Earth's Place in the Universe

Winter Solstice is on December 21. Which of the following statements BEST explains why the time of year the winter solstice occurs has the least amount of daylight in Massachusetts?

• Earth is farthest away from the Sun on the winter solstice

• Earth's rotational speed on its axis is greatest on the winter solstice

• Earth's Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun on the winter solstice

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, which way is the Southern Hemisphere tilted?

• away from the sun

• toward the sun

• away from the moon

• toward the moon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

On which two days of the year are there nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness?

• spring equinox and fall equinox

• summer solstice and winter solstice

• spring equinox and summer solstice

• Fall equinox and winter solstice

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why do the Sun's rays strike different parts of Earth at different angles?

• because different parts are further away from the sun

• because the Sun's surface facing the Earth is curved

• because the Earth's surface facing the sun is curved

• because the Sun's tilt changes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagram shows the relative positions of Earth and the Sun at a certain time of the year. Based on the diagram, which season is occurring in the SOUTHERN Hemisphere of Earth?

• Summer

• Winter

• Spring

• Fall

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of the following statements BEST explains why it is warmer at the equator than at the North Pole?

• The equator has a larger area than the North Pole

• The equator receives more direct sunlight than the North Pole

• The equator has more hours of daylight per year than the North Pole

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following statements BEST explains why the tilt of Earth on its axis causes summer to be warmer than winter in the Northern Hemisphere?

• The warm ocean currents flow from the tropics to the Northern hemisphere in the summer

• The rays of the Sun strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly

• The greenhouse effect increase in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer

• The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun in the summer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

When a hemisphere experiences winter, tell what happens to the Sun's rays/energy hitting the surface of the hemisphere

• the rays/energy is focused more directly on the hemisphere in summer

• the rays/energy is spread out over a larger distance when the hemisphere is in winter

• the rays/energy is focused more directly on the hemisphere in winter

• the rays/energy is spread out over a larger distance when the hemisphere is in summer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

When a hemisphere experiences winter, which way is that hemisphere's axis pole pointing?

• towards the sun

• away from the sun

• neither towards nor away from the sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The curved path that Earth (and other planets) take when moving around the sun is called a/an

• axis

• revolution

• orbit

• day

• night

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4