Understanding Earth's Rotation and Day-Night Cycle

What causes day and night? Read each question. Then circle the letter for the correct answer.

• The orbit of Earth

• The revolution of Earth

• The rotation of Earth around its axis

• The moon blocking the sunlight

Which statement is true? Read each question. Then circle the letter for the correct answer.

• The part of Earth facing the sun as it rotates experiences day.

• The part of Earth facing away from the sun as it rotates experiences night.

• Like Earth, the moon has no light of its own but reflects light from the sun.

• All of these

Which way does Earth spin? Read each question. Then circle the letter for the correct answer.

• From north to south

• From south to north

• From east to west

• From west to east

How long does it take Earth to rotate once around its axis? Read each question. Then circle the letter for the correct answer.

• About 7 days

• About 24 hours

• About 12 hours

• About 365 days

Which statement is true? Read each question. Then circle the letter for the correct answer.

• Earth’s axis runs straight up and down.

• Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle.

• Earth’s axis is tilted to the left.

• Earth’s axis is a horizontal line.

In spring we set clocks one hour ahead and in fall one hour back. How does this affect the length of a day? Read each question. Then circle the letter for the correct answer.

• Earth’s rotation gets longer in spring and shorter in fall.

• It does not affect Earth’s rotation.

• The sun rises and sets at different times of day.

• The sun rises and sets at different times of the day and it does not affect Earth’s rotation.

After the sun rises in the sky at its highest point, towards which direction does it move?

• North

• South

• East

• West

A student measures her shadow at different times of day. What pattern does the graph show?

• Shadows get longer throughout the day.

• Shadows are longest in the morning.

• Shadows get shorter until noon and then get longer.

• Shadows are too short to measure before 9 A.M.

Based on the graph, when are shadows the longest?

• 10 A.M.

• 11 A.M.

• 3 P.M.

• 4 P.M.

The moon orbits Earth about —

• once every 24 hours

• once every 7 days

• once every 365 days

• once every 28 days