Light takes 500 seconds to travel from the Sun to the Earth.

Light travels at 300 000 kilometres per second.

Calculate the distance between the Sun and the Earth.

speed = distance/time

distance = speed x time

distance = 300,000 x 500 = 150,000,000 km

[3 marks]

(c) The table below gives information about some of the planets in our solar system. The planets are in order of increasing distance from the Sun.

Planet
Time to orbit the Sun in years
Mercury
0.2
Venus
0.6
Earth
1.0
Mars
Jupiter
12.0

 

(i) There are some planets in our solar system missing from the table. How many planets are missing?

Pre-2006 Pluto was classed as a planet and there were nine planets in our solar system - now there are only eight as Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

There are five in the table so three are missing.

[1 mark]

(ii) Estimate how many years it takes Mars to orbit the Sun.

Any value higher than 1 and lower than 12 would get you a mark.

Mars' orbit is actually 1.9 years

[1 mark]

(iii) Calculate how many times Venus will orbit the Sun in 9 years.

9/0.6 = 15

[2 marks]

(Total 7marks)