SSA Sun Moon Earth Review Plus

Which position of the moon would result in a solar eclipse?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Which event is happening at position 3

• full moon

• solar eclipse

• lunar eclipse

• high tide

Venus is the planet most similar to the Earth in terms of size and mass. It has a thick, dense atmosphere. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system, and the closest to the Sun. Rather than an atmosphere, Mercury has a thin exosphere made up of atoms blasted off its surface by solar winds and striking meteoroids.  Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system. It is even hotter than Mercury. Which of these facts is the most likely reason that Venus is hotter than Mercury?

• Venus is farther from the Sun than Mercury

• The axis of Venus has a greater tilt than Mercury’s axis

• Venus has a denser atmosphere than Mercury

• Venus revolves around the Sun more slowly than Mercury

Tidal and gravitational forces work together to produce stronger tides when the Sun, moon, and Earth are aligned. On the chart which dates were most likely full and new moons?

• June 6 and 13

• June 13 and 20

• June 6 and 20

• June 13 and 28

Why are there two low tides and two high tides every day?

• It takes the water that long to come in and then go back out again

• The water is affected by the sunlight so the tides are dependent on sunrise and sunset

• The moon’s gravity pulls on the water at the same time Earth is rotating, which changes the direction of the flow

• It is just a convention to record 2 high tides and 2 low tides every day, there are different cycles on every coast

Why is the moon so much more significant in the formation of tides than  the Sun?

• Because the moon is much closer to Earth

• Because the Sun is much bigger than the moon

• Because at night the moon is brighter than the Sun

• Because the angle of the Sun changes too much in a year

What type of event does the model on the left represent?

• position of the Moon during a quarter moon

• position of the Moon during a full moon

• position of the Moon during a lunar eclipse

• position of the Moon during a solar eclipse

New evidence often leads to advances in scientific knowledge. Some information learned during eclipses is listed below. Which one changed our understanding of something other than solar eclipses?

• Scientists found new lines in the Sun’s atomic spectrum by studying the light visible during an eclipse

• Astronomers showed that the Moon’s topography affects the shape of the shadow it casts on Earth

• Math calculations used to determine the path of an eclipse became more precise

• Information learned about the Sun’s size changed predictions about the length of time it is completely covered by the Moon