Exit Check 3.4 - Moon's Orbit

3.4.2

What is the phase of the Moon at position #5?

• New Moon

• Third Quarter Moon

• First Quarter Moon

• Full Moon

Answer explanation

Look for the moon phases diagram in your notes. This picture is a model that shows why the Moon appears to change shape throughout the month. Use this model to explain how the Moon’s position relative to the Earth and Sun causes the different phases we see.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.2

The moon appears to shine in the night sky. Where does the moon's light come from?

• It is the glow of the moon rocks

• It is starlight reflecting off the moon

• It is the city lights from earth reflecting off the moon

• It is sunlight reflecting off the moon

Answer explanation

Look for the moon phases diagram in your notes. This picture is a model that shows why the Moon appears to change shape throughout the month. Use this model to explain how the Moon’s position relative to the Earth and Sun causes the different phases we see.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.2

What causes the phases of the moon?

• Half of the moon is made out of black rocks, and it takes the moon one month to spin completely around.

• The rocks on the moon collect sunlight and then glow for a short time. Parts appear black if they did not get enough light.

• The moon only reflects light, and as the moon orbits, different amount of the moon's day side are visible.

• Earth has 8 different moons but we can only see one of them at a time

Answer explanation

Look for the moon phases diagram in your notes. This picture is a model that shows why the Moon appears to change shape throughout the month. Use this model to explain how the Moon’s position relative to the Earth and Sun causes the different phases we see.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.3

A lunar eclipse occurs when:

• The sun passes between the earth and the moon.

• The moon dips below the earth.

• The moon passes through the earth's shadow.

• The sun passes through the moon's shadow.

Answer explanation

Matching pictures to words is key for these questions. It’s easy to get confused by the wording, so take time to draw diagrams showing the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun for each eclipse.

• A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.
  
  

• A solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth.
  
  

Use your drawings to help you clearly explain how each eclipse occurs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.3

A solar eclipse occurs when:

• The sun passes between the earth and the moon.

• The moon passes between the Sun and the Earth.

• The moon passes through the earth's shadow.

• The sun passes through the moon's shadow.

Answer explanation

Matching pictures to words is key for these questions. It’s easy to get confused by the wording, so take time to draw diagrams showing the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun for each eclipse.

• A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.
  

• A solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth.
  

Use your drawings to help you clearly explain how each eclipse occurs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.3

Which of the following is true about both Solar and Lunar eclipses

• They cannot happen if the planet does not have a moon

• They always happen every month

• They only happen at night

• Nothing is the same about them, one is only about the Sun and one is only about the Moon

Answer explanation

Matching pictures to words is key for these questions. It’s easy to get confused by the wording, so take time to draw diagrams showing the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun for each eclipse.

• A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.
  

• A solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth.
  

Use your drawings to help you clearly explain how each eclipse occurs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.1

The diagram shows four phases of the moon during winter. Based on the diagram, which phases should result in the largest high tides?

• First Quarter

• Full Moon

• Last Quarter

• New Moon

Answer explanation

This question links to success criteria 3.4.1: I can explain how the Earth-moon-sun orbital system results in Earth’s tides. 

If you got it correct place a check mark in the question results section. If you got it incorrect place an X in that section. If this was a redemption question, cross out the one X and replace it with a check mark.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.1

Which areas on earth should be experiencing high tides based on the position of the sun and moon in the picture?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Answer explanation

In today’s activity, we made model diagrams showing how the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun affect the tides.

• Tides are caused mainly by the Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans.
  

• When the Sun and Moon are lined up, their gravitational forces combine and cause higher high tides and lower low tides — these are called spring tides.
  

• When the Sun and Moon are at right angles, their gravitational pulls partially cancel out, leading to less extreme tides — these are called neap tides.
  

Use your model drawings to help visualize how the gravitational forces interact.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.1

Which type of tide is being experienced at point C based on the diagram?

• Spring Tide

• Neap Tide

• Low Tide

• Tide Pod

Answer explanation

In today’s activity, we made model diagrams showing how the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun affect the tides.

• Tides are caused mainly by the Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans.
  

• When the Sun and Moon are lined up, their gravitational forces combine and cause higher high tides and lower low tides — these are called spring tides.
  

• When the Sun and Moon are at right angles, their gravitational pulls partially cancel out, leading to less extreme tides — these are called neap tides.
  

Use your model drawings to help visualize how the gravitational forces interact.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

3.4.1

Which diagram shows the arrangement of the Earth, Sun and Moon during a Neap Tide?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

In today’s activity, we made model diagrams showing how the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun affect the tides.

• Tides are caused mainly by the Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans.
  

• When the Sun and Moon are lined up, their gravitational forces combine and cause higher high tides and lower low tides — these are called spring tides.
  

• When the Sun and Moon are at right angles, their gravitational pulls partially cancel out, leading to less extreme tides — these are called neap tides.
  

Use your model drawings to help visualize how the gravitational forces interact.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1