Analyzing Our Solar System

1. Shira looked up one night and saw a full moon. How long will it be before she can see a full moon again?

• a. about 1 week

• b. It could be 2 weeks or about 1 month, depending on what time of year it is

• c. there is no way to tell because the moon is always changing

• d. about 1 month

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

2. The passage below describes a student creating a physical model of Earth's rotation.

Tony is creating a model showing how Earth rotates over the course of one day. He uses a globe to represent

Earth.

Tony knows that Earth spins on its axis, completing one

rotation every 24 hours. He slowly spins the globe

counterclockwise, completing one rotation in about 6

seconds.

According to Tony's model, 1 second of rotation represents about _____.

• a. 2 hours

• b. 4 hours

• c. 6 hours

• d. 8 hours

3. Earth is always in motion. In addition to orbiting the Sun, Earth is constantly rotating, or spinning. Earth rotates around an imaginary line called an ____.

• a. North pole

• b. South pole

• c. axis

• d. hypotenuse

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

4. It takes one year for Earth to orbit the Sun once. During this time, the Moon orbits Earth about 12 times.

It takes about ___ days for the Moon to orbit Earth and about ___days for Earth to orbit the Sun

• a. 12; 365

• b. 30; 12

• c. 30; 365

• d. 365; 30

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

5. In addition to showing size and distance, models can show how objects in the solar system move and interact with one another. For example, the model below uses arrows to show movement. The arrows show the movement of Earth and the Moon around the Sun. The gray lines represent the paths of Earth and the Moon.

Earth moves in a repeating path around the Sun. The regular, repeating path of an object as it moves around another object is called an orbit. Most planets move in a nearly circular orbit around the Sun.

The model shows that _____

• a. the Moon orbits the Sun and Earth

• b. Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon orbits Earth

• c. Earth orbits the Moon and the Sun

• d. Earth rotates the Sun and Moon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

6. If a model showed every object in the solar system, the model would be hard to understand. Scientists often choose to show certain characteristics in a model and leave out others. A characteristic that is left out is called a limitation of the model.

Look again at the model where the size of the Sun compared to Earth and the Moon is accurately represented. Then complete the statement.

The model shows the relative ____ Earth, Moon and Sun. A limitation of the model is that it does not show the relative _______ or the ______ the Earth

• a. sizes of; distances between; motion of

• b. temperature; rotation; distance

• c. interactions; revolution; seasons

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

7. The model below shows the Moon at eight positions in its orbit around Earth. The white half of the Moon represents the part of the Moon's surface that is lit up by the Sun.

Which position in the model represents a first quarter moon?

• a. 1

• b. 2

• c. 3

• d. 6

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

8. The model below shows the Moon at eight positions in its orbit around Earth. The white half of the Moon represents the part of the Moon's surface that is lit up by the Sun.

Which position in the model represents a full moon?

• a. 2

• b. 5

• c. 6

• d. 8

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

9. The model below shows the Moon at one position in its orbit around Earth. The white half of the Moon represents the part of the Moon that is lit up by the Sun.

Select the phase of the Moon shown in the model that is in position 3.

• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

10. The model below shows the Moon at one position in its orbit around Earth. The white half of the Moon represents the part of the Moon that is lit up by the Sun.

Select the phase of the Moon shown in the model in position 1.

• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1