Day/Night, Seasons and Moon Phases

The image shows the positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth.

When viewed from Earth, which phase of the Moon is occurring at the position shown?

• first quarter

• full Moon

• last quarter

• new Moon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The image shows the positions of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun.

How does the Moon appear to an observer on Earth?

• full moon

• new moon

• waning gibbous

• waxing crescent

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The calendar shows different phases of the Moon during part of the month of September.

Based on the calendar, when would an observer on Earth experience a full moon?

• September 2

• September 24

• between September 12 and 15

• between September 27 and 30

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

How fast does the Earth rotate on its axis?

• once every 24 hrs

• once every 365 days

• 2 times a day

• 4 times a day

Samantha lives in Charleston, South Carolina. She looks outside, and the sky looks sunny and bright. She speaks with her friend Kurt in Rome, Italy, and he tells her that he sees a beautiful full Moon in the night sky.

What statement explains the difference in conditions in these two locations?

• The Earth is round and does not move, which means that Charleston and Rome cannot both have day or night at the same time.

• Charleston and Rome are on different continents, and they cannot both have day or night at the same time.

• Earth spins on an axis, which creates different lengths of day and night in different places on Earth’s surface.

• The Earth rotates, which means the side of Earth facing the Sun has day, while the side facing away from the Sun has night.

The image shows the position of Earth and the Sun, and the tilt in Earth's axis.

Which option correctly shades the area of Earth that is experiencing night?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student observed that the shadow of a flagpole was different in the morning than the afternoon. What most likely caused the change?

• The Sun’s position in the sky changed.

• The Sun was brighter in the morning than in the afternoon.

• The flagpole was closer to the Sun in the morning.

• The flagpole changed size.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagram shows Earth in different locations around the Sun.

Which location represents Earth when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere?

• location S

• location T

• location U

• location V

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which season is the southern hemisphere of Earth experiencing in the diagram?

• summer

• spring

• winter

• fall

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which season is the Northern Hemisphere of Earth experiencing in the diagram?

• spring

• summer

• winter

• fall

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1