Students compare data about the characteristics of different Solar System objects. The students want to identify the objects based on their characteristics.

Question

 
Which Solar System object does each row of data ,begin emphasis,most,end emphasis, likely describe? Place each object into the table next to the data that describes it.
Response area with 4 blank spaces
,begin bold,Object,end bold,
,begin bold,Average Distance from the Sun,end bold,
(million kilometers)
,begin bold,Diameter,end bold,
(kilometers)
,begin bold,Composition,end bold, ,begin bold,Shape of Orbit,end bold,
Blank space 1 empty
108 12,104 rock nearly circular
Blank space 2 empty
394 61 rock nearly circular
Blank space 3 empty
779 142,984 gas elliptical
Blank space 4 empty
2679 9 ice, rock, gas highly elliptical
Answer options with 4 options.
Asteroid , inner planet , outer planet, comet

Answer 1

Based on the provided data about the characteristics of different Solar System objects, here is how each object likely corresponds to the characteristics given:

1. Blank space 1:

   • Object: Inner planet
   • Description: 108 million kilometers from the Sun, diameter of 12,104 kilometers, composition is rock, and shape of orbit is nearly circular. (This matches Earth, for example).

2. Blank space 2:

   • Object: Asteroid
   • Description: 394 million kilometers from the Sun, diameter of 61 kilometers, composition is rock, and shape of orbit is nearly circular. (This could describe a larger asteroid in the asteroid belt).

3. Blank space 3:

   • Object: Outer planet
   • Description: 779 million kilometers from the Sun, diameter of 142,984 kilometers, composition is gas, and shape of orbit is elliptical. (This could describe Jupiter, for instance).

4. Blank space 4:

   • Object: Comet
   • Description: 2679 million kilometers from the Sun, diameter of 9 kilometers, composition is ice, rock, gas, and shape of orbit is highly elliptical. (This describes a comet, which has a highly elliptical orbit).

Here is the filled table:

| Object | Average Distance from the Sun (million km) | Diameter (km) | Composition | Shape of Orbit | |----------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------| | Inner planet | 108 | 12,104 | rock | nearly circular | | Asteroid | 394 | 61 | rock | nearly circular | | Outer planet | 779 | 142,984 | gas | elliptical | | Comet | 2679 | 9 | ice, rock, gas | highly elliptical |