Earth, Moon, and Sun Relationship

The Earth revolves around the Sun at varying distances every 365 days. The Earth also rotates on its axis every 24 hours. What phenomenon is responsible for the seasonal warming and cooling patterns that most of the Earth experiences throughout the year?

• The angle of the Earth’s axis changes during the summer and winter which causes temperature differences

• The Sun gives off more energy during the summer and less energy during the winter which causes temperature differences

• The Earth is closer to the Sun during the summer and farther away during the winter which causes temperature differences

• The Sun’s rays strike the Earth more directly during the summer and less directly in the winter which causes temperature differences

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Sara is recording water levels in the ocean near her home once an hour for one day. She observes the water level slowly rising and falling twice that day. What is Sara observing?

• currents in the ocean

• gravity creating tides

• tides creating gravity

• waves creating tides

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Esther is writing an equation to show the effect of the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon on tidal range. Which equation would Esther use to show the effect of the sun and the moon on spring tides?

• sun + Earth = spring tides

• sun + moon = spring tides

• moon – sun = spring tides

• Earth – moon = spring tides

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Earth, the moon, and the sun can affect each other in many ways. The diagram shows Earth, the moon, and the sun lined up in one specific arrangement. (SC.8.E.5.9)

Which event is shown by the diagram?

• a winter solstice

• a solar eclipse

• a lunar eclipse

• a full moon

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The phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon. Lunar phases refer to the appearance of the illuminated portion of the moon as seen by an observer on Earth.

When the moon is aligned with and between Earth and the sun, which phase is happening? (SC.8.E.5.9)

• full moon

• new moon

• first quarter moon

• third quarter moon

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Leah is recording water levels in the ocean near her home once an hour for one day. She observes the water level slowly rising and falling twice that day. What is Leah observing? (SC.8.E.5.9)

• waves creating tides

• tides creating gravity

• gravity creating tides

• currents in the ocean

Raphael learned that there are two forces that keep the moon in orbit around Earth. How do these forces keep the moon from flying off into space? (SC.8.E.5.9)

• Mass weighs the moon down so it stays close to Earth, and inertia keeps the moon in motion.

• Gravity attracts the moon toward Earth, and the distance keeps it from going further away.

• Gravity keeps the moon in motion, and inertia attracts the moon toward Earth.

• Gravity attracts the moon toward Earth, and inertia keeps the moon in motion.

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Michael is asked if the phases of the moon are a form of a lunar eclipse. He explains that the phases of the moon are a shadow of the earth on the face of the moon. A lunar eclipse is also a shadow of the earth on the face of the moon. Therefore, the phases of the moon are just partial eclipses. How would you correct Michael's misconception of this concept? (SC.8.E.5.9)

• The moon does not rotate around its axis. We see the phases of the moon because the same side of the moon is always facing the sun. When the earth rotates on its axis we sometimes see the side of the moon. An eclipse is when the moon is directly between the sun and earth during a full moon and the earth’s shadow darkens the moon.

• The moon orbits around the earth and the earth orbits around the sun. Because both objects are revolving at the same time we observe only parts of the moons reflective surface at any time. An eclipse is when the moon is directly between the sun and earth during a full moon and the earth’s shadow darkens the moon.

• The moon orbits around the earth. At the same time the earth is revolving around the sun. Because of this motion we observe only parts of the moon reflecting the sun’s light at a time. An eclipse is when the earth is directly between the sun and moon during a full moon and the earth’s shadow darkens the moon.

• The moon has a dark side and a light side. We see the phases of the moon because we are seeing a changing portion of the lighted side and the dark side at the same time. An eclipse is when the earth is directly between the sun and moon during a full moon and the earth’s shadow darkens the moon.

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Israel observes the moon every 3 days for 15 days. He notices that over this 15-day period, the moon looks different. What accounts for the differences in the appearance of the moon over this time period? (SC.8.E.5.9)

• the position of the moon in its orbit around Earth

• the position of Israel on Earth

• the speed of the moon’s orbit

• the distance between Earth and the moon

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Sarah observes the moon several times during the month of August. She sketches the appearance of the moon on four days— August 1, August 9, August 17, and August 24—and identifies each lunar phase.

Sarah's data is shown in the table.Based on evidence in the table, on which date should Sarah expect the next new moon to take place?(SC.8.E.5.9)

• August 31

• September 22

• September 12

• September 7

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