Earth and Moon Review

A student is creating a model of the Earth and the Sun to explain why the length of day and night change throughout the year. What would be the most important feature to add to the model and why?

• The Earth should make a perfect circle around the Sun so the Sun’s light hits all surfaces equally.

• The Earth should make an elliptical orbit around the Sun so that the Sun is at different distances throughout the year.

• The Earth should be tilted on its axis as it goes around the Sun so that the amount of light hitting the Earth varies depending on the tilt.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The model shows Earth during part of its orbit around the Sun. Why don't all parts of the Earth have day and night at the same time?

• Earth revolves around the Sun on an axis, and it is day only.

• Earth rotates on an axis, and only the part of the Earth facing the Sun experiences day.

• The moon revolves around the Earth, and blocks the Sun from certain parts of the Earth at different times.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The model shows the Earth on the summer solstice for the Northern hemisphere. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the model?

• The Arctic Circle would not receive any daylight on the day this model shows.

• The Equator would not receive any daylight on the day this model shows.

• The Antarctic Circle would not receive any daylight on the day this model shows.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student wants to design a model to show different phases of the moon. Which of the following revisions should the student make to the model?

• The student needs to change the order of the arrows because the cycle goes in the opposite order.

• The student needs to add a Sun to the model to show how the moon illuminates from the rays from the sun.

• The student should swap the locations of the full moon and new moon to show how  quickly moon phases change.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student created the following chart to show the phases of the moon. What should the student do with the chart to correctly show the phases of the moon?

• Students should reorganize the information to show the phases in a circular flow chart to show that the patterns continue.

• Students should include the Sun as step 9 on the chart to show that the Sun has an impact on the phases of the moon.

• Students should reorganize the information to show the phases in chronological order from top to bottom.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which argument regarding the Earth's tilt, the Earth's orbit, and the seasons on Earth is correct?

• The Earth's orbit and the Earth's tilt cause the seasons on Earth.

• The Earth's orbit and the seasons on Earth cause the Earth's tilt.

• The Earth's tilt, the seasons on Earth, and the Earth's orbit are not related.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student wonders why it is colder in the winter than in the summer. Which of the following explanations BEST explains these temperature differences?

• There are less daylight hours and there are less direct rays from the sun.

• There are less daylight hours and there are more direct rays from the sun.

• There are more daylight hours and there are less direct rays from the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The model shows the Earth in one of its positions as it moves around the Sun. Which explanation is supported by this model?

• The Earth has the same exact hours of day and night. It is summer.

• The Southern Hemisphere has longer days and shorter nights. It is summer.

• The Northern Hemisphere has longer days and shorter nights. It is winter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student creates a model of the Earth and Sun to show how night and day change throughout the year. The student takes a globe and a large yellow ball. The student picks up the globe and walks around the large yellow ball while spinning to show night and day. What should the student also include in their model demonstration?

• The student needs to also show how the Earth tilts to explain different lengths of sunlight and darkness the Earth will receive.

• The student needs to also show how the Earth tilts to explain that night is when the Earth is tilted away from the Sun and day is when the Earth is tilted towards the Sun.

• The student will spin faster at the east side of the Sun to show more sunlight when the Earth spins faster.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The following chart shows the average length of daytime from sunrise to sunset for six months of the year in Atlanta, Georgia. How can a student develop a model to show why the length of daytime is different throughout the year?

• The student can take two balls to represent the Earth and Sun. The student can show that the Earth is tilted towards the sun most in June and tilted away from the sun most in December.

• The student can take two balls to represent the Earth and Sun. The student can show that the Earth is tilted towards the sun most in December and tilted away from the sun most in June.

• The student can take two balls to represent the Earth and Sun. The student can show that the Earth spins faster in June and spins slower in December.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1