Phases of the Moon

Which of these accurately describes the moon’s behavior in the Northern Hemisphere?

• It appears to grow from the left then shrink to the right.

• It appears to shrink from the right then grow to the left.

• It appears to grow from the right then shrink to the left.

• It appears to shrink from the left then grow to the right.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The moon seems to change from a full moon to crescent shapes back to a full moon over the course of

• one year.

• two weeks.

• about a month.

• a single season.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What are two patterns that the moon seems to have that most other celestial objects do not?

• a single season and a horizontal axis

• changing shape and varied rising and setting times

• shape of orbit and lack of weather patterns

• vertical axis and lack of orbital plane

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of these describes one purpose of scientific models?

• They create new patterns.

• They complicate existing patterns.

• They make less important objects appear relevant.

• They make important aspects easier to observe.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Why is the moon visible from Earth?

• The moon reflects light from Earth’s surface.

• Sunlight that hits the moon is reflected off its surface.

• The moon produces its own illumination when heated by the sun.

• The moon produces light similar to the sun’s light, but not as strong.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

At any moment, the sun shines on how much of the moon?

• all of the moon

• half of the moon

• a quarter of the moon

• three-quarters of the moon

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What would be one simple way to model the pattern of how the moon changes in the Earth-sun-moon system?

• Rotate around a bare light bulb while holding a ball in front of your body.

• Stand outside and track the movement of the moon using a video camera.

• Paint several spheres with all the moon phases, and line them up in a row.

• Create a moondial that is similar to sundials used by some ancient people.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What determines how the different moon phases appear from Earth?

• sudden changes in the path of the moon’s orbit

• the amount of light that the moon receives from the sun

• the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the moon’s position in space

• the relative positions of the celestial objects in the Earth-sun-moon system

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why are consistent patterns useful to scientists who study the movement of celestial bodies?

• Consistent patterns are easily modeled.

• Consistent patterns make simple systems appear to be more complex.

• Consistent patterns help scientists predict when a pattern will change.

• Consistent patterns make it easy to spot when a planet’s orbital plane changes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

What is a lunar phase?

• the shape of the lit area of the moon as seen from Earth

• the entire area of the moon that receives light from the sun

• the path that the moon takes when it revolves around Earth

• the ratio of light received by the dark side of the moon compared to what is lit

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1