Understanding Day and Night

What causes day and night on Earth?

• The sun moving around the Earth

• The Earth rotating on its axis

• The moon blocking the sun

• The Earth moving closer to and further from the sun

How would you explain the concept of day and night to a kindy student?

• The sun goes to sleep at night

• The Earth spins, so sometimes we face the sun (day) and sometimes we don’t (night)

• The sun turns off its light at night

• The moon makes it night

What is a "axis" in terms of planet rotation?

• The axis is the imaginary line around which a planet rotates.
• The axis is the physical surface of a planet.
• The axis is the path a planet takes around the sun.
• The axis is the gravitational pull of a planet.

What is the simplest explanation of what a day is?

• The time it takes for the sun to move around the Earth

• The time it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis

• The time it takes for the moon to orbit the Earth

• The time between two sunsets

Approximately how long is one day on Earth?

• 12 hours

• 24 hours

• 48 hours

• 365 days

Which direction does the sun appear to rise each morning?

• North

• South

• East

• West

In which direction is the Earth rotating?

• Anti-clockwise

• Clockwise

Do all planets in our solar system rotate in the same direction as Earth?

• Yes, all rotate the same way

• No, some rotate in the opposite direction

• Only the gas giants rotate differently

• Only Mercury rotates differently

Which planet in our solar system has the longest day (rotation period)?

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Venus

• Mars

Why is it daytime in Adelaide but night-time in London at the same moment?

• Adelaide is closer to the sun

• The Earth’s rotation means different places face the sun at different times

• London is in a different season

• The moon blocks the sun in London