Earth Science Quiz

What causes the movement of tectonic plates on Earth?

• Earth's rotation

• Flow in the lower mantle

• Gravitational pull from the Sun

• The Moon’s influence

Where do earthquakes most often occur?

• In the middle of continents

• Near the boundaries of tectonic plates

• At the poles

• In the ocean trenches

Earthquakes happen when stress builds up at plate boundaries, causing sudden ___ of the Earth's crust.

• movement

• relaxation

During a solar eclipse, what happens?

• The Earth blocks the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon.

• The Moon blocks the Sun’s light from reaching the Earth.

• The Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.

• The Sun moves between the Earth and the Moon.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the ___ blocks the Moon’s light.

• Earth

• Sun

What keeps Earth in orbit around the Sun?

• The Sun’s magnetic field

• Earth's speed in space

• Gravity

• Earth's rotation

Without gravity, the planets would fly off into space instead of staying in ___ around the Sun.

What is the main force that pulls dust and gas together to form planets?

• Magnetism

• Electricity

• Gravity

• Wind

Planets form when gravity pulls together dust and gas from a ___ in space.

• cloud

• solar system

Which of the following is most responsible for the formation of planets?

• Light from the Sun

• Dust particles sticking together

• Gravitational pull of nearby stars

• The Earth's rotation