Moon Phases and Patterns Quiz

A student observes the Moon for several nights and records its shape as a thin crescent, then a half circle, and finally a full circle. What pattern of change is the student observing?

• The Moon is getting smaller each night.

• The Moon is getting larger each night.

• The Moon stays the same shape every night.

• The Moon disappears completely every night.

Answer explanation

The student observes the Moon transitioning from a thin crescent to a half circle, and finally to a full circle. This indicates that the Moon is getting larger each night, as it moves from new to full phase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

If you see a full Moon tonight, what phase of the Moon are you most likely to see about one week later?

• New Moon

• First Quarter

• Last Quarter

• Waxing Crescent

Answer explanation

About one week after a full Moon, the Moon will be in the Last Quarter phase. This is because the lunar cycle takes approximately 29.5 days, and the Last Quarter occurs roughly a week after the full Moon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student notices that the Moon appears to change shape in a repeating pattern every month. What is the best explanation for this pattern?

• The Moon is changing its size.

• The Moon is moving around the Earth.

• The Moon is moving closer to the Sun.

• The Moon is spinning faster.

Answer explanation

The Moon's changing shape, or phases, is due to its orbit around the Earth. As it moves, different portions of its surface are illuminated by the Sun, creating the observed pattern of phases each month.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

After observing the Moon for a month, a student records the following sequence: new Moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full Moon. What phase should the student expect next?

• Waning gibbous

• Waxing crescent

• Last quarter

• New Moon

Answer explanation

After a full Moon, the phases transition to waning. The next phase after full Moon is waning gibbous, as the Moon's illumination decreases. Therefore, the student should expect the waning gibbous phase next.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

If a student sees a waxing crescent Moon, which phase will come next in the sequence?

• Full Moon

• First Quarter

• Waning Crescent

• New Moon

Answer explanation

After a waxing crescent Moon, the next phase is the First Quarter. This phase occurs when half of the Moon is illuminated, following the crescent phase in the lunar cycle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student collects data and notices that the Moon appears to grow larger for about two weeks and then smaller for about two weeks. What pattern does this describe?

• The Moon’s orbit is changing.

• The Moon’s phases repeat in a cycle.

• The Moon is moving away from Earth.

• The Moon is always full.

Answer explanation

The observed pattern of the Moon appearing larger and then smaller over two weeks describes the lunar phases, which repeat in a cycle. This is due to the Moon's position relative to the Earth and Sun, causing the phases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

If the Moon is in the waning gibbous phase tonight, which phase will most likely be observed next?

• Waxing crescent

• Last quarter

• Full Moon

• First quarter

Answer explanation

The waning gibbous phase occurs after a full moon. The next phase is the last quarter, where half of the moon is illuminated. Therefore, the most likely phase observed next is the last quarter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student observes the Moon and records the following data: Day 1 – New Moon, Day 7 – First Quarter, Day 14 – Full Moon. Based on this pattern, what phase should the student expect on Day 21?

• New Moon

• Last Quarter

• Waxing Crescent

• Waxing Gibbous

Answer explanation

The Moon's phases cycle every 29.5 days. After Day 14 (Full Moon), Day 21 is 7 days later, which corresponds to the Last Quarter phase, where half of the Moon is illuminated and decreasing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

If a student sees a full Moon, what phase will the Moon be in after about two weeks?

• New Moon

• First Quarter

• Waxing Crescent

• Waxing Gibbous

Answer explanation

After a full Moon, the Moon will continue its cycle and reach the New Moon phase in about two weeks. This is because the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete its phases, moving from full to new.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A student is asked to predict the next phase of the Moon after observing a first quarter Moon. Which phase should the student predict?

• Waxing Gibbous

• Waning Crescent

• New Moon

• Full Moon

Answer explanation

After the first quarter Moon, the Moon continues to wax, moving towards fullness. The next phase is the Waxing Gibbous, where more than half of the Moon is illuminated but it is not yet full.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1