Light & Solar System

1. The Earth is a planet in our Solar System.

It takes time for the Earth to complete an orbit of the Sun and to spin once on
its axis.

Which row in the table is correct?

Time for Earth to complete Time for Earth to spin Tick

an orbit of the Sun once on its axis one
365 hours 24 days
24 years 365 days
365 days 24 hours
24 days 365 years
2. The diagram shows the Ptolemy geocentric model of our Solar System.

(a) The Ptolemy model does not include the planets Uranus and Neptune.

Give two other ways in which the Ptolemy model is different to the present
model of the Solar System.

1. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

2. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

(b) Give one reason why the Ptolemy model does not include Uranus and
Neptune.

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. Which planet is nearest to the Sun?

Tick the correct answer

A. Jupiter

B. Mars

C. Mercury

D. Neptune

4. The diagrams show a book being read.

Which diagram correctly shows how the book is read?

Circle the correct diagram.

5. The photograph shows a sundial.

The shadow on the sundial moves during the day. The shadow can be used to
tell the time.

Why does the shadow on the sundial move during a sunny day?

Tick one

A. because the Earth rotates on its axis once a day

B. because the Earth orbits the Moon once a day

C. because the Moon orbits the Earth once a day

D. because the Sun orbits the Earth once a day

6. The picture shows a tiger watching a gazelle.

On the picture draw a ray diagram to show how the Sun helps the tiger to see
the gazelle.
7. Why is there night and day on the Earth?

A. because the Earth is in orbit around the Sun

B. because the Sun is in orbit around the Earth

C. because the Earth is spinning on its axis

D. because the Sun is spinning on its axis

8. A student measures the length of the shadow made by a statue at three
different times of the day.

Draw one straight line from each time of day to the most likely length of the
shadow
9. The table gives information about four planets in the Solar System and their
approximate distance from the Sun.

Approximate distance from the

Name of planet
Sun in millions of kilometres

Mercury 60

Venus 110

Earth

Mars 230

Complete the table by adding an approximate value for the distance of the
Earth from the Sun.
10. (a) The diagram shows how the Sun appears to move across the sky when
observed from Earth at different times of the day.

(i) State why the Sun appears to move across the sky.

................................................................................................................................................................

(ii) State what is taking place at point X on the diagram.

................................................................................................................................................................

(b) State the relationship between the length of a shadow and the position of
the Sun in the sky.

................................................................................................................................................................
11. Which of these reflects light? Circle the correct letter.

12. Which shows a correct ray diagram for light travelling from the television to
the viewer’s eye? Circle the correct letter.
13. The table shows the time it takes for four planets, A, B, C and D, to orbit the
Sun.

Planet Time to orbit the Sun

A 88 days

B 12 years

C 1 year

D 225 days

List the four planets A, B, C and D in the order of their distance from the Sun.

nearest to the Sun ..............................................................

..............................................................
..............................................................

furthest from the Sun ..............................................................

 Answers
1. C

2. (a) (In the Ptolemy model) the Earth is at the centre of the planetary system /
the Sun is not at the centre

OR

the sun should be at the centre of the solar system / in the present model the
Sun is at the centre (1)

(In the Ptolemy model) the Sun or other planets orbits the Earth / the Earth
does not orbit the sun

OR

in the present model the Earth orbits the Sun / the planets do not orbit the
Earth (1)

Ignore planets are in the wrong order / sun not in the right place

Ignore references to Uranus and Neptune not being included in the Ptolemy
model

Allow Venus is closer to the sun than Mercury

Accept (In the Ptolemy model) the Moon looks like a planet / in present model
the Moon is a satellite of Earth

Accept (In the Ptolemy model) the orbits are circular / the orbits are not circular
in the present model
3. C

4. C

5. A

6.

7. C

8.

9. 120 – 220

10. (ai) The earth is rotating

(aii) sunset Accept: Sun going down or sundown
(b) the higher the position of the Sun the shorter the shadow
or reverse argument
Ignore references to time of the day

11. C

12. C

13. nearest to the Sun A

D
C
furthest from the Sun B