Physical Science Quiz 2

What is a gnomon used for by Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations?

• Studying the phases of the moon

• Tracking the daily motion of stars

• Predicting lunar eclipses

• Observing the motion of the sun

What causes the variations in the points where the sun rises and sets on the horizon over a year?

• Tilt of Earth's axis

• Seasonal changes in climate

• Movement of the moon

• Rotation of the Earth

What is the celestial sphere?

• A sphere that contains the planets

• A sphere made of stars

• A physical sphere in space

• A hypothetical sphere surrounding Earth

What is the main reason for the different sunrise and sunset times each day?

• Earth's elliptical orbit

• Rotation of the moon

• Movement of the planets

• Tilt of Earth's axis

What is the sidereal month?

• Time for the moon to go through its phases

• Time for the moon to align with distant stars

• Time for the moon to complete one orbit around Earth

• Time for the moon to align with the sun

What is the phase of the moon when the sun, moon, and earth are lined up with the moon in the middle?

• New moon

• Third quarter

• Full moon

• First quarter

What is a lunar eclipse?

• When the moon is invisible

• When the moon passes into the shadow of the earth

• When the moon is fully illuminated

• When the moon aligns with the sun

Why did ancient people fear a solar eclipse?

• It indicated the gods were angry

• It caused floods and wars

• It was a sign of good luck

• It brought prosperity

What is the umbra during a solar eclipse?

• The area with no shadow

• The outer part of the shadow

• The part of the shadow where darkness is experienced

• The region with the most sunlight

What is the average time of totality during a solar eclipse?

• 10 to 15 minutes

• Less than a minute

• 5 to 7 minutes

• 2 to 3 minutes