Looking for the textbook exercise answers? See DAV Class 8 Science Chapter 17 Stars and Solar System question answers.
DAV Class 8 Science · Chapter 17
Stars and Solar System: Past Exam Questions Solved
Questions asked in DAV annual papers, periodic tests and the DAV question banks, grouped by topic and answered to the marks they carry.
83 questions11 topicsIncludes 2025-26 and 2026-27 papersAnswers by marks
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Celestial Objects and Stars (9)Why Stars Seem to Move; the Pole Star (4)Constellations (13)The Moon and Its Phases (9)Moon's Surface and the Sun (2)The Solar System and the Planets (7)Mercury and Venus (5)Earth and Mars (6)The Jovian Planets (6)Minor Bodies: Asteroids, Comets and Meteors (14)Artificial Satellites (8)Marks: 1 mark2 marks3 marks4 marks
1Celestial Objects and Stars
Q11 markLatest paperAsked in: Odisha Periodic Assessment-I 2026-27
A star is 20 light years away from Earth. Suppose it brightens up suddenly today. After how much time shall we see this change? (a) 5 years (b) 10 years (c) 20 years (d) 4.3 years
Answer
(c) 20 years, because its light takes 20 years to reach us.
Q21 markLatest paperAsked in: Odisha Periodic Test-I 2025-26
Three stars X, Y and Z are blue, red and white in colour. The correct sequence in increasing order of surface temperature is: (a) X > Y > Z (b) X = Y = Z (c) Y > Z > X (d) Y < Z < X
Answer
(d) Y < Z < X, that is red < white < blue.
Q31 markAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
A natural object located outside Earth's atmosphere, like the Sun or Moon, is called: (a) Asteroid (b) Celestial body (c) Planet (d) Satellite
Answer
(b) Celestial body.
Q41 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
The Sun is a star. Why?
Answer
The Sun is a huge sphere of very hot gases that gives out its own light, like every star.
Q51 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Do stars emit light only during the night?
Answer
No. Stars shine all the time; in the daytime the bright light of the Sun hides them from us.
Q61 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Name the star, after the Sun, which is nearest to Earth.
Answer
Alpha Centauri (4.3 light years away).
Q71 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
What determines the colour of a star?
Answer
Its surface temperature: red stars are the coolest, white stars hotter and blue stars the hottest.
Q81 markAsked in: Annual 2018-19 (part c)
Name the third brightest star in the night sky.
Answer
Alpha Centauri.
Q91 markAsked in: DAV Competency Questions (part of a 5-mark question)
What is the speed of light?
Answer
3 × 10⁸ m/s.
2Why Stars Seem to Move; the Pole Star
Q101 markAsked in: DAV MCQ Bank
The Sun appears to move from east to west around Earth. This means Earth rotates from: (a) east to west (b) west to east (c) north to south (d) south to north
Answer
(b) west to east.
Q111 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank
State the main feature of the Pole Star that makes it different from all other stars.
Answer
The Pole Star appears fixed in the sky, while all other stars appear to move round it.
Q121 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
For people in ancient times, the Pole Star was a guide to directions. Why?
Answer
The Pole Star appears fixed and always shows the north direction, so travellers used it to find their way.
Q131 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Radha saw the Moon through a window at 8 p.m. and marked its position on the glass. At 4 a.m. will the Moon be at the same position?
Answer
No. Because Earth rotates from west to east, the Moon appears to move from east to west, so its position will have changed.
3Constellations
Q141 markLatest paperAsked in: Odisha Periodic Test-I 2025-26
Choose the constellation that contains the Pole Star: (a) Ursa Major (b) Orion (c) Ursa Minor (d) Cassiopeia
Answer
(c) Ursa Minor.
Q151 markLatest paperAsked in: Sample Periodic Test-I 2025-26 (part a)
Name the constellation that can be used to locate the star Sirius.
Answer
Orion: the line of its three belt stars points to Sirius.
Q161 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank
What is a constellation?
Answer
A constellation is a group of stars that makes a recognisable pattern or shape in the sky.
Q171 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Name the constellation in which three bright stars in a row can be spotted on a winter evening.
Answer
Orion.
Q181 markAsked in: Odisha Periodic Test-I 2024-25
Identify the stars marked A (top left) and B (bottom right) in the Orion figure: (1) A-Sirius, B-Betalgeuse (2) A-Rigel, B-Sirius (3) A-Betalgeuse, B-Rigel (4) A-Ceres, B-Betalgeuse
Answer
(3) A is Betelgeuse and B is Rigel.
Q191 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Name a prominent constellation that looks like a distorted letter W.
Answer
Cassiopeia.
Q202 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
(a) Draw a diagram showing the position of the Pole Star relative to Earth. (b) Name the constellation whose two pointer stars point towards the Pole Star.
