Earth's Rotation Shadows

Some students used a globe to model the rotation of Earth. They shaded in Texas on the globe, as shown in the picture. They rotate the globe and observed that Texas was in exactly the same place after each rotation. The students could rotate the globe quickly or slowly. If the globe could rotate only at the rate that Earth actually rotates, about how long would each complete rotation take? (5.8C)

• 30 days

• 60 minutes

• 24 hours

• 365 days

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Shadows cast by objects change throughout the day. The picture shows the shadow cast by a tree at 3 pm. Which picture shows how the tree's shadow most likely looked at 9 am? (5.8C)

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student draws a model showing the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun. Which arrow shows the movement that causes day and night on Earth? (5.8C)

• Arrow 1, because it shows the rotation of the sun

• Arrow 2, because it shows the orbit of Earth around the sun

• Arrow 3, because it shows the orbit of the moon around Earth

• Arrow 4, because it shows the rotation of Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which of these best explains why the sun appears to move across the sky each day? (5.8C)

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student builds a model of the solar system that includes a sphere representing Earth. The sphere turns in a full circle on its axis. By using a model of Earth that spins on its axis, the student can best demonstrate--- (5.8C)

• the cycle of the four seasons

• the aging of a star

• the passing of a year

• the cycle of day and night

A teacher asks students to explain what they see in this picture. Four student explanations are shown in the box. Which of the students gave a correct explanation? (5.8C)

• Student 1 only

• Students 2 and 4 only

• Student 2 only

• Students 1 and 3 only

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The graph shows changes in the length of the shadow of a tree during part of a day. If this day continues to be sunny, what will most likely happen to the length of the shadow from 2 pm to 4 pm? (4.8C)

• The length of the shadow will stay the same.

• The length of the shadow will decrease and then increase.

• The length of the shadow will increase.

• The length of the shadow will decrease.

Which of these cycles is a direct result of Earth's rotation? (5.8C)

• Day and night

• Moon phases

• Rainfall and evaporation

• Seasons

How does Earth's rotation affect the length and direction of shadows during the day?

• Shadows are longest at noon and shortest at sunrise and sunset.

• Shadows are shortest at noon and longest at sunrise and sunset.

• Shadows do not change in length or direction throughout the day.

• Shadows are longest at noon and do not change at other times.

What scientific principle explains the change in shadow length throughout the day?

• Earth's revolution around the Sun

• Earth's rotation on its axis

• The tilt of Earth's axis

• The distance of Earth from the Sun