wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Earth/Space Systems and Cycles

Total questions: 112

Worksheet time: 2hrs 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of these best explains why the sun is not visible during the night?

a)

That sides of the sun faces away from the Earth.

b)

The sun stops creating light at night.

c)

The moon blocks the sun from view.

d)

That side of Earth faces away from the sun.

2.

A model of a plate boundary is shown. What most likely happens as the plates slide past each other?

a)

The ocean floor widens.

b)

An earthquake occurs.

c)

A mountain Forms

d)

Magma comes to the surface.

3.

Which of these is an impact made by humans?

a)

Marble forming from sedimentary rock

b)

Limestone forming from shells of ocean animals

c)

Oceans drying and exposing limestone

d)

Marble being dug from a rock quarry

4.

Lobster pots are used by fisherman to catch lobsters in shallow water. In which area of the ocean would commercial fisherman most likely place their lobster pots?

a)

On the continental slope

b)

On top of a mid-ocean ridge

c)

On the bottom of an ocean trench

d)

On the continental shelf

5.

High and low tides on the coast are caused mostly by-

a)

the gravity from the mood

b)

underwater earthquakes

c)

storms over the ocean

d)

the tilt of Earth

6.

Which pari of organisms needs to switch places for the ocean food chain to be correct?

a)

White shark and phytoplankton

b)

animal-like plankton and fish

c)

phytoplankton and fish

d)

white shark and animal-like plankton

7.

Students made a classroom barometer that can be used to measure-

a)

air pressure

b)

precipitation

c)

wind direction

d)

temperature

8.

Coal is important for VA because it-

a)

is formed from plant and animal remains

b)

can be divided into four types

c)

is found in many areas of the country

d)

can be used for energy

9.

Which type of storm cause the most flooding in areas located near an ocean coastline?

a)

tornado

b)

hurricane

c)

blizzard

d)

freezing rain

10.

Which of these best describes a tornado?

a)

a winter storm that produces frozen percipitation

b)

a rotating funnel-shaped cloud with strong winds and thunderstorms

c)

a severe weather condition with low temperatures and blowing snow

d)

A storm that forms over warm ocean water and has extremely strong winds

11.

Which weather term best describes these words: Rain, Snow, Sleet

a)

humidity

b)

atmosphere

c)

precipitation

d)

barometric pressure

12.

Certain storms from over water near the equator, usually between the months of June and November. Warm, moist air rises quickly over the ocean, causing a strong, whirling storm with high winds and heavy rains. This type of storm is known as a --

a)

tornado

b)

hurricane

c)

blizzard

d)

sandstorm

13.

Which factor is usually recorded when gathering weather data?

a)

number of gases in the air

b)

temperature of the air

c)

type of gases in the air

d)

amount of air in an area

14.

Tornadoes are most likely to produced from which type of cloud?

a)

cirrus

b)

stratus

c)

cumulus

d)

cumulonimbus

15.

Usually, cumulonimbus clouds are associated with weather that is---

a)

dry

b)

stormy

c)

fair

d)

foggy

16.

What tool is used to measure the relative amount of water in the air?

a)

a barometer

b)

an anemometer

c)

a hygrometer

d)

a thermometer

17.

Which instrument could tell you the conditions are right for flying a kite?

a)

anemometer

b)

barometer

c)

rain guage

d)

weather vane

18.

Which do meteorologists use to measure the amount of precipitation that falls during a storm?

a)

anemometer

b)

arometer

c)

rain guage

d)

weather vane

19.

Which of these is the most responsible for the changes of the seasons on Earth?

a)

position of the moon

b)

tilt of earth on its axis

c)

temperature of the sun

d)

distance to mars

20.

which of these takes about one year to complete?

a)

earth to orbit the sun

b)

the sun to orbit the earth

c)

earth to rotate on its axis

d)

the moon to orbit earth

21.

Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun about once every--

a)

day

b)

year

c)

season

d)

minute

22.

Which of these describes rotation?

a)

mercury goes around the sun every 88 days.

b)

the moon goes around earth every 28 days.

c)

earth orbits the sun about every 365 days

d)

earth makes on turn on its axis every 24 hours

23.

