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Quiz / session

Solar system quiz: 15 questions on planets and stars

From the planet closest to the Sun to the galaxy we live in, this quiz takes students further out with every question. Its 15 questions mix single choice, true or false, one typed answer and one question with two correct answers, each followed by an explanation with a useful fact. The planet questions follow the definition adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, under which the solar system has eight planets and Pluto is a dwarf planet.

Time including discussion:
10–15 min
For:
Science teachers and students aged 11 to 14, or anyone curious about space

English template · 15 questions

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Make your own copy and edit it. Sign in or create an account to open it in the editor.

Question 1 of 15

How many planets does the solar system have under the definition adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2006?

What you can leave with

A shared check of what the class already knows about the solar system, and a few misconceptions that deserve a demonstration.

All questions in this template

Read the prompts now. Open a question to see its choices; the editor lets you adapt the wording and order.

  1. 1. How many planets does the solar system have under the definition adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2006?
    • 8
    • 9
    • 7
    • 10
  2. 2. Which planet is closest to the Sun?

    Participants contribute their own words during the live session.

  3. 3. Which planet has the highest average surface temperature?
    • Venus
    • Mercury
    • Mars
    • Earth
  4. 4. Which is the largest planet in the solar system?
    • Jupiter
    • Saturn
    • Neptune
    • Uranus
  5. 5. Which of these planets are rocky? (two answers)
    • Mercury
    • Mars
    • Jupiter
    • Saturn
    • Neptune
  6. 6. Mars’s red colour comes from iron oxide in its dust and rocks.
    • True
    • False
  7. 7. Saturn is the only planet in the solar system with rings.
    • True
    • False
  8. 8. The Sun is a star.
    • True
    • False
  9. 9. About how long does sunlight take to reach Earth?
    • About 8 seconds
    • About 8 minutes
    • About 8 hours
    • About 8 days
  10. 10. The Moon’s phases are caused by Earth’s shadow.
    • True
    • False
  11. 11. From Earth, we always see the same side of the Moon.
    • True
    • False
  12. 12. What does a light-year measure?
    • A distance
    • A length of time
    • A speed
    • A brightness
  13. 13. Which star is closest to us after the Sun?
    • Proxima Centauri
    • Sirius
    • Polaris
    • Betelgeuse
  14. 14. What is the name of the galaxy that contains the solar system?
    • The Milky Way
    • The Andromeda Galaxy
    • The Large Magellanic Cloud
    • The Triangulum Galaxy
  15. 15. About how long does Earth take to orbit the Sun?
    • About 365.25 days
    • Exactly 365 days
    • About 27 days
    • About 24 hours

How to run this activity

  1. 1

    Check the scope

    Read the questions and explanations in the editor. Keep those that match what your class has studied, and move the star and galaxy questions to the end if they are new.

  2. 2

    Launch it live

    Project the session and share the PIN or QR code. Each question has a timer; ask students to read the wording carefully, as some questions state the criterion used, such as a definition or a measurement.

  3. 3

    Use the explanations

    After each reveal, read the explanation and ask how it could be checked: a scale model, a drawing of the orbits, or a lamp and a ball for the Moon.

  4. 4

    Follow up on the surprises

    Find the questions with the fewest correct answers in the report and start the next lesson with them. Each student can then write a new question for a class quiz.

Make this activity yours

Keep what fits, rewrite what does not and set the pace for your group.

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