ACAP Practice (Sun-Earth-Moon, Planets)

Which statement explains why seasons occur in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

• Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer.

• Earth is closer to the Sun in the winter.

• Earth is tilted on its axis, and each hemisphere points toward the Sun in the summer.

• The orbit of Earth is not a perfect circle.

Answer explanation

6.COS.1. Create and manipulate models to explain the occurrences of the day/night cycles, length of year, seasons, tides, eclipses, and lunar phases based on patterns of the observed motions of celestial bodies.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diameter of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are shown in the table. Leo decides to create a scale model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon using round objects found at his house. First, he finds a large, round table cloth to represent the sun. Next, he finds a small marble to represent the Moon. Which object to represent Earth would best complete the scale model?

• Any object smaller than the table cloth

• Any object smaller than the table cloth but larger than the marble

• An object about 2 times the size of the marble

• An object about 4 times the size of the marble

Answer explanation

6.COS.3. Develop and use models to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The following image shows a meter stick and its shadow at 8:00am on a certain day.

How will the stick's shadow at 2:00pm compare to its shadow at 8:00am?

• There will be no shadow at 2:00pm.

• The shadow will be longer and on the opposite side of the stick.

• The shadow will be longer and on the same side of the stick.

• The shadow will be shorter and on the opposite side of the stick.

Answer explanation

6.COS.1. Create and manipulate models to explain the occurrences of the day/night cycles, length of year, seasons, tides, eclipses, and lunar phases based on patterns of the observed motions of celestial bodies.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The following diagram shows solar wind approaching Earth. The lines surrounding Earth represent Earth’s magnetic field.

What effect of Earth's magnetic field does this model best represent?

• Earth's magnetic field can protect its surface from solar wind and other space weather.

• Earth's magnetic field sometimes causes problems with satellites and other communication systems.

• Surface wind and the tides are both controlled by Earth's magnetic field.

• The poles of Earth's magnetic field reverse at predicted intervals.

Answer explanation

6.COS.11. Develop and use models of Earth’s interior composition to illustrate the resulting magnetic field and to explain its measurable effects.

Jackie wants to draw a scale model of the Earth and Moon on a poster. She refers to the following diagram from her textbook.

If Earth is 2.0 centimeters (cm) in diameter on Jackie's poster, how many centimeters away should she draw the Moon to best represent the distance between Earth and the Moon?

• 15 cm

• 20 cm

• 30 cm

• 60 cm

Answer explanation

6.COS.3. Develop and use models to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The diagram below shows the Moon, Earth, and the Sun’s rays as viewed from space.

For observers on Earth, which phase of the Moon is represented by the diagram?

• New moon

• Full moon

• First quarter moon

• Waxing crescent moon

Answer explanation

6.COS.1. Create and manipulate models to explain the occurrences of the day/night cycles, length of year, seasons, tides, eclipses, and lunar phases based on patterns of the observed motions of celestial bodies.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A calendar year contains 365 days, but every four years an extra day is added.

Which statement explains why this extra day is necessary every four years?

• The axis of Earth is tilted.

• The orbit of Earth is not exactly 365 days.

• The gravitational pull of the Sun affects Earth’s orbit.

• The Moon crosses the orbit of the Sun every 28 days.

Answer explanation

6.COS.1. Create and manipulate models to explain the occurrences of the day/night cycles, length of year, seasons, tides, eclipses, and lunar phases based on patterns of the observed motions of celestial bodies.

Stephanie put iron filings on a plate and placed a magnet underneath the plate directly in the center. An image of the iron filings is shown below.

What does this model best represent about Earth's interior and its resulting magnetic field?

• Earth has a liquid outer core and solid inner core.

• Earth's magnetic field is stronger at the equator than at its poles.

• Earth's magnetic field is stronger at its poles than at the equator.

• Materials in Earth's interior spin faster than Earth's surface.

Answer explanation

6.COS.11. Develop and use models of Earth’s interior composition to illustrate the resulting magnetic field and to explain its measurable effects.

 Students are manipulating models of the Sun, Earth, and Moon to show eclipses. Their arrangements are shown in the table below.

Which student most accurately shows a solar eclipse, and which student most accurately shows a lunar eclipse?

• 1 = solar; 2 = lunar

• 1 = solar; 3 = lunar

• 3 = solar; 1 = lunar

• 3 = solar; 2 = lunar

Answer explanation

6.COS.11. Develop and use models of Earth’s interior composition to illustrate the resulting magnetic field and to explain its measurable effects.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The following image shows Earth’s position around the Sun at four different times throughout the year. Earth’s axis is shown at every position with “NP” representing the North Pole.

Which position represents the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Answer explanation

6.COS.1. Create and manipulate models to explain the occurrences of the day/night cycles, length of year, seasons, tides, eclipses, and lunar phases based on patterns of the observed motions of celestial bodies.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1