Earth Moon Sun Systems

Name:

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
• Shine a bright light on one side of the ball

In summer, many people enjoy going to the beach. The photograph shows the 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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A student draws the model shown below. Which of these best compares the conditions of location X and location Y?

• It is winter in location X and summer at location Y.
• There are more hours of daylight at location X than at location Y.

During which of these phases of the moon will the tides be highest?

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Which of these would be the best model to use to study the cause of the moon’s phase changes?

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The model shows Earth in several positions relative to the sun. In what position is winter in North America?

• Position 2, because North America is tilted toward the sun
• Position 4, because North America is tilted away from the sun

The beginning of autumn (fall) in North America is in September, but the beginning of autumn (fall) 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 (fall) start in different months of the year in North America and South America?

• Earth’s orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle.
• Earth’s axis has a 23.5° tilt.

Directions: The diagram below shows the phases of the Moon as they relate to its orbit around Earth. Use the diagram and your knowledge of science to answer any questions that follow. What is the correct series of phases from a third quarter moon to a first quarter moon? (in order as the moon revolves)

• Waning crescent, new moon, waxing crescent
• Waxing crescent, new moon, waning crescent

A student uses paper and fasteners to create a model of Earth, the sun, and the moon. The sun and Earth are attached to the paper background, while the moon is free to revolve around Earth. Which diagram shows the objects arranged so a FULL MOON would be visible from Earth?

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