Earth-Sun-Moon System

Thousands of years ago, people watched the movements of the Sun, moon, and the planets that were visible to them. Which statement BEST sums up what they concluded many years ago about how these bodies move in relation to one another?

• The moon stands still while the Earth and other planets revolve around it.

• Earth and the moon stand still while the other planets revolve around the Sun.

• Earth stands still while the Sun, moon, and other planets revolve around Earth.

• The Sun at the center of the solar system stands still while Earth, the moon, and the other planets revolve around it.

Early astronomers created different models of the solar system. One model is shown in the diagram above. Which model of the solar system does this diagram illustrate?

• geocentric model

• heliocentric model

• Copernican model

• Aristarchan model

A planet’s rotation determines the length of its day and its revolution determines the length of its year. A day on Earth is 24 hours and a year on Earth is 365 days. In contrast to Earth, a day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus. Which is the best reason for why this is so?

• The orbit of Venus takes it too close to the Sun.

• The orbit of Venus takes it too far away from the Sun.

• It takes Venus longer to turn on its axis than to orbit the Sun.

• It takes Venus longer to orbit the Sun than to turn on its axis.

The diagram shows the Moon, the Sun, and Earth lined up in a rare way. Which statement BEST describes the event caused by the way in which the three bodies are lined up?

• A total lunar eclipse that occurs only in the place where the Moon’s shadow (Y) falls on Earth.

• A total solar eclipse that occurs only in the place where the Moon’s shadow (Y) falls on Earth.

• A phase called a new moon that occurs because the Moon is directly between Earth and the Sun.

• A total solar eclipse that occurs all over the world because the Moon’s shadow (Y) falls on Earth.

The diagram shows the Moon in its complete orbit around Earth over a period of about 29 days. The Moon appears to have different shapes called phases. Which phases occur at points 1 and 5, and what is causing the phases?

• The new moon at point 1 and the full moon at point 5 are phases caused because the Moon changes its shape from night to night.

• The new moon at point 1 and the full moon at point 5 are phases when the Moon looks like it is changing shape as Earth goes around the Moon.

• The full moon at point 1 & new moon at point 5 are phases caused because half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun, but only part of the Moon’s lit surface can be seen as Moon orbits Earth & Earth orbits Sun.

• The new moon at point 1 & full moon at point 5 are phases caused because half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun, but only part of the Moon’s lit surface can be seen as Moon orbits Earth & Earth orbits Sun.

The diagram shows the alignment of the sun, the moon, and Earth. Which of the following BEST EXPLAINS why HIGH TIDES are happening at locations 1 and 3?

• radiation from the sun

• Earth's tilt and orbit around the sun

• the sun's gravitational pull on Earth

• the moon's gravitational pull on Earth

Which of the following diagrams correctly represents the position of Earth during winter in the United States?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Earth has seasons because

• its axis is tilted as it revolves around the sun

• it rotates on its axis as it revolves

• the moon exerts a gravitational force on it

• the relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon do not change

The Law of Universal Gravitation explains how the motions of the bodies in the solar system is related to the properties of its components. What 2 properties affect the strength of the force of gravity between two objects within the solar system?

• weight and speed

• speed and distance

• distance and mass

• mass and speed

Which of the following is NOT a true statement about the force of gravity in the solar system?

• Gravitational attraction between Earth and the sun keeps Earth in orbit around the sun.

• Gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon keeps the moon in orbit around Earth.

• Differences in the strength of the sun's gravitational pull on Earth's two poles causes Earth to tilt and have seasons.

• Differences in the strength of the sun's gravitational pull at different points on Earth stretches Earth and causes tides.