Earth and Moon Quiz

The Moon appears larger when it rises than when it is high in the sky because:

• you are closer to it when it rises (angular-size relation).

• you are farther from it when it rises (angular-size relation).

• it's an illusion from comparison to objects on the horizon.

• it's brighter when it rises.

__________ was the first person to measure the circumference of Earth.

• Eratosthenes

• Ptolemy

• Copernicus

• Galileo

• Aristarchus

One observation supporting the idea of a spherical Earth is that __________.

• the shape of Earth’s shadow on the Moon during an eclipse is circular

• a traveler moving south will see stars they could not previously see

• a ship moving away from the observer will move such that the hull is not seen, then the sails disappear over the horizon

• all of these choices are correct

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

When the Moon is on the horizon, it appears larger than when it is high in the sky. Why?

• When it is on the horizon, it is closer to us.

• This is an optical illusion.

• The brightness of the Moon makes it seem larger.

• Earth’s atmosphere acts like a lens, magnifying it.

• Its angular size is larger on the horizon.

One of the methods used to date supernova remnants today is by using:

• the notebooks of Galileo.

• the records of ancient Chinese, Japanese, and Korean astronomers.

• the works of Ptolemy.

• Kepler's laws.

Which of the following objects passes through the zodiac?

• Sun

• Planets

• Earth and Moon

• All of these choices are correct.

• None of these choices is correct.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

During retrograde motion, a planet moves from ________ to ________ relative to the stars.

• south; north

• north; south

• west; east (moves eastward)

• east; west (moves westward)

• up; down

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Retrograde motion is discernible by watching a planet over the course of:

• a few minutes.

• many hours.

• many nights.

• many years.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

If you see a bright "star" in the sky, how could you tell whether it is a star or a planet?

• Planets are too dim to be seen without a telescope.

• Planets are round; stars have five points.

• Planets always appear right next to the Moon.

• Look at it several days later—if it's a planet, it will move across the background stars.

An epicycle was used in geocentric models to explain _________.

• parallax

• aurora

• retrograde motion

• eclipses

• Earth’s circular shadow