ScienceYear 8

Year 8 Science – Observing the Universe 1

Practise reading temperature data, comparing Earth-centred and Sun-centred models, linking the Moon to tides and seasonal calendars, and explaining how collaboration and new telescopes build knowledge. 20 questions. 25 minutes.

Which planet orbits the Sun between Earth and Jupiter?

MarsVenusSaturnMercury

Choose the word that completes the blank.

To show how the temperature in a shaded spot changes through a day, the best choice is a ₁.

Blank 1: pie chart · line graph · bar graph

A student says, "Gravity is only a theory, so it is just a guess." Which reply is best?

Scientific explanations are guesses that have been given a fancy nameScientific explanations become fact once enough people vote for themScientific explanations are accepted only if nobody has questioned themScientific explanations are backed by many repeated experiments

Choose the word that completes each blank.

A ₁ describes a pattern that lets us predict what will happen, while a ₂ is a well-tested explanation of why it happens.

Blank 1: law · theory · hypothesis

Blank 2: guess · law · theory

Space agencies from several countries run experiments on the International Space Station and share the data. Why is this useful?

Experiments in space never need to be repeated by other teamsResults from one country are accepted without being checkedShared skills and equipment let teams answer questions none could aloneEach country's results replace all earlier research

Choose the word that completes each blank.

Aristotle and Ptolemy supported the ₁ model, but Copernicus proposed the ₂ model, with the Sun at the centre.

Blank 1: geocentric · heliocentric · galactic

Blank 2: geocentric · heliocentric · galactic

Circle 2 words in the sentence below.

Click all the planets in this list that are gas or ice giants.

MercuryMarsJupiterVenusNeptune

Which instrument, launched in 2021, observes the Universe in infrared light?

Square Kilometre ArrayJames Webb Space TelescopeInternational Space StationGalileo's telescope

Choose the word or phrase that completes the blank.

On a clear day, the temperature in the shade usually peaks at about ₁, not at noon.

Blank 1: 8–10 am · 5–7 pm · 1–3 pm

10.

Yolngu Dreaming stories link the Moon to the tides. Which scientific idea matches this?

Winds across the ocean set the timing of the tidesThe Moon's gravity pulls on the oceanThe Sun's gravity alone pulls on the oceanEarth's shadow sweeps across the ocean

11.

Choose the word that completes each blank.

Tides are caused mainly by the gravity of the ₁ pulling on the ocean, and there are about ₂ high tides each day.

Blank 1: Sun · Moon · Milky Way

Blank 2: one · four · two

12.

Galileo saw moons orbiting Jupiter through his telescope. Why did this challenge the geocentric model?

It showed that not everything orbits EarthIt showed that planets move in perfect circlesIt showed that the Sun is a starIt showed that Jupiter is closer than the Moon

13.

What was the change in shade temperature from 6 am to 3 pm?

Time	Temperature (°C)
6 am	12
12 pm	21
3 pm	26
6 pm	20

9 °C38 °C14 °C5 °C

14.

Circle 2 words in the sentence below.

Click the two people in this list who supported an Earth-centred model.

AristotleCopernicusGalileoKeplerPtolemy

15.

A student heated water in three trials and recorded final temperatures of 58 °C, 62 °C and 69 °C. What is the mean temperature?

62 °C69 °C189 °C63 °C

16.

Choose the word or phrase that completes each blank.

Seasonal calendars based on the stars and Moon are passed on through ₁ and rely on generations of ₂.

Blank 1: story · exams · telescopes

Blank 2: guesswork · repeated observation · laboratory experiments

17.

Why can the Emu in the Sky be used to predict emu egg-laying time each year?

The emu stars get brighter when emus lay eggsEarth moves closer to the Sun when emus lay eggsThe sky pattern repeats at the same time every yearThe Moon's phase changes the shape of the emu

18.

Thermometer A reads from −10 to 110 °C in steps of 1 °C. Thermometer B reads from −10 to 50 °C in steps of 0.1 °C. Which is better for detecting a 0.3 °C rise in a classroom?

A, because its range is widerB, because it can show smaller changesA, because larger steps are easier to readB, because its top temperature is lower

19.

A thermometer is placed in ice water whose true temperature is 0.0 °C. Three readings are 3.1 °C, 3.0 °C and 3.2 °C. How can the thermometer be described?

Accurate but not preciseBoth accurate and preciseNeither accurate nor precisePrecise but not accurate

20.

Circle 2 words in the sentence below.

Shade temperatures were 18 °C at 9 am, 23 °C at 11 am, 27 °C at 1 pm, 28 °C at 3 pm and 24 °C at 5 pm. Click the two times between which the temperature rose by the most.

9 am11 am1 pm3 pm5 pm

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Year 8 Science – Observing the Universe 1