Start learning →

BECE (Ghana) The Solar System — practice questions

Explore 5 free The Solar System questions in BECE (Ghana) Science. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

Practise The Solar System with Quill →

The Solar System questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–5 of 5.

Which gas makes up most of the Sun?Read the answer and worked solution →What do the four planets closest to the Sun have in common?Read the answer and worked solution →Why are the outer planets mostly gas while the inner planets are rocky?Read the answer and worked solution →Between the orbits of which two planets does the asteroid belt lie?Read the answer and worked solution →Why does a comet grow a bright tail as it comes near the Sun?Read the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

Which gas makes up most of the Sun?

  1. Helium
  2. Oxygen
  3. Nitrogen
  4. Hydrogen
Show answer and solution

Correct answer: D. Hydrogen

1. The Sun is a star made almost entirely of two gases. 2. About seven tenths of it is hydrogen, which is the largest share. 3. Helium makes up most of the rest, with only traces of other gases. _Source: Siyavula Natural Sciences Grade 8 (CC BY 4.0), The Sun_

Open this question →

What do the four planets closest to the Sun have in common?

  1. They have solid rocky surfaces
  2. They have thick gassy surfaces
  3. They have many rings each
  4. They have no moons at all
Show answer and solution

Correct answer: A. They have solid rocky surfaces

1. The four planets nearest the Sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. 2. All four have solid rocky surfaces, so they are called terrestrial planets. 3. The planets further out are much larger and made mainly of gas. 4. Those outer planets are the ones that carry many rings and many moons. _Source: Siyavula Natural Sciences Grade 8 (CC BY 4.0), Objects around the Sun_

Open this question →

Why are the outer planets mostly gas while the inner planets are rocky?

  1. The outer region was hot when they formed
  2. The outer region was cold when they formed
  3. The outer region had no gravity at all
  4. The outer region was empty of all matter
Show answer and solution

Correct answer: B. The outer region was cold when they formed

1. The young solar system was much hotter near the Sun than far from it. 2. Close in, only materials with very high melting points stayed solid, such as metals. 3. Those materials are scarce, so the inner planets grew small and rocky. 4. Far out it was cold enough for water and methane to freeze into ices. 5. The large icy and rocky cores there could then hold on to thick layers of gas. 6. That is why the outer planets are large gas giants. 7. The outer region was never empty, and gravity acts everywhere. _Source: Siyavula Natural Sciences Grade 8 (CC BY 4.0), Comparing terrestrial planets and gas giants_

Open this question →

How to practise

  1. Choose a The Solar System question and try to work out your answer.
  2. Open the question to check the correct answer and read its worked solution.
  3. Continue in the app for bite-sized lessons, explanations and review with Quill. You can start without creating an account.

More Science topics

Visible LightElectric CircuitsChemical Reactions and EquationsAtoms and ElementsChanges of StateEcosystemsMicroorganismsParticle Model of Matter