The motion of Earth around the Sun most affects the

a)

timing of tides

b)

length of a month

c)

cycle of the seasons

d)

phases of the Moon

24.

The time between today's sunrise and tomorrow's sunrise would be about

a)

12 hours

b)

24 hours

c)

36 hours

d)

48 hours

25.

The rotation of the Earth on its axis causes-

a)

seasons

b)

years

c)

months

d)

days

26.

The moon revolves around

a)

itself

b)

the Earth

c)

the Sun

d)

the solar system

27.
Name the moon phase
a)
waning crescent
b)
waxing crescent
c)
waning gibbous
d)
waxing gibbous
28.
Name the moon phase
a)
waning crescent
b)
waxing crescent
c)
waning gibbous
d)
waxing gibbous
29.
Name the moon phase
a)
First Quarter
b)
Last Quarter
c)
New Moon
d)
Full Moon
30.
Name the moon phase
a)
First Quarter
b)
Last Quarter
c)
New Moon
d)
Full Moon
31.
Name the moon phase
a)
First Quarter
b)
Last Quarter
c)
New Moon
d)
Full Moon
32.
Name the phase of the moon for letter a
a)
First Quarter
b)
Last Quarter
c)
Waxing Gibbous
d)
Waning Gibbous
33.
Name the phase of the moon for letter f
a)
Waning Gibbous
b)
Waxing Gibbous
c)
Waning Crescent
d)
Waxing Crescent
34.
Name the moon phase
a)
waning crescent
b)
waxing crescent
c)
waning gibbous
d)
waxing gibbous
35.
Which moon phase is when you can't see the moon at all?
a)
Waning crescent
b)
Full moon
c)
Waxing gibbous
d)
New moon
36.
The cycle of the moon lasts about a _.
a)
day
b)
year
c)
week
d)
month
37.
Which of the following words describe the phases of the moon?
a)
none, quarter, half, three quarters, full
b)
new, crescent, quarter, gibbous, full
c)
dark, light, half, quarter, blue
d)
first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter
38.
The moon ____________ or goes around the Earth.
a)
orbits
b)
cries
c)
climbs
39.
Changes in the moon's appearance are
a)
phases
b)
eclipses
c)
stages
d)
cycle
40.
Name the moon phase
a)
Waning Crescent
b)
Waxing Crescent
c)
Waning Gibbous
d)
Waxing Gibbous
41.
Name the moon phase that would come AFTER this moon.
a)
waning crescent
b)
waxing crescent
c)
waning gibbous
d)
waxing gibbous
42.

The surface of the Moon is made up of--

a)

craters, highlands, and flat areas

b)

swirling gases

c)

large bodies of water

d)

a mixture of gases and water

43.

About 400 years ago, Galileo became the first person to record what the moon looked like through a telescope. He was able to tell that the moon had--

a)

many craters

b)

plants but no animals

c)

active volcanoes

d)

polar ice caps

44.

The Apollo 11 mission was able to retrieve samples of the Moon's surface because it was the first mission to have astronauts-

a)

land on the moon

b)

orbit a planet

c)

return to Earth

d)

walk in space

45.

Which layer of Earth is the thinnest?

a)

inner core

b)

crust

c)

outer core

d)

mantle

46.

Earth is composed of four layers. Many scientists believe that as Earth cooled, the denser materials sank to the center and the less dense materials rose to the top. The least dense layer is the--

a)

crust

b)

mantle

c)

outer core

d)

inner core

47.

Which of these best describes the relationship between Earth's layers?

a)

the hottest layers are closest to the core

b)

the more liquid layers are closest to the crust

c)

the lightest layers are closest to the the core

d)

the more metallic layers are closest to the crust

48.

What layer of the Earth is located just below the crust?

a)

inner core

b)

mantle

c)

continental shelf

d)

outer core

49.

Pumice is formed when lava from a volcano cools Which rock type is pumice?

a)

gaseous rock

b)

igneous rock

c)

sedimentary rock

d)

metamorphic rock

50.

