EARTH-MOON-SUN SYSTEM

What causes the phases of the moon?

• the relative positions of the moon, Earth, and the sun

• the tilted orbit of the moon

• the moons period of revolution just equals its period of rotation

• sunlight reflecting off Earth’s surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What happens during a total solar eclipse?

• The moon is about the same size as the sun.

• The shadow of Earth falls on the moon.

• A thin ring of the sun shows through.

• The moon appears to fully cover the disk of the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why do we always see the same side of the moon from Earth?

• because its phases are constantly changing

• because its period of rotation equals its period of revolution

• because half of the moon is always in sunlight

• because the moon changes its position relative to Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why don’t solar and lunar eclipses occur every month?

• The moon’s orbit is an ellipse.

• The moon’s distance from Earth changes.

• The shadows do not line up correctly.

• The moon’s orbit is tilted.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Spring tides and neap tides occur in patterns governed by

• changes in the force of Earth’s gravity.

• the type of ocean currents near where the tides occur

• whether the gravity of the sun or moon exerts a stronger pull

• the relative positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun (the phases of the moon).

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

When do the greatest tidal ranges occur?

• spring tides

• neap tides

• high tides

• low tides

What happens when the moon is waxing?

• The sunlit part we see appears to get larger.

• The sunlit part we see appears to get smaller

• The sunlit part we see appears to stay the same

• The sunlit part we see appears to go away

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What is the difference between levels of ocean water at high tide and low tide called?

• a tidal range

• a neap tide

• a spring tide

• a tidal wave

What happens when the moon is waning?

• The sunlit part we see appears to get larger.

• The sunlit part we see appears and disappears.

• The sunlit part we see appears to get smaller.

• The sunlit part we see appears to stay the same.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of these statements best describes tides?

• a water level lower than the average water level

• a water level higher than the average water level

• changes in water level that happen when Earth, the sun, and the moon form a straight line

• the periodic rise and fall of water levels in the oceans and other large bodies of water