Length of Day & Seasons

The model shows Earth in four different positions in its orbit around the sun. Which statement correctly explains which position of Earth represents summer in the United States?

• Position 1, because the Western Hemisphere is facing the sun

• Position 2, because the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun

• Position 3, because Earth is at its closest point to the sun in its orbit

• Position 4, because Earth is traveling at its fastest rate in its orbit

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112.20.b.7.A

The diagram shows Earth in its orbit around the sun when very little light is visible at Earth's South Pole.

Which statement is true when Earth is in the position shown?

• It is August in the Northern Hemisphere.

  It is April in the Southern Hemisphere.

• It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

  It is winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

• The number of hours of daylight is greater in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Spring begins earlier in the year in the Southern Hemisphere than it does in the Northern Hemisphere.

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112.20.b.7.A

Students make a model using a globe and a flashlight.

Which answer choice best explains the change from daytime to nighttime on Earth?

• The sun stops sending light to Earth at night

• Earth moves farther away from the sun at night

• The tilt of Earth causes less light to reach the Earth at night

• Earth rotates and causes different parts of Earth to experience night

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112.20.b.7.A

Which diagram models a hypothetical situation in which every location on Earth would have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness per day?

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112.20.b.7.A

The beginning of autumn in North America is in September, but the beginning of autumn in South America is in March. The diagram shows the positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun on one day in September and one day in March.

Why does autumn start in different months of the year in North America and South America?

• Earth's orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle

• North America has a larger landmass than South America

• The moon has a greater pull on South America than on North America

• Earth's axis has a 23.5' tilt

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112.20.b.7.A

Students in a science class made a poster with a diagram to represent a seasonal change in the Northern Hemisphere.

Which statement best describes conditions for Earth at Position 1 in this diagram?

• There are an equal number of hours of daylight and nighttime in the Northern Hemisphere, and the North Pole is tilted away from the sun

• The Northern Hemisphere has the fewest hours of daylight, and Earth's axis does not tilt at this position

• There are an equal number of hours of daylight and nighttime in the Northern Hemisphere because Earth's axis is not tilted in this position

• The Northern Hemisphere has the fewest hours of daylight, and the North Pole is tilted away from the sun

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112.20.b.7.A

Which of these changes would likely occur if the rate of Earth's rotation on its axis increased?

• The length of the seasons would be shorter

• The length of the seasons would be longer

• The length of a day would be shorter

• The length of a day would be longer

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112.20.b.7.A

In which position is it winter in North America?

• Position 1, because North America receives the most direct sun

• Position 2, because North America is tilted toward the sun

• Position 3, because North America is parallel to the sun

• Position 4, because North America is tilted away from the sun

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112.20.b.7.A

A student wants to use a spinning basketball to model the day-and-night cycle on Earth.

What should the student do in order to best model the cause of the day-and-night cycle?

• Spin the ball in different directions

• Tilt the ball while it is spinning

• Paint one half of the ball black and the other half white

• Shine a bright light on one side of the ball

Tags

112.20.b.7.A

In the summer many people enjoy going to the beach. The photograph shows a beach in Argentina, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere.

Which diagram shows the position of Earth when it is summer in Argentina?

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112.20.b.7.A