Answer
(a)Draw Earth with its tilted axis extended upwards; the Pole Star sits on this line, high above the North Pole, with other stars circling round it.
(b)Ursa Major (the Great Bear).
Q213 marksAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
Name the constellations shown in the figures (shapes of animals or objects).
Answer
The figures are not available; use these shapes: a quadrilateral with three stars in a line across the middle is Orion; a big ladle of seven stars is Ursa Major; a small ladle ending at the Pole Star is Ursa Minor; a W or M shape is Cassiopeia.
Q221 markAsked in: Annual 2019-20 (part b-i)
Name the constellation whose two stars at the top help us locate the Pole Star.
Answer
Ursa Major.
Q231 markAsked in: Annual 2019-20 (part b-ii)
Name the constellation in which Rigel is present.
Answer
Orion.
Q241 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank (part c)
Name the constellation of which the Pole Star is a part.
Answer
Ursa Minor.
Q251 markAsked in: Annual 2018-19 (part d)
Name a constellation shaped like a distorted W or M.
Answer
Cassiopeia.
Q261 markAsked in: DAV Competency Questions (part of a 2-mark match question)
From Great Bear, Orion and Pole Star, pick the constellations.
Answer
Great Bear and Orion. The Pole Star is a single star, not a constellation.
4The Moon and Its Phases
Q272 marksLatest paperAsked in: DAV QP Bank; Odisha Periodic Assessment-I 2026-27
Name the phases of the Moon, as seen from Earth, when (a) the Moon is between the Sun and Earth (b) Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.
Answer
(a)New Moon: the lit side faces away from us, so the Moon is not seen.
(b)Full Moon: we see the whole lit face.
Q281 markAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
The Moon is visible to us due to:
Answer
Reflection of sunlight from the Moon towards Earth (in the figure, the ray goes from the Sun to the Moon and then to Earth).
Q291 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
What do you understand by the terms waxing and waning?
Answer
Waxing: the bright part of the Moon grows each night after the new moon. Waning: it shrinks each night after the full moon.
Q301 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
John saw a full moon on a particular day. After how many days will he see the full moon again?
Answer
After about 29.5 days, the time the Moon takes to show all its phases once.
Q311 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Suppose the Moon gave out its own light. Would it still have phases? Justify.
Answer
No. Phases happen only because the Moon reflects sunlight; with its own light its whole face would always look bright.
Q321 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Explain why we always see the same side of the Moon.
Answer
The Moon takes the same time to spin once on its axis as to go once round Earth, so the same side always faces us.
Q331 markAsked in: DAV MCQ Bank
An astronaut on the Moon throws a ball upward. The ball would: (a) fall straight down (b) hang in space (c) go up and come back to the surface (d) keep going up
Answer
(c) go up and come back to the Moon's surface, because the Moon's gravity pulls it back.
Q343 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
(a) Give the positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth on a full moon day and a new moon day. (b) After the new moon, how does the lit part of the Moon change? Name this change.
Answer
- (a) Full moon day: Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. New moon day: the Moon is between the Sun and Earth.
- (b) The lit part grows a little every night until the full moon.
- This growing is called waxing.
Q351 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank (part d)
Name the natural satellite of Earth.
Answer
The Moon.
5Moon's Surface and the Sun
Q361 markLatest paperAsked in: Sample Periodic Test-I 2025-26; Odisha Periodic Test-I 2024-25
Name the visible layer of the Sun and give an estimate of its temperature.
Answer
The photosphere; its temperature is about 6,000 K.
Q372 marksAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Two astronauts are floating close to each other in space. Can they talk to each other without any special device? Give reasons.
Answer
- No. Sound needs a medium such as air to travel.
- There is no air in space or on the Moon, so they must talk by radio.
6The Solar System and the Planets
Q381 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Earlier the solar system had 9 planets, but now it is said to have only 8. Justify.
Answer
In 2006 Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, so it is no longer counted; eight planets remain.
Q391 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Planets do not collide while revolving round the Sun. Why?
Answer
Each planet moves round the Sun in its own fixed orbit, and all move in the same direction, so their paths do not cross.
Q401 markAsked in: DAV MCQ Bank
Suppose a new planet is discovered between Uranus and Neptune. Its time period would be: (a) less than Neptune's (b) more than Neptune's (c) equal to both (d) less than Uranus's
Answer
(a) less than that of Neptune, because a planet nearer the Sun takes less time to go round it.
Q412 marksAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
Label the boxes in the solar system figure with the correct planet names.
Answer
The figure is not available; label outwards from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, (asteroid belt), Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Q421 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank (part a, b)
Name the planet nearest to the Sun and the largest planet.
Answer
Nearest to the Sun: Mercury. Largest: Jupiter.
