Earth, Moon, and Sun Practice Test

Leticia is a space scientist who made this diagram of the Moon and Earth as seen from above (top view), with sunlight coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Why does Leticia's diagram show that it’s brighter on the left half of the Moon?

• Because Leticia’s diagram is showing that the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• Because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and Leticia’s diagram is showing that the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock has rotated to the left.

• Because as the Moon gets closer to the sun more of it is lit by the sun, so Leticia’s diagram is showing sunlight on half of the Moon.

• Because there is a shadow from Earth falling on half of the Moon, and Leticia’s diagram is showing that shadow on the right half of the Moon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Tania went outside and made two observations of the Moon that were several days apart. Between the first observation and the second observation, the light part of the Moon appeared to get larger over time. Why did this happen?

• Earth’s shadow moved and was blocking less of the Moon so Tania was able to see more of it.

• The Moon moved closer to the sun so more sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.

• The Moon rotated so that more of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.

• The Moon moved so that Tania was able to see more of the half that faces the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

How does light travel?

• It depends; if the light is bright enough it can change direction.

• Light travels in unpredictable ways.

• Light travels in straight lines only.

• Light travels like a river, wherever there is an open path.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Shira looked up one night and saw a full moon. How long will it be before she can see a full moon again?

• About a week

• About a month

• There is no way to tell because the Moon’s pattern is always changing.

• It could be two weeks or a month, depending on what time of year it is.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

In these diagrams (top view), the sunlight is coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Which diagram is accurate and why?

• Diagram A is accurate because the whole Moon is bright as long as there are no shadows covering parts of it.

• Diagram B is accurate because the Moon is almost as close as it can be to the sun, so the Moon is almost fully lit by the sun.

• Diagram C is accurate because the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock rotates to face different directions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the light part of the Moon appeared to get smaller over time. Why did this happen?

• The Moon moved farther away from the sun so less sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.

• The Earth moved so its shadow was blocking more of the Moon so the student astronomer was able to see less of it.

• The Moon rotated so that less of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.

• The Moon moved so that the student astronomer was able to see less of the half that faces the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of these things is true about the Moon?

• The Moon is always orbiting around Earth.

• The Moon is always in the same position in Earth's sky.

• The Moon is always moving in many changing patterns around Earth.

• The Moon is always moving back and forth across Earth's sky.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Someone said that light bent around a corner to reach an object. Is this possible?

• Yes, light travels like a river, wherever there is an open path.

• Maybe; light travels in unpredictable ways.

• Yes, if the light is bright enough, then it can change direction to go around corners.

• No, light travels in straight lines only.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

In these diagrams from above (top view), the sunlight is coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Which diagram is accurate and why?

• Diagram A is accurate because the Moon is almost as far as it can be from the sun, so almost none of the Moon is lit by the sun.

• Diagram B is accurate because the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• Diagram C is accurate because the whole Moon is bright as long as there are no shadows covering parts of it.

• All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock rotates to face different directions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Between the first observation and the second observation, the light part of the Moon appeared to get larger over time. Why did this happen?

• The Moon moved so that the astronomers were able to see more of the half that faces the sun.

• The Moon rotated so that more of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.

• The Moon moved closer to the sun so more sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.

• Earth’s shadow moved and was blocking less of the Moon so the astronomers were able to see more of it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1