Cosmology Homework 1 put the following in order of increasing size (smallest first). galaxy solar system planet universe

Cosmology Homework 1

Q1. Put the following in order of increasing size (smallest first).

galaxy solar system planet universe (2)

Q2. The time taken for light to reach us from the Sun is approximately

A	1 second
B	8 seconds
C	1 minute
D	8 minutes
E	1 hour

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Q3. Which term describes an object which orbits a star?

A	moon
B	planet
C	solar system
D	galaxy
E	universe

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Q4. A light year is defined as the distance that light travels in one year. Show by calculation that 1 light year = 9.4608 x 10¹⁵ m. (3)

Q5. Copy and complete the following passage.

The Earth is a __________ which orbits the Sun. The Earth has one natural satellite called the _______.

The Sun is at the centre of our ________________________. Light from the Sun takes about ________________ to travel to the Earth.

The nearest star to Earth is ______________.

All of space is known as the ________________. (3)

Q6. Read the following passage about comets.

Halley’s Comet is famous because it is visible to the naked eye, orbiting from beyond the planet Neptune and returning to the solar system on average once every 76 years.

Halley’s Comet last visited the inner solar system in 1986. It will return again in 2061.

Comets are made of ice mixed with frozen methane; substances very similar to those found on a moon called Miranda.

Comets can only survive very far away from the Sun. Most comets reside in the Oort Cloud which contains many billions of comets. The Oort Cloud reaches a quarter of the distance from the Sun to the next nearest star called Proxima Centauri.

The Oort Cloud is easily affected by the gravitational pull of the Milky Way galaxy which causes comets to move into new orbits that carry them closer to the Sun.

1. 
   Use information given in the passage to answer the following questions.
   

1. 
   State the name of one object that orbits a planet. (1)
   
2. 
   State the name of one object that generates light. (1)
   
3. 
   State the name of the object furthest away from the Earth. (1)
   
4. 
   State the name of one object that orbits the Sun. (1)
   

2. 
   State what is meant by the term galaxy. (1)
   
3. 
   State what is meant by the term solar system. (1)
   

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