Astronomy Final Practice TEST

During a science quiz at school, Allie and her friends were asked, "Which of the following is NOT a planet in our solar system?"

• Mars

• Venus

• Pluto

• Jupiter

Answer explanation

Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet, not a full planet, since 2006. Mars, Venus, and Jupiter are all recognized planets in our solar system.

During a camping trip, Jeremiah and Evie noticed the moon changing shape over several nights. What causes these phases of the moon?

• Earth’s shadow

• The moon’s rotation

• The moon’s revolution around Earth

• The sun’s movement

Answer explanation

The phases of the moon are caused by the moon's revolution around Earth. As the moon orbits, different portions of its surface are illuminated by the sun, creating the visible phases we observe from Earth.

Josh and Ethan are stargazing one night. During which phase is the entire face of the moon visible from Earth?

• New Moon

• First Quarter

• Full Moon

• Last Quarter

Answer explanation

During the Full Moon phase, the entire face of the moon is illuminated by the sun, making it fully visible from Earth. In contrast, the New Moon phase shows no visible moon, and the First and Last Quarter phases show only half.

Allie and Wyatt are planning a beach day and notice the water level changes throughout the day. What causes these tides on Earth?

• Winds

• Earth’s rotation

• Gravitational pull of the moon and sun

• Ocean currents

Answer explanation

Tides on Earth are primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. These celestial bodies exert forces on the Earth's oceans, leading to the rise and fall of sea levels, known as tides.

During a school science project, Paley and Liam observed the ocean tides. They noticed a particular tide when the sun, moon, and Earth aligned. What kind of tide did they observe?

• Neap Tide

• Spring Tide

• High Tide

• Low Tide

Answer explanation

A Spring Tide occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides. This alignment enhances the gravitational pull on Earth's waters, making Spring Tide the correct answer.

During a solar eclipse, Wyatt and Nevaeh were observing the sky. What did they see happening?

• The Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon

• The moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth

• The sun passes between the moon and Earth

• The moon becomes fully illuminated

Answer explanation

During a solar eclipse, the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, blocking sunlight from reaching Earth. This makes 'The moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth' the correct answer.

During a science class, Reese and Stella were discussing different theories about the universe. Which theory did they learn explains the origin of the universe?

• Steady State Theory

• Big Bang Theory

• Nebular Theory

• Expansion Theory

Answer explanation

The Big Bang Theory explains the origin of the universe as a massive expansion from a singular point, leading to the formation of galaxies and cosmic structures. It is the most widely accepted scientific explanation for the universe's beginnings.

During a science class, Brydan asked his teacher, "What is the estimated age of the universe?"

• 4.6 billion years

• 10 billion years

• 13.7 billion years

• 100 billion years

Answer explanation

The estimated age of the universe is approximately 13.7 billion years, based on measurements of cosmic microwave background radiation and the expansion rate of the universe.

During a science class, JY asked his teacher what kind of radiation provides evidence for the Big Bang?

• Ultraviolet Radiation

• Infrared Radiation

• Cosmic Background Radiation

• X-rays

Answer explanation

Cosmic Background Radiation is the remnant radiation from the Big Bang, providing strong evidence for the event. It is a uniform microwave radiation detected throughout the universe, confirming the Big Bang theory.

Gloria and Liam are studying astronomy and come across the HR diagram. What does the HR diagram show?

• Distance of stars from Earth

• Relationship between a star’s temperature and brightness

• Color of stars

• Size of stars

Answer explanation

The HR diagram illustrates the relationship between a star's temperature and brightness, plotting temperature on the x-axis and brightness on the y-axis, helping to classify stars based on these properties.