Q431 markAsked in: DAV Competency Questions (part of a 2-mark match question)
From Saturn, Earth and Mars, name the inner planets and the outer planet.
Answer
Inner planets: Earth and Mars. Outer planet: Saturn.
Q443 marksAsked in: DAV Competency Questions (part of a 5-mark question)
Name: the nearest planet to the Sun; the farthest planet; two planets that show phases like the Moon; the red planet.
Answer
- Nearest planet: Mercury.
- Farthest planet: Neptune.
- Planets showing phases: Mercury and Venus. Red planet: Mars.
7Mercury and Venus
Q451 markAsked in: DAV MCQ Bank
The morning star is the name given to: (a) Pole Star (b) Sirius (c) planet Jupiter (d) planet Venus
Answer
(d) planet Venus.
Q461 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Even though Venus is farther from the Sun, it is hotter than Mercury. Why?
Answer
Venus has a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere that traps the Sun's heat (greenhouse effect); Mercury has almost no atmosphere.
Q472 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Why does Venus appear very bright in the sky? State its direction of rotation.
Answer
- Its thick cloudy atmosphere reflects about three-fourths of the sunlight falling on it, so it looks very bright.
- Venus rotates from east to west, opposite to Earth.
Q482 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Give reasons: Venus is the brightest and hottest planet in our solar system.
Answer
- Brightest: its clouds reflect about three-fourths of the sunlight falling on it.
- Hottest: its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat by a strong greenhouse effect.
Q491 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Give a reason: Venus is the brightest object in our sky after the Sun and the Moon.
Answer
Venus is close to us and its thick cloudy atmosphere reflects about three-fourths of the sunlight falling on it.
8Earth and Mars
Q501 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
What keeps Earth's temperature suitable to support life?
Answer
Its right distance from the Sun and its atmosphere, which acts as a natural greenhouse and keeps the temperature suitable.
Q511 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Suppose the distance between Earth and the Sun became half. What is likely to happen to life?
Answer
Earth would become far too hot, water would dry up, and life would not survive.
Q522 marksAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
Fill in: ____ launched India's first Mars orbiter mission ____ on 5 November ____. It entered the orbit of Mars on 24 September ____, making India the first country to do so in its first attempt.
Answer
ISRO; Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission); 2013; 2014.
Q534 marksAsked in: DAV Question Bank
India's maiden mission to planet X was launched on 5 November 2013 by ISRO. (i) Name the planet. (ii) Write two features. (iii) Which two conditions make liquid water unlikely there? (iv) Name its two natural satellites.
Answer
(i)Mars.
(ii)It looks reddish (the red planet), and its thin atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide; it is like a cold, high desert.
(iii)Very low temperature and very low atmospheric pressure.
(iv)Phobos and Deimos.
Q542 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
How does the thin atmosphere of Earth play a vital role in protecting and preserving life on Earth?
Answer
- It burns up most small bodies like meteors before they reach the ground, and its ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun.
- As a natural greenhouse it also keeps Earth's temperature suitable for life.
Q551 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank (part a)
Give a reason: water does not exist in liquid state on Mars.
Answer
Mars is very cold and its air pressure is very low, so water cannot stay liquid.
9The Jovian Planets
Q561 markLatest paperAsked in: Odisha Periodic Assessment-I 2026-27
Which statement describes Jupiter's volume? (a) 13 times Earth's (b) 130 times (c) 1,300 times (d) 13,000 times
Answer
(c) About 1,300 times Earth's volume.
Q571 markLatest paperAsked in: Sample Periodic Test-I 2025-26 (part b)
Name the planet that shows its own colourful bands.
Answer
Jupiter.
Q581 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Name a planet that has been named after the Roman sea god.
Answer
Neptune.
Q592 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Planet Jupiter shows its own colourful bands. Justify.
Answer
- Jupiter's atmosphere has very strong currents.
- Dense clouds of methane with ammonia crystals are spread by these currents into colourful bands.
Q602 marksAsked in: Annual 2019-20 (part a)
'Jupiter is called a Jovian planet.' Justify with two points.
Answer
- Jupiter is a huge planet made mostly of gases (hydrogen and helium), with no rocky surface.
- It lies beyond the asteroid belt, among the outer planets.
Q611 markAsked in: Annual 2018-19 (part a)
Name the planet with the largest number of natural satellites.
Answer
Jupiter (67 known moons, as per the book).
10Minor Bodies: Asteroids, Comets and Meteors
Q622 marksLatest paperAsked in: Sample Periodic Test-I 2025-26
Observe the figure of a comet's orbit round the Sun. At which point does the tail appear longest?
Answer
- At the point nearest the Sun, where the comet gets the most heat.
- The tail always points away from the Sun and grows as the comet comes closer.
Q631 markLatest paperAsked in: Sample Periodic Test-I 2025-26 (part d)
Name the small piece of rock or metal that sometimes falls to the ground from outer space.
