Moon Phases and Sun-Moon-Earth System

Mohammed is looking up at the night sky and notices that the moon is completely dark. What phase of the most is he most likely seen?

• Full moon

• New moon

• Crescent moon

• Gibbous moon

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

How much of the moon appears lit during a first quarter phase?

• None of the moon

• Half of the moon

• Less than half of the moon

• The whole moon

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

If the moon is currently in the Waning Gibbous phase, what will the next phase be?

• Full moon

• Third-quarter moon

• New moon

• Waxing crescent

Answer explanation

Explanation: After the Waning Gibbous phase, the Moon continues to shrink as it moves through its cycle. The next phase is the Third-quarter moon, where half of the Moon’s surface is visible from Earth. This is part of the "waning" process, where the illuminated portion of the Moon decreases until the New Moon phase.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What causes a different phases of the moon?

• Cloud is blocking the moon's light

• The moon changing shape each day

• The sun's light hitting the moon at different angles

• The moon moving closer to and farther from earth

Answer explanation

Explanation: The phases of the Moon are caused by the way sunlight hits the Moon at different angles as it orbits the Earth. Depending on where the Moon is in its orbit, we see different portions of its lit side. The Moon itself doesn't change shape, and clouds or the Moon’s distance from Earth do not cause the phases.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

On a full moon night, Lubna notices that she doesn't need a flashlight to walk home. Why is this?

• The moon is closest to the Earth

• The sun is shining directly on the moon, making it fully visible

• The Earth's shadow is blocking the light

• There are no clouds in the sky

Answer explanation

Explanation: During a full moon, the Sun shines directly on the side of the Moon that faces Earth, making the entire surface visible and very bright. This is why Lubna doesn’t need a flashlight—there is plenty of natural light from the fully illuminated Moon. The Moon's distance from Earth and the presence of clouds do not affect the brightness of a full moon.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

On a new moon night, how much of the moon is visible from earth?

• The whole moon is visible

• None of the moon is visible

• Half of the moon is visible

• More than half of the moon is visible

Answer explanation

Explanation: During the new moon phase, the side of the Moon that is lit by the Sun is facing away from Earth. This means that none of the Moon’s illuminated surface is visible from Earth, making it appear as though the Moon has disappeared from the night sky.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Some students think that the shadow causes the moon phases. What is the correct explanation for why the moon appears to change shape?

• The Earth shadow falls on the moon

• The more reflects light differently as a orbits earth

• Clouds cover parts of the moon

• The moon is getting smaller

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Asma and her dad are riding their bikes at night. The moon is not visible at all. What phase of the moon are they seeing?

• Full moon

• New moon

• Crescent moon

• Gibbous moon

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Earth takes 365 days to revolve around the sun. How long does it take for the moon to revolve around the Earth?

• Seven days

• 28 days

• 365 days

• 24 hours

Answer explanation

Explanation: The Moon takes about 28 days to make one full revolution around the Earth, which is why we see different phases of the Moon throughout the month.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What causes the day and night cycle?

• The Earth's rotation on its axis

• The moon revolving around the Earth

• The Earth revolving around the sun

• The moon rotating on its axis

Answer explanation

Explanation: Day and night occur because the Earth spins, or rotates, on its axis once every 24 hours. This means different parts of the Earth face the Sun at different times, causing daytime and nighttime.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1