Earth, Moon & Sun Amplify Science Question

Leticia is a space scientist who made this diagram of the Moon and Earth viewed from above (top view), with sunlight coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Why does Leticia's diagram show that it is brighter on the left half of the Moon?

• Because Leticia's diagram shows that the half of the Moon facing the sun is illuminated by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• Because the Moon has some rocks of lighter color and others of darker color, and Leticia's diagram shows that the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rocks has turned to the left.

• Because, as the Moon gets closer to the sun, more of it is illuminated by the sun, so Leticia's diagram shows sunlight on half of the Moon.

• Because there is a shadow of the Earth falling on half of the Moon, and Leticia's diagram shows this shadow on the right half of the Moon.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Three students created the above diagrams to show how they think the Moon appears when viewed from above (top view). In these diagrams, sunlight comes from the left, as indicated by the arrows. Which diagram is accurate and why?

• Diagram A is accurate because the entire Moon is illuminated as long as there are no shadows covering parts of it.

• Diagram B is accurate because the Moon is almost as close as it can be to the sun, so the Moon is almost completely illuminated by the sun.

• Diagram C is accurate because the half of the Moon facing the sun is illuminated by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rocks and some darker-colored rocks, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rocks rotates to face different directions.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student astronomer went out and took photographs of the Moon that were taken several days apart. The images that resemble his photographs are shown above. The illuminated part of the Moon seemed to become smaller over time. Why did this happen?

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved further away from the sun, so less sunlight reached the surface of the Moon.

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Earth moved so that its shadow blocked more of the Moon, so the student astronomer could see less of it.

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon rotated so that less light-colored rock on the surface of the Moon was facing the Earth.

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved so that the student astronomer could see less of the half that faces the sun.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagrams above show the Earth and the Moon at different positions, viewed from above (top view). The sunlight comes from the left, but these diagrams do not show which parts of the Earth or the Moon are illuminated or dark.

Could the half of the Moon facing the Earth be completely dark in any of these diagrams?

• No, the Moon is always illuminated by the sun.

• Yes, always in Diagrams 1 and 2, but never in Diagram 3.

• Yes, always in Diagram 2, but never in Diagrams 1 or 3.

• Yes, always in Diagram 2 and sometimes in Diagram 1.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of these statements is true about the Moon?

• The Moon always moves around the Earth in a circle.

• The Moon is always in the same position in the Earth's sky.

• The Moon always moves in many changing patterns around the Earth.

• The Moon always moves from side to side in the Earth's sky.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Someone said that light bent around a corner to reach an object. Is this possible?

• No, light only travels in straight lines.

• Yes, light travels like a river, where there is an open path.

• Maybe; light travels unpredictably.

• Yes, if the light is bright enough, it can change direction to go around corners.

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NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Three student astronomers have created the diagrams above to show how they think the Moon appears when observed from above (top view). In these diagrams, sunlight comes from the left, as indicated by the arrows.

Which diagram is accurate and why?

• Diagram A is accurate because the Moon is almost as far as it can be from the sun, so almost none of the Moon is illuminated by the sun.

• Diagram B is accurate because the half of the Moon facing the sun is illuminated by the sun, and the other half is dark.

• Diagram C is accurate because the whole Moon is bright as long as no shadow covers parts of it.

• All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rocks and others that are darker, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rocks rotates to look in different directions.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Suki looked one night and saw a waxing moon. If Suki looks for the Moon again in a month, what will she see?

• Suki will see a waxing moon again, like Diagram A.

• Suki will see a quarter moon, like Diagram B.

• Suki might see a waxing moon or a quarter moon; it depends on the time of year.

• There is no way to know because the Moon's pattern is always changing.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

An artist took two photographs of the Moon several days apart. The images that resemble his photographs are shown above. The illuminated part of the Moon seemed to become smaller over time. Why did this happen?

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon rotated so that less light-colored rock on the Moon's surface was facing the Earth.

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Earth's shadow moved and blocked more of the Moon, so the artist could see less of it.

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved so that the artist could see less of the half that faces the sun.

• Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved further away from the sun, so less sunlight was reaching the Moon's surface.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What is true about the sun and the moon?

• The sun illuminates the half of the Moon that faces it, and the other half is dark.

• The sun illuminates the half of the Moon that does not face it, and the other half is dark.

• The sun illuminates the entire moon and no part of it is dark.

• The Moon makes its own light and the sun has nothing to do with it.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1