Earth & Moon Review

What is the shape of the Earth?

• Sphere (more accurately, an oblate spheroid)

  

• Cube

  

• Pyramid

  

• Flat disc

  

Answer explanation

The Earth is best described as a sphere, but it is more accurately an oblate spheroid due to its slight flattening at the poles and bulging at the equator. The other shapes listed are incorrect.

The motion of the Earth spinning on its axis is called?

• Rotation

• Revolution

• Translation

• Oscillation

Answer explanation

The motion of the Earth spinning on its axis is called rotation. This term specifically refers to the circular movement around an internal axis, distinguishing it from revolution, which involves orbiting another body.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

To what degree is the Earth tilted on its axis?

• 23.5°

• 0°

• 45°

• 90°

Answer explanation

The Earth is tilted on its axis at an angle of 23.5°. This tilt is responsible for the changing seasons as the Earth orbits the Sun.

The Earth is tilted the same direction in space, where is the Earth's axis always tilted?

• Toward the North Star (Polaris)

• Toward the Sun

• Toward the Moon

• Toward the Equator

Answer explanation

The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees and always points toward the North Star (Polaris). This consistent orientation affects the seasons and the way we perceive the night sky.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

How long does it take for Earth to spin/rotate one time on its axis?

• 24 hours (1 day)

• 12 hours

• 48 hours (2 days)

• 365 days

Answer explanation

The Earth takes approximately 24 hours (1 day) to complete one full rotation on its axis, which defines the length of a day. This is why the correct answer is 24 hours.

What are the four things that Earth's rotation causes?

• Day and night, apparent motion of the Sun, time zones, shadows

• Seasons, eclipses, tides, earthquakes

• Volcanoes, mountain formation, ocean currents, rainfall

• Auroras, comets, meteor showers, plate tectonics

Answer explanation

Earth's rotation causes day and night by alternating sunlight on the planet, creates the apparent motion of the Sun across the sky, establishes time zones based on longitudinal divisions, and affects the length and direction of shadows.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What two factors does the length of daylight an area has depend on?

Image: Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun

• Tilt of Earth's axis and position in orbit around the Sun

• Amount of rainfall and wind speed

• Distance from the Moon and ocean currents

• Type of soil and altitude

Answer explanation

The length of daylight depends on the tilt of Earth's axis, which affects the angle of sunlight, and the position in orbit around the Sun, which determines the duration of daylight throughout the year.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What does apparent motion mean?

• How objects appear to move in the sky because of Earth's rotation

• The actual movement of stars through space

• The way objects change color in the sky

• How the brightness of objects changes over time

Answer explanation

Apparent motion refers to how objects seem to move across the sky due to the Earth's rotation. This is why the sun and stars appear to rise and set, making the first answer choice correct.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What compass direction does the Sun appear to rise in? What about set?

• Rises in the East, sets in the West

• Rises in the West, sets in the East

• Rises in the North, sets in the South

• Rises in the South, sets in the North

Answer explanation

The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West due to the Earth's rotation. This is a consistent pattern observed daily, making the correct answer "Rises in the East, sets in the West."

If cities are on the same ______________ line, they have the same time zone.

• Longitude

• Latitude

• Altitude

• Equator

Answer explanation

Cities on the same longitude line share the same time zone because time zones are primarily determined by longitudinal divisions of the Earth. Latitude affects climate, not time.