ESM System/Galaxies/Solar System

Students use the materials pictured below to create a model of the lunar cycle. What action must the students perform to demonstrate what causes the changing appearance of the Moon from Earth?

Answer explanation

To demonstrate what causes the changing appearance of the Moon from Earth, students must move the tennis ball around the basketball to model the Moon’s orbit around Earth. The flashlight should stay still and remain pointing toward the basketball.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why do we see different phases of the Moon?

Answer explanation

The phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the Sun and Earth. As the Moon makes its way around Earth, we see the bright parts of the Moon’s surface at different angles.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

How are lunar eclipses different from solar eclipses?

Answer explanation

The Moon is between Earth and Sun during a solar eclipse, and Earth is between the Sun and Moon during a lunar eclipse.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Students are using sports equipment to model the relative motion of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. Which of the following will accurately model the relative motions of these bodies?

• Basketball moving around the baseball, baseball moving around the golf ball

• Baseball moving around the golf ball, golf ball moving
  around the basketball

• Golf ball moving around the basketball, basketball moving around the baseball

• Golf ball moving around the baseball, baseball moving around the basketball

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of the following is primarily responsible for the changing of seasons on Earth?

• Orbit of Earth around the Sun and rotation of the Sun

• Tilt of the axis of Earth and the orbit of Earth around the Sun

• Orbit of Earth around the Sun and the rotation of Earth

• Rotation of Earth and rotation of the Sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A diagram of the Earth-Sun-Moon system is provided below. The diagram shows the relative position of the Moon at various times in the lunar cycle. We would observe a totally dark moon starting to become illuminated when the Moon moves between which two
phases?

• Position W and Position Z

• Position Z and Position Y

• Position Y and Position X

• Position X and Position W

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Some students are using objects to model the Earth-Sun-Moon system. They wish to represent the positions of these objects during a solar eclipse. To accurately model the solar eclipse, the golf ball should be placed in which labeled position?

• Position W

• Position X

• Position Y

• Position Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of the following describes a lunar eclipse?

• The Moon's shadow is on Earth.

• Earth's shadow is on the Sun.

• Earth's shadow is on the Moon.

• The Moon's shadow is on the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Match the following

• Lunar phases

• The shape of the illuminated portion of the Moon

• Star

• Occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and Sun, covering the Sun

• Solar eclipse

• Occurs when the full Moon passes into Earth's shadow

• Sun

• A self-luminous celestial body

• Lunar eclipse

• The star that Earth revolves around

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Areas of Earth receive different ​ (a)   of light throughout the year. One reason Earth experiences four different ​ (b)   is the 23.5° tilt of Earth’s axis. A second reason Earth experiences seasons is that Earth ​ (c)   around the Sun. Patterns of the apparent motion of the ​ (d)   , the Moon, and ​ (e)   in the sky can be predicted.

• intensities
• seasons
• revolves
• Sun
• stars
• orbit
• Moon
• axis
• tilt
• rotation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1