What is the shape of Earth's orbit?

• ellipse

• circular

• irregular

• perfect sphere

What motion of Earth causes Earth to have a greater circumference at the equator than at the poles?

• revolution

• rotation

• precession

• nutation

Why has only one-half of the Moon ever been observed from Earth?

• The Moon does not rotate on its axis.

• The Moon is not visible during the day.

• The Moon has phases that coincide with its rate of rotation.

• The Moon rotates at the same rate that it revolves around Earth.

A low tide and a high tide occur in the oceans two times each day. Which factor has the greatest effect on the size of the tides?

• air pressure differences

• gravitational pull from the Sun

• seasonal temperature variations

• gravitational pull from the Moon

Which best describes how energy from the sun helps to maintain life on Earth?

• It forms the ocean’s water and the oxygen in the atmosphere that organisms need for life functions.

• It heats Earth’s atmosphere and surface, which helps stabilize temperatures on Earth and creates environments more favorable for life to exist.

• It prevents the destruction of the magnetic field around Earth that protects all life forms.

• It is absorbed by Earth’s mantle, which drives plate tectonics to form new land masses for organisms to live.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A blueberry bush uses energy from the Sun to make carbohydrates. Which set of energy transformations best describe this process?

• radiant energy → chemical energy → nuclear energy

• radiant energy → nuclear energy → chemical energy

• nuclear energy → radiant energy → chemical energy

• nuclear energy → chemical energy → radiant energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The Sun transforms matter into energy through nuclear fusion. What can be inferred about the Sun from this fact?

• The Sun is losing volume and hydrogen.

• The Sun is losing mass and hydrogen.

• The Sun is losing mass and helium.

• The Sun is losing volume and helium

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

During the year, the angle at which the path of the Sun appears in the sky varies. In the Northern Hemisphere, the path of the Sun appears higher on the horizon during the summer and lower on the horizon during the winter. Which factor most contributes to the variation in the path of the Sun across the sky?

• the rotation of Earth

• the flattening of Earth at the poles

• the tilted axis of Earth

• the elliptical shape of the orbit of Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Classification of galaxies is based on which characteristic?

• the shape of the galaxy

• the color of the galaxy

• how many stars make up the galaxy

• how many planets make up the galaxy

One theory states that by the year 14000, the axis of Earth will point toward the star Vega. This is due to the very slow wobble of the axis of Earth. Which change is most likely to occur because of the movement of the axis?

• Seasons will become more severe.

• Winter and summer months will reverse.

• Glacial coverage will expand near the poles.

• More daylight will increase temperatures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1