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Grade 9 · Science · Unit 11 of 11

Sun, Solar System & Universe

Our place in space

What your child practises

The Sun's role on Earth, the planets and other bodies, distances in AU and light-years, seasons, eclipses, tides and the aurora, evidence for the Big Bang, and the benefits and costs of space exploration. Indigenous ways of knowing about the sky are not covered yet and need community review.

Ontario Curriculum expectation: E1.1, E1.2, E1.3, E2.1, E2.2, E2.3, E2.4, E2.5, E2.6 · the Sun and its energy, the solar system and universe, distances and scale, astronomical phenomena, and the impacts of space exploration

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    In a lunar eclipse…

    • the Moon moves out of orbit
    • Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon
    • the Sun is hidden by Venus
    • the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth
    Show answer

    Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon

    Hint: Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.

  2. Question 2

    The four inner planets are…

    • rocky (terrestrial)
    • made of the Sun
    • all ice
    • gas giants
    Show answer

    rocky (terrestrial)

    Hint: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars have solid surfaces.

  3. Question 3

    Space exploration has benefits and costs. Which is a benefit?

    • Satellites help track weather, climate and natural disasters
    • It makes all other research unnecessary
    • It has no cost
    • It never produces any debris
    Show answer

    Satellites help track weather, climate and natural disasters

    Hint: Weigh the benefits against the cost, debris and environmental impact of launches.

  4. Question 4

    What causes day and night on Earth?

    • Earth rotating on its axis
    • the Moon blocking the Sun
    • the Sun spinning around Earth
    • Earth orbiting the Sun in a day
    Show answer

    Earth rotating on its axis

    Hint: Rotation takes about 24 hours.

  5. Question 5

    One astronomical unit (AU) is about 150 million km. An object orbits 4 AU from the Sun. About how many million km is that?

    answer boxM km

    Show answer

    600 M km

    Hint: 4 × 150 = 600 million km.

  6. Question 6

    What are the northern lights (aurora borealis)?

    • reflections from the Moon
    • light from distant cities
    • light made when charged particles from the Sun hit gases in Earth's atmosphere
    • lightning in clouds
    Show answer

    light made when charged particles from the Sun hit gases in Earth's atmosphere

    Hint: Earth's magnetic field guides the particles toward the poles.

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