Space Systems

Which observation best supports that Earth rotates on its axis?

• The Sun appears to rise and set in the sky each day.

• The Moon changes shape over several weeks as it moves.

• Planets appear to move slowly among the background stars at night.

• Some stars can only be seen during certain seasons of the year.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why do we experience day and night on Earth?

• Earth spins on its axis, causing different areas to face the Sun or away.

• The Moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth every twelve hours.

• Earth moves around the Sun and stops once every twenty-four hours.

• The Sun moves around Earth, shining on different places at different times.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which statement best explains why we have seasons?

• Earth’s tilt and orbit cause sunlight to hit different areas more directly.

• The Moon’s gravity pulls Earth closer and farther from the Sun each year.

• Earth’s distance from the Sun changes every few months as it rotates.

• The Sun gets hotter and colder at different times during the year.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What causes the length of a shadow to change during the day?

• The angle of sunlight changes as Earth rotates, making shadows longer or shorter.

• The Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light for several hours.

• The Sun moves closer to Earth in the afternoon, making shadows disappear.

• Planets and stars block sunlight, causing shadows to appear and disappear suddenly.

Tags

NGSS.5-ESS1-2

Why are some constellations only visible during certain seasons?

• As Earth orbits the Sun, we face different parts of space at night.

• The Moon’s brightness hides some stars during certain months of the year.

• The Sun moves to a new position in the galaxy every winter and summer.

• Clouds cover the sky more often in some seasons, hiding the constellations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student notices her shadow is longest in the early morning. Why is this?

• The Sun is low in the sky, so shadows stretch farther across the ground.

• The Sun is directly overhead, making shadows appear longer than at noon.

• The Earth spins faster in the morning, causing shadows to grow quickly.

• The Moon’s light combines with sunlight, creating longer shadows at sunrise.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which observation best shows that the Sun is a star?

• The Sun gives off light and heat like the distant stars at night.

• The Sun appears much larger than other stars in the daytime sky.

• The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west every single day.

• The Sun is the only object that moves across the sky during daylight.

What pattern do most planets in our solar system follow?

• They orbit the Sun in paths that repeat in a predictable pattern every year.

• They move randomly through space and sometimes cross paths with other planets.

• They orbit Earth and the Moon, changing direction every few months.

• They appear only at night and disappear completely during the day.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Why does the Sun appear to move across the sky during the day?

• Earth rotates on its axis, making the Sun seem to move from east to west.

• The Sun orbits Earth, circling around us once every twenty-four hours.

• The Moon pulls the Sun across the sky with its gravitational force each day.

• Stars push the Sun along its path, causing it to rise and set.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

If you observe the Moon at the same time each night, what pattern will you notice?

• The Moon appears in a slightly different place and changes shape over several weeks.

• The Moon rises and sets at exactly the same spot every single night.

• The Moon is always full and never changes its appearance or position in the sky.

• The Moon is only visible during the day and never at night.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1