Seasons & Moon Phases

The beginning of autumn in North America is in September, but the beginning of autumn in South America is in March. The diagram shows the positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun on one day in September and one day in March. Why does autumn start in different months if the year in North America and South America?

• Earth's orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle.

• North America has a larger landmass than South America.

• The moon has greater pull on South America than on North America.

• Earth's axis has a 23.5 degree tilt.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Students in a science class in Marfa, Texas, made a poster with a diagram to represent a seasonal change in the Northern Hemisphere. Which statement best describes conditions for Earth at position 1 in the diagram?

• There are an equal number of hours of daylight and nighttime in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Northern Hemisphere, and the North Pole is tilted away from the sun.

• The Northern Hemisphere has the fewest hours of daylight, and Earth's axis does not tilt at this position.

• There are an equal number of hours of daylight and nighttime in the Northern Hemisphere because Earth's axis is not tilted in this position.

• The Northern Hemisphere has the fewest hours of daylight, and the North Pole is tilted away from the sun.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of these changes would likely occur if the rate of Earth's rotation on its axis increased?

• The length of the seasons would be shorter.

• The length of the seasons would be longer.

• The length of a day would be shorter.

• The length of a day would be shorter.

The model shows Earth in several positions relative to the sun. In which position is it winter in North America?

• Position 1, because North America receives the most direct sun

• Position 2, because North America is tilted toward the sun

• Position 3, because North America is parallel to the sun

• Position 4, because North America is tilted away from the sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student notices that the moon is full one evening. Which sequence of moon phases will the student observe over the next eight days?

• Full, waning gibbous, third quarter

• Full, waning gibbous, first quarter, waning crescent

• Full, new, waning gibbous

• Full, waxing gibbous, new, waning crescent

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagram below shows four consecutive moon phases. Which of the following diagrams shows the next four moon phases in the correct order?

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Two friends want to go for a night hike when there is a full moon in July. If there is a third-quarter moon on July 2, What is the approximate date of the next full moon?

• July 9

• July 16

• July 23

• July 30

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student must complete the column of the table that lists the dates of the full moons. What are the most likely dates of the full moons?

• February 5, March 7, April 5, May 4

• February 15, March 17, April 15, May 14

• February 25, March 27, April 25, May 24

• February 29, March 31, April 29, May 28

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2