Answer
A meteorite.
Q641 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Which of these is an asteroid? (a) Ursa Major (b) Moon (c) Ceres (d) Phobos
Answer
(c) Ceres, the largest asteroid.
Q651 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank
The comet that visits Earth every 76 years is ____.
Answer
Halley's comet (last seen in 1986).
Q661 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
What is a periodic comet? Give an example.
Answer
A comet that comes back near the Sun at regular intervals, such as Halley's comet every 76 years.
Q671 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
The bright streaks of light flashing across the sky for a very short time are known as ____.
Answer
Meteors (shooting stars).
Q681 markAsked in: DAV Question Bank
Meteors are not visible during the daytime. Explain the reason.
Answer
A meteor's glow is faint; in the daytime the bright sunlight hides it.
Q692 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
Differentiate between meteors and meteorites.
Answer
- A meteor is a small piece of rock or metal that burns up completely in the atmosphere, making a streak of light.
- A meteorite is a piece that does not burn up completely and reaches the ground.
Q702 marksAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
Many meteors enter Earth's atmosphere, yet very little damage has been reported. Give a reason.
Answer
- Most meteors are small.
- Friction with the air heats them so much that they burn up completely before reaching the ground.
Q713 marksAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
Classify into meteoroid, galaxy and comet: small particle orbiting the Sun; made of ice, dust and rock; enters Earth's atmosphere; collection of billions of stars; does not enter Earth's atmosphere.
Answer
- Meteoroid: a small particle orbiting the Sun that enters Earth's atmosphere.
- Comet: made of ice, dust and rock; does not enter Earth's atmosphere.
- Galaxy: a collection of billions of stars.
Q721 markAsked in: Annual 2018-19 (part b)
Name the comet that visits Earth every 76 years.
Answer
Halley's comet.
Q731 markAsked in: DAV Competency Questions (part of a 5-mark question)
Between the orbits of which two planets are asteroids found?
Answer
Between Mars and Jupiter.
Q741 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank (part b); Odisha Periodic Test-I 2024-25 (part b)
Give a reason: comets are visible only when they are near the Sun.
Answer
Near the Sun the comet's ice turns to gas and forms a bright head and tail, which we can see.
Q751 markAsked in: DAV QP Bank (part b of a 3-mark question)
What are comets?
Answer
Comets are small icy bodies revolving round the Sun in long oval orbits; near the Sun they develop a bright head and a long tail.
11Artificial Satellites
Q762 marksLatest paperAsked in: Odisha Periodic Test-I 2025-26
Artificial satellites are used in transmitting television programmes over large distances. Explain.
Answer
1.The TV station on the ground sends the signal up to the satellite (uplink).
2.The satellite receives the signal and amplifies it.
3.It sends the signal back down over a large area (downlink), so receivers far away get the programme.
Q771 markLatest paperAsked in: Sample Periodic Test-I 2025-26 (part c)
Name the artificial satellite that appears to remain fixed over one point on Earth.
Answer
A geostationary satellite.
Q782 marksAsked in: DAV Competency Questions
(i) The first Indian artificial satellite is: (a) Sputnik (b) Aryabhatta (c) Ramanujan (d) Bhabha. (ii) The first indigenous satellite of India is: (a) Aryabhatta (b) Rohini (c) Mandakini (d) INSAT-I
Answer
(i) (b) Aryabhatta. (ii) (b) Rohini.
Q792 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
(i) List two tasks performed by artificial satellites. (ii) State the advantage of a geostationary satellite staying over the same position.
Answer
(i)Weather forecasting; long-distance communication (TV, telephone, internet).
(ii)It stays above the same place, so signals can be sent and received there all the time without moving the dish.
Q802 marksAsked in: Annual 2018-19
Geostationary satellites have revolutionised communication. How do they do their task?
Answer
- A geostationary satellite goes round Earth in 24 hours above the equator, so it appears fixed over one place.
- It receives signals from a ground station, amplifies them and sends them back to receiving stations far away.
Q812 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank
(a) Why do geostationary satellites appear to be fixed at one position? (b) How are artificial satellites important? Give any two points.
Answer
(a)A geostationary satellite goes round Earth above the equator once in 24 hours, the same time Earth takes to spin, so it stays over the same place.
(b)Artificial satellites are used for weather forecasting and for long-distance communication such as TV, telephone and internet.
Q821 markAsked in: DAV Competency Questions (part of a 5-mark question)
Name two artificial satellites of Earth.
Answer
Aryabhatta and INSAT.
Q832 marksAsked in: DAV QP Bank (part a of a 3-mark question)
List two functions of artificial satellites.
Answer
- They are used for weather forecasting.
- They are used for long-distance communication: TV, telephone and internet.
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