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6.5 Galaxies

3 a Suggest why scientists do not consider black to be a colour.

b Suggest why scientists do not consider white to be a colour.

E
6.5 Galaxies
Exercise 6.5A Our own galaxy
Focus
PL
In this exercise, you will think about the galaxy where we live.

1 a Name the galaxy where we live.

M
b Which of these shapes best describes the galaxy where we live?
Tick ((✓)) one box.
SA

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2 a Name the closest star to Earth in our galaxy.

b Which of these describes the number of stars in our galaxy?

Tick (✓) one box.
fewer than 100
between 100 and 1000
between 1000 and 1 000 000

E
more than 1 000 000
3 Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ after each of these sentences.
There is dust between the stars in our galaxy
PL
There is gas between the stars in our galaxy

Exercise 6.5B Galaxies in space 1

Practice
In this exercise, you will think about the galaxies that are in space.
M
1 a Write the word that describes all of space.

b Explain why we can see other galaxies in space.

SA

2 a Name the three shapes of galaxy.

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6.5 Galaxies

b Scientists do not know exactly how many galaxies there

are in total.
Use the best words to complete these sentences.
Scientists have made an of how
many galaxies there are in total.
This number may not be .

3 There are other galaxies in space besides the galaxy we live in.

E
Which of these describes the number of other galaxies?
Tick (✓) one box.
fewer than 100
between 100 and 1000
between 1000 and 1 000 000
more than 1 000 000
PL
M
SA

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Exercise 6.5C Galaxies in space 2

Challenge
In this exercise, you will think in more depth about other galaxies.
1 One type of object in all galaxies is stellar dust.
a List three other types of object that must be present in
all galaxies.

E
b
0.000 000 000 000 001 g.
PL
Some particles of stellar dust have masses as small as

Suggest how clouds of stellar dust can produce strong forces

of gravity in galaxies.
M
2 a Name the most common type of object that gives out its own
light in a galaxy.
SA

b Some galaxies contain objects called black holes. A black hole

is not actually a hole, but is a solid object.
Suggest two reasons why black holes appear black.

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6.5 Galaxies

3 Scientists have discovered that most of the galaxies in space are

moving further apart from each other.
Predict two ways this will affect how other galaxies will be seen
from Earth in the future.

E
4 It is possible to estimate the number of grains of sand on a beach.
a Briefly describe how you would do this.
PL
b Explain how this is an analogy for estimating the number of
galaxies in the Universe.
M
SA

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6.6 Rocks in space

Exercise 6.6A Describing asteroids
Focus
In this exercise, you will describe what asteroids are and where they
are found.

E
1 Which statements describe asteroids?
Tick (✓) all that are correct.
All asteroids are larger than planets.

2
Asteroids are made from rock.
Asteroids have irregular shapes.
All asteroids orbit the Earth.
Where is the asteroid belt?
PL
Tick (✓) one box.
Closer to the Sun than Mercury.
M
Between the orbits of Venus and Earth.
Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Between the orbits of Uranus and Neptune.
3 State the name given to the path followed by an asteroid around
the Sun.
SA

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6.6 Rocks in space

Exercise 6.6B Asteroids and planets

Practice
In this exercise, you will describe the differences between asteroids
and planets.
1 The Earth has an inner structure consisting of a core, a mantle and
a crust.

E
Most asteroids do not have this structure.
List two other differences between asteroids and a planet such as Earth.

2
PL
2 All the planets in the Solar System have names.
Suggest one reason why not all asteroids have names.
M
The diameter of the asteroid Vesta is __
1
3 10 of the diameter of the
planet Mercury.
SA

Mercury has a diameter of 500 km.

Calculate the diameter of Vesta.
Show your working.

km

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Exercise 6.6C Asteroids and planets

Challenge
In this exercise, you will describe the similarities and differences between
asteroids and planets and consider the reliability of evidence.
1 List two features that asteroids and planets have in common.

E
2

2
PL
Many planets have one or more moons.
Suggest why most asteroids do not have moons.
M
3 The total mass of all the asteroids in the asteroid belt is less than
any planet.
Explain how this can be evidence that asteroids are rocks left over
from the formation of the solar system.
SA

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6.6 Rocks in space

4 The picture shows photographs of some asteroids to show their

relative sizes.

E
PL
An independent website about aliens claims that a building can be
M
seen on Eros. The website claims that the building was made by
aliens. Aliens are forms of life different from those found on Earth.
A university website says that there is no building on Eros.
This website says all that can be seen is light reflecting off a crater.
Discuss the reliability of the information in these two websites.
SA

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