Unit HMH Patterns in the SOlar System

Why do we experience both day and night on Earth?

• Because the moon blocks the sun
• Because Earth revolves around the sun
• Because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west
• Because Earth rotates on its axis

Answer explanation

Jupiter is a gas giant made primarily of hydrogen and helium. Unlike terrestrial planets that have solid surfaces, gas giants like Jupiter don't have a well-defined solid surface, allowing them to accumulate more mass in a gaseous form. This composition has allowed Jupiter to grow significantly larger than planets with solid surfaces.

In what direction does the sun appear to move across the sky each day?

• West to East
• It does not move
• North to South
• East to West

Why does the sun appear highest in the sky at noon?

• Because the moon reflects the sun
• Because the stars move away
• Because the sun moves closer to Earth
• Because Earth’s rotation points the location closest toward the sun

How does Earth’s rotation cause the daily rising and setting of the sun?

• The moon pushes the sun
• The sun blinks on and off
• The sun orbits Earth daily
• Different parts of Earth face the sun at different times

If Earth rotated slower, what would happen to the length of a day?

• A year would be shorter
• A year would be longer
• A day would be shorter
• A day would be longer

Why does the length of day and night change during the year?

• Because the moon blocks sunlight
• Because stars move faster in winter
• Because the sun changes size
• Because of Earth’s tilt and revolution

In which direction does the sun rise and set in the Northern Hemisphere?

• Rises north and sets south
• Moves in a circle overhead
• Rises in the west and sets in the east
• Rises in the east and sets in the west

How do time zones show the sun’s apparent movement across the sky?

• The moon controls sunrise
• The stars control the zones
• All places see sunrise together
• Different places see sunrise and sunset at different times

Why do people in the Eastern Time Zone see sunrise earlier than those in the Pacific Time Zone?

• Because the Pacific is closer to the equator
• Because of different moon phases
• Because the sun moves westward
• Because Earth rotates eastward

How can we model the apparent motion of the sun using a lamp and ball?

• By shaking the ball quickly
• By turning the lamp on and off
• By moving the lamp around the ball
• By rotating the ball in front of the lamp