STAAR Review - Category 3: Earth and Space REVISED

Front

What is the phase of the moon that follows a full moon?

Back

Waning gibbous moon.

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A small celestial body that orbits the sun and has a fan-shaped tail of gas and dust when near the sun.

Front

How do pollutants affect groundwater?

Back

Pollutants from industrial, agricultural, and residential activities can percolate through the soil and enter the water table.

Front

What celestial bodies are involved in ocean tides?

Back

The positions of the sun, moon, and Earth have the greatest effect on ocean tides.

Front

What is the sequence of moon phases after a full moon over the next eight days?

Back

Full, waning gibbous, third quarter.

Front

What is the definition of a waning gibbous moon?

Back

A phase of the moon that occurs after a full moon and before the third quarter, where more than half of the moon is illuminated but decreasing.

Front

What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Back

A comet is made of ice and dust and has a tail, while an asteroid is a rocky body that does not have a tail.

Front

What is the water table?

Back

The upper surface of the zone of saturation, where the soil or rock is fully saturated with water.

Front

What causes the phases of the moon?

Back

The phases of the moon are caused by the changing angles of sunlight hitting the moon as it orbits Earth.

Front

What is a meteor?

Back

A small body of matter from outer space that enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up, often seen as a shooting star.