NumicornNumicornLearn, solve, progress

Space and the Solar System Practice Tests

These Grade 8 Science practice tests cover the solar system, gravity, orbits, rotation and revolution, Earth-Moon-Sun patterns, seasons, phases, eclipses, tides, stars, galaxies, telescopes, exoplanets, and scale models.

Skills covered

  • Explaining how gravity and motion create orbits
  • Using Earth-Moon-Sun models to explain seasons, phases, eclipses, and tides
  • Comparing planets, moons, asteroids, comets, stars, and galaxies
  • Interpreting light, spectra, telescopes, and observations of distant objects
  • Evaluating scale models and evidence-based explanations of space systems

How to use these practice tests

Identify the objects, motion, force, light pattern, or scale relationship in each question. Then use the model to explain what an observer would see and what evidence supports the conclusion.

For more Grade 8 Science practice, return to the Grade 8 Science category.

Select a test

5 Tests
1. Test2. Test3. Test4. Test5. Test

2. Test

Grade 8 Space and the Solar System Practice Tests

Practice Grade 8 Science questions about the solar system, gravity, orbits, Earth-Moon-Sun patterns, stars, galaxies, observations, and space models.

Choose the best answer. Use gravity, motion, light, cycles, scale models, and observations to explain each space science situation.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

What is an orbit?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A repeated curved path of one object around another object.

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: An orbit is the path produced when an object moves forward while gravity pulls it toward another object.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is A repeated curved path of one object around another object.

An orbit is the path produced when an object moves forward while gravity pulls it toward another object.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Why does the Moon orbit Earth instead of flying in a straight line away?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Earths gravity continually pulls the Moon inward..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: The Moons forward motion and Earths inward gravitational pull combine to create an orbit.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is Earths gravity continually pulls the Moon inward..

The Moons forward motion and Earths inward gravitational pull combine to create an orbit.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What happens to gravitational attraction when the distance between two objects increases?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The gravitational attraction becomes weaker..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: Gravity acts across distance, but its strength decreases as the distance between objects increases.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is The gravitational attraction becomes weaker..

Gravity acts across distance, but its strength decreases as the distance between objects increases.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

Why do astronauts appear weightless while orbiting Earth?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is They and their spacecraft are continuously falling around Earth together..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: Orbiting astronauts are in free fall, so they experience apparent weightlessness even though Earths gravity still acts.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is They and their spacecraft are continuously falling around Earth together..

Orbiting astronauts are in free fall, so they experience apparent weightlessness even though Earths gravity still acts.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What would happen to a planets orbit if the inward gravitational force suddenly disappeared?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The planet would move approximately in a straight line in its current direction..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: Without the inward force, the planets forward motion would carry it along a tangent rather than a curved orbit.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is The planet would move approximately in a straight line in its current direction..

Without the inward force, the planets forward motion would carry it along a tangent rather than a curved orbit.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Why does a more massive object generally exert a stronger gravitational force?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Gravitational force increases when the mass of an interacting object increases..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: Mass is one factor that determines the strength of gravitational attraction between objects.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is Gravitational force increases when the mass of an interacting object increases..

Mass is one factor that determines the strength of gravitational attraction between objects.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

How does the Sun help keep the solar system together?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Its large mass creates gravity that holds planets and other objects in orbit..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: The Suns large gravitational influence organizes the orbits of planets, asteroids, and other solar-system objects.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is Its large mass creates gravity that holds planets and other objects in orbit..

The Suns large gravitational influence organizes the orbits of planets, asteroids, and other solar-system objects.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Why do planets have different orbital periods?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Their distances from the Sun and orbital paths differ..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: Planets farther from the Sun generally travel on larger orbits and take longer to complete one revolution.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is Their distances from the Sun and orbital paths differ..

Planets farther from the Sun generally travel on larger orbits and take longer to complete one revolution.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the difference between rotation and revolution?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Rotation is spinning on an axis, while revolution is motion around another object..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: Earth rotates once about its axis and revolves around the Sun in its orbit.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is Rotation is spinning on an axis, while revolution is motion around another object..

Earth rotates once about its axis and revolves around the Sun in its orbit.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the best model of an orbiting planet?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A ball moving forward while an inward force continually changes its direction..

  1. Identify the space system: Determine whether the question concerns an object, orbit, gravity, light, a cycle, a scale model, or evidence from observation.
  2. Use the scientific model: An orbit model must include forward motion and an inward gravitational force that produces curved motion.
  3. Check the relationship: The correct choice is A ball moving forward while an inward force continually changes its direction..

An orbit model must include forward motion and an inward gravitational force that produces curved motion.

Previous testNext test