Patterns in the Solar System

Vesna is studying seasons on Earth. She drew a diagram of Earth to show how it is tilted on its axis. Vesna wants to include the label of Earth’s tilt on her diagram. What angle should Vesna add?

• 15.5 degrees

• 30 degrees

• 45 degrees

• 23.5 degrees

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which statement explains how a lunar eclipse happens?

• The sun casts a shadow on Earth.

• The moon casts a shadow on Earth.

• Earth casts a shadow on the moon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student made a model of a lunar eclipse. Which change will he need to make to the model to change it into a model of a solar eclipse instead?

• Move the moon closer to Earth than to the sun. Move the moon between the sun and Earth.

• Move Earth between the moon and the sun.

• Move the moon between the sun and Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

When it is winter, the United States receives the least direct solar energy, as compared with the rest of the year. Why does this happen?

• The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the sun.

• The Northern Hemisphere is farther from the sun.

• The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun.

• The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which characteristic is associated with winter as compared to summer?

• noon sun lower in the sky

• longer days and shorter nights

• higher daytime temperatures

• more daily hours of sunlight

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Kevin travels from the United States to Australia for the winter, but when he gets there it feels more like summer. Which statement explains this?

• The Northern Hemisphere is experiencing an equinox.

• The Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, so it is summer in Australia.

• The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, so it is summer in Australia.

• The Southern Hemisphere is experiencing an equinox.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

In addition to changes in the number of hours of daylight, what other factor contributes to Earth’s seasons?

• time of the day

• warm air blowing from the oceans

• angle of the sun’s radiation

• energy as heat from the moon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A student records the rising and setting times of the moon for a month. She notices that the moon rises and sets 50 minutes later each day. She studies these data to develop an explanation for the change in time. What explains this change in the moon’s rising and setting times?

• Earth revolves around the moon.

• Earth rotates, and the moon revolves around Earth.

• The moon revolves around the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

How do the temperatures at Earth’s equator compare with the temperatures at the poles during the year?

• The equator is generally cold.

• There is less variation in temperature at the equator.

• The poles are generally warm

• There is more variation in temperature at the equator.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

How long does Earth take to complete one trip around the sun, and back to the starting position?

• 365 1/4 days

• 24 hours

• 29 1/2 days

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2