Middle School Earth Science

Which of the following best explains why seasonal variations in temperature are more extreme at location X than at location Y?

• The gravitational force is less at location X than at location Y.

• The rotation of Earth has less effect on location X than on location Y.

• The angle of incoming solar radiation varies more at location X than at location Y.

• The ocean moderates the average temperature more at location X than at location Y.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

An astronaut drops a hammer on the Moon, and a scientist drops an identical hammer on Earth. Both hammers are dropped from the same height. The hammer dropped on Earth falls to the ground faster than the hammer dropped on the Moon. Why does the hammer on Earth fall faster than the hammer on the Moon?

• Earth has a stronger magnetic field than the Moon because Earth orbits the Sun.

• Earth has a stronger magnetic field than the Moon because Earth has an iron core.

• Gravitational attraction is stronger on Earth than on the Moon because Earth rotates on its axis.

• Gravitational attraction is stronger on Earth than on the Moon because Earth has a larger mass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

8.ESS.1.02 The diagram shows the relative heights of ocean tides on Earth at a particular time. Which diagram shows one possible location of the Moon at the time when these tides occur?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which of the following processes created the high mountains of the Himalayas?

• glacial erosion

• physical weathering

• the deposition of sediments

• the collision of tectonic plates

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which of the following demonstrations would best show how Earth’s tectonic plates interact with the layer directly beneath the plates?

• gluing the blocks onto solid rock

• burying the blocks in a bed of dry sand

• sliding the blocks along the top of warm solid metal

• floating the blocks on a slowly moving pool of thick mud

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes, usually receives heavy snowfall during the winter. Snow often falls after a cold air mass passes through the area. This air mass tends to be colder than the lake water. Which of the following best explains why snow falls over the lake after the air mass passes over it?

• The air mass pushes clouds over the lake, and snow falls from the clouds.

• Snow falls when sinking air from the air mass is warmed by the lake water.

• The air mass cools the surface of the lake, causing condensation to occur and snow to fall.

• Snow falls from clouds that form when rising water vapor from the lake is cooled by the air mass and condenses.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The paths of two air masses, X and Y, are shown in the diagram below. Air mass X is a cold air mass. Air mass Y is a warm air mass. When the air masses meet, winter storms may be produced. Which of the following most likely contributes to the formation of these storms?

• Cold air mass X moves over warm air mass Y, and evaporation occurs.

• Warm air mass Y moves over cold air mass X, and condensation occurs.

• Cold air mass X mixes with warm air mass Y, and the overall temperature increases.

• Warm air mass Y mixes with cold air mass X, and the overall temperature decreases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The diagram represents the movement of the mantle under the earth's crust. Which process is represented by the diagram?

• rotation

• conduction

• radiation

• convection

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

When is Earth closest to the Sun?

• June 21

• December 21

• March 20

• January 3

When are the direct rays of the Sun furthest north of the equator?

• June 21

• December 21

• March 20

• January 3

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1