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Our solar system
Recall key facts about planets, moons and our solar system from a verified question bank. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Our solar system
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun: gravity or magnetism?
2. Which planet is farthest from the Sun among the eight planets: Neptune or Venus?
3. Which phase of the Moon occurs when the entire Earth-facing side is illuminated by sunlight: Full Moon or Crescent Moon?
4. Approximately how many days does Earth take to orbit the Sun once: 365 or 30?
5. How many planets are in our solar system (excluding dwarf planets): 8 or 12?
6. Which four planets closest to the Sun have rocky surfaces (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars): terrestrial planets or gas giants?
7. How long does Earth take to complete one full rotation on its axis: 24 hours or 365 days?
8. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
9. Which planet is the hottest in our solar system due to its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere: Venus or Mars?
10. What is Saturn’s largest moon, which has a dense nitrogen-rich atmosphere: Titan or Phobos?
11. What galaxy is our solar system located in: the Milky Way or Andromeda?
12. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Our solar system
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun: gravity or magnetism?
GravityGravitational attraction between the Sun and the planets keeps them in orbit.
2. Which planet is farthest from the Sun among the eight planets: Neptune or Venus?
NeptuneNeptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun.
3. Which phase of the Moon occurs when the entire Earth-facing side is illuminated by sunlight: Full Moon or Crescent Moon?
Full MoonAt Full Moon, Earth lies between the Sun and the Moon.
4. Approximately how many days does Earth take to orbit the Sun once: 365 or 30?
365One Earth year (one full orbit around the Sun) takes about 365.25 days.
5. How many planets are in our solar system (excluding dwarf planets): 8 or 12?
8The eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
6. Which four planets closest to the Sun have rocky surfaces (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars): terrestrial planets or gas giants?
Terrestrial planetsThe four inner planets are rocky terrestrial worlds.
7. How long does Earth take to complete one full rotation on its axis: 24 hours or 365 days?
24 hoursEarth rotates once on its axis every 24 hours, giving us day and night.
8. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
MercuryMercury has the smallest orbit of the eight planets.
9. Which planet is the hottest in our solar system due to its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere: Venus or Mars?
VenusVenus has an intense greenhouse effect that traps heat, making it hotter than Mercury.
10. What is Saturn’s largest moon, which has a dense nitrogen-rich atmosphere: Titan or Phobos?
TitanTitan is Saturn’s largest moon and the second-largest moon in the solar system.
11. What galaxy is our solar system located in: the Milky Way or Andromeda?
The Milky WayOur solar system is part of the Milky Way spiral galaxy.
12. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
MarsIron oxide minerals on Mars give its surface a reddish appearance.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Our solar system
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun: gravity or magnetism?
2. Which planet is farthest from the Sun among the eight planets: Neptune or Venus?
3. Which phase of the Moon occurs when the entire Earth-facing side is illuminated by sunlight: Full Moon or Crescent Moon?
4. Approximately how many days does Earth take to orbit the Sun once: 365 or 30?
5. How many planets are in our solar system (excluding dwarf planets): 8 or 12?
6. Which four planets closest to the Sun have rocky surfaces (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars): terrestrial planets or gas giants?
7. How long does Earth take to complete one full rotation on its axis: 24 hours or 365 days?
8. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
9. Which planet is the hottest in our solar system due to its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere: Venus or Mars?
10. What is Saturn’s largest moon, which has a dense nitrogen-rich atmosphere: Titan or Phobos?
11. What galaxy is our solar system located in: the Milky Way or Andromeda?
12. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Our solar system
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. What force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun: gravity or magnetism?
GravityGravitational attraction between the Sun and the planets keeps them in orbit.
2. Which planet is farthest from the Sun among the eight planets: Neptune or Venus?
NeptuneNeptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun.
3. Which phase of the Moon occurs when the entire Earth-facing side is illuminated by sunlight: Full Moon or Crescent Moon?
Full MoonAt Full Moon, Earth lies between the Sun and the Moon.
4. Approximately how many days does Earth take to orbit the Sun once: 365 or 30?
365One Earth year (one full orbit around the Sun) takes about 365.25 days.
5. How many planets are in our solar system (excluding dwarf planets): 8 or 12?
8The eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
6. Which four planets closest to the Sun have rocky surfaces (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars): terrestrial planets or gas giants?
Terrestrial planetsThe four inner planets are rocky terrestrial worlds.
7. How long does Earth take to complete one full rotation on its axis: 24 hours or 365 days?
24 hoursEarth rotates once on its axis every 24 hours, giving us day and night.
8. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
MercuryMercury has the smallest orbit of the eight planets.
9. Which planet is the hottest in our solar system due to its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere: Venus or Mars?
VenusVenus has an intense greenhouse effect that traps heat, making it hotter than Mercury.
10. What is Saturn’s largest moon, which has a dense nitrogen-rich atmosphere: Titan or Phobos?
TitanTitan is Saturn’s largest moon and the second-largest moon in the solar system.
11. What galaxy is our solar system located in: the Milky Way or Andromeda?
The Milky WayOur solar system is part of the Milky Way spiral galaxy.
12. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
MarsIron oxide minerals on Mars give its surface a reddish appearance.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification