Science Quiz

During a science class, Ava asked why summer days are longer than winter days on Earth. What is the reason?

• During the summer, Earth's rotational axis is parallel to the Sun's rotational axis.

• During the summer, Earth is at the point in its orbit when it is closest to the Sun.

• The region of Earth experiencing summer rotates past the Sun more slowly than the region experiencing winter.

• The region of Earth experiencing summer is tilted toward the Sun while the region experiencing winter is tilted away from the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Henry is studying the rotation of Earth and learns that Earth makes one full rotation on its axis approximately every 24 hours. He wonders what would happen if Earth's period of rotation decreased to 20 hours. Which of the following changes would occur?

• There would be fewer days in a week.

• The length of nighttime would increase.

• It would take Earth longer to revolve around the Sun.

• The length of daylight and nighttime would decrease.

When Ethan looks at the Moon from Earth, he sees different phases of the Moon depending on the time of the month he observes the Moon. Why does the Moon have different phases during the month?

• The Moon revolves around Earth each month.

• The Moon does not have sunlight for one week each month.

• The Moon disappears behind the Sun for one week each month.

• The Moon revolves around the Sun on its axis once every month.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

As Keisha watches the stars at night, she notices they seem to move across the sky. What is the most accurate reason for this observation?

• Earth's revolution

• the stars' revolution

• the stars' tilt on their axis

• Earth's rotation on its axis

Rohan is studying the orbits of the planets around the Sun. He made extensive calculations based on his own and others' observations and concluded that the planets follow an elliptical path around the Sun, rather than a circular path. Which type of empirical evidence would be most important to a scientist who wanted to test Rohan's conclusion?

• data about the size and density of each planet

• data about the core and atmospheric temperature of each planet

• data about the location of each planet in the night sky throughout the year

• data about the length of time it takes each planet to complete one rotation on its axis

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Jackson, an astronomer, records over several nights the change in position of Venus and then calculates that Venus orbits the Sun once every 110 Earth days. This figure is considerably lower than the 225 Earth-day orbit that is widely accepted for Venus. What should Jackson do next?

• publish the findings to reveal the flaw in current orbital theories

• gather a new set of data and see if the results remain the same

• add 115 days to the calculations to match the current published data

• form a hypothesis to explain how the orbit of Venus can vary so greatly

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Olivia is observing the Moon from her backyard and notices how its appearance changes based on the sunlight it reflects. She wonders during which phase the Moon would be farthest away from the Sun. Can you help her find out?

• full moon

• new moon

• first quarter

• third quarter

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

During a school science project, Rohan and Mia are trying to demonstrate a solar eclipse. Which action is necessary for them to show a solar eclipse?

• The Moon needs to be full.

• Earth needs to pass in front of the Sun.

• The Sun needs to pass in front of the Moon.

• The Moon needs to pass between Earth and the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A captain of a fishing boat notices that during a certain time each year high tides are higher and low tides are lower. Which conclusion could the captain accurately draw?

• The Moon is at the closest part of its orbit around Earth; the Sun and the Moon form a right angle with Earth.

• The Moon is at the farthest part of its orbit around Earth; the Sun and the Moon form a right angle with Earth.

• The Moon is at the closest part of its orbit around Earth; the Sun and the Moon form a straight line with Earth.

• The Moon is at the farthest part of its orbit around Earth; the Sun and the Moon form a straight line with Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Andrea wants to demonstrate how the tilt of Earth's axis affects the seasons. Which of the following models would best help Andrea illustrate this concept?

• Place a basketball on a table and shine a flashlight directly above it. Observe the light distribution on the surface.

• Attach a small stick to the top of a basketball and tilt the basketball at an angle. Shine a flashlight on it and observe the shadow cast by the stick.

• Spin a basketball on a table and observe how it moves in a straight line without tilting.

• Place a basketball in a freezer and then in a warm room, measuring the temperature change over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1