Granite is a hard material and forms from cooling magma. Granite is a type of-

a)

lava stone

b)

igneous rock

c)

volcanic dust

d)

sedimentary rock

51.

A student made observations of four rock samples. Which of these observations most likely describes a sedimentary rock?

a)

sample 1 has bands of light and drak crystals

b)

sample 2 has pink, gray and white crystals grown together

c)

sample 3 is a made up of one ug, pale pink crystal

d)

sample 4 is made up of layers of sand grains cemented together

52.

Which of these can be mined from Earth and used as an energy source?

a)

coal

b)

gravel

c)

granite

d)

limestone

53.

Which of these often occur as the Earth's crustal plates move?

a)

hurricanes

b)

floods

c)

tornadoes

d)

earthquakes

54.

Which surface feature is most likely caused by the movement of the Earth's crustal plate?

a)

canyons

b)

deltas

c)

lakes

d)

volcanoes

55.

A scientists found a fossil of an organism that hd gills. when the organism was living, the area in which it lived was most likely covered by--

a)

forest

b)

grassland

c)

bare rock

d)

water

56.

The process that breaks down rocks and other materials on Earth's surface is called

a)

Weathering

b)

Erosion

c)

Deposition

d)

Decomposition

57.
What is the process that picks up and moves weathered rocks?
a)
Deposition
b)
Landslide
c)
Weathering
d)
Erosion
58.

_____ is the process by which soil and sediment (weathered rock) are transported (moved) from one place to another by water, wind, glaciers, and gravity

a)

Erosion

b)

Deposition

c)

Weathering

d)

Running Water

59.

Which of these human activities most relies on high-quality soil?

a)

hiking

b)

hunting

c)

coal mining

d)

growing crops

60.

A student is hiking through a forest taking pictures for science class. Which picture would most likely be used as an example of human impact on Earth?

a)

a trail built by cutting down trees

b)

a river erodign away the riverbanks

c)

a bird nest made of dead branches

d)

a group of butterflies landing on flowers

61.

Which ocean floor feature is labeled "F"?

a)

Continental Shelf

b)

Abyssal Plain

c)

Ocean Trench

d)

Continental Slope

62.

A shallow area of sediment near the shore...

a)

Continental Shelf

b)

Ocean Trench

c)

Continental Slope

d)

Abyssal Plain

63.

Which of these are the deepest parts of the oceans?

a)

Continental Shelf

b)

Abyssal Plain

c)

Ocean Trench

d)

Continental Rise

64.

"A" on the diagram labels the...

a)

Continental Shelf

b)

Abyssal Plain

c)

Continental Slope

d)

Ocean Trench

65.

Plant-like plankton is called...

a)

Photosynthesis

b)

Phytoplankton

c)

Decomposer

d)

Consumer

66.

As the depth of the ocean water increases, the temperature...

a)

increases (warmer)

b)

decreases (colder)

67.

Which ocean floor feature is the steep cliff-like drop beyond the continental shelf?

a)

Continental Shelf

b)

Continental Slope

c)

Abyssal Plain

d)

Ocean Trench

68.

Which part of the ocean floor is labeled "D"?

a)

Mid-Ocean Ridge

b)

Continental Slope

c)

Blue-Ridge Mountains

d)

Abyssal Plain

69.

Phytoplankton provides much of the Earth's...

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Carbon Dioxide

c)

Oxygen

d)

Helium

70.

As the depth of ocean waters increases, the pressure...

a)

increases (more pressure)

b)

decreases (less pressure)

71.

"C" on the Ocean Floor diagram represents the...

a)

Continental Slope

b)

Abyssal Plain

c)

Continental Rise

d)

Ocean Trench

72.

A gently sloping area that connects the steep walls of the continental slope to the bottom of the ocean floor is called the... (sediments/deposition)

a)

Abyssal Plain

b)

Ocean Trench

c)

Continental Rise

d)

Mid-Ocean Ridges

73.

Animal-like plankton is called...

a)

phytoplankton

b)

zooplankton

74.

Where are you walking when you are wading in the ocean?

a)

Ocean Trench

b)

Abyssal Plain

c)

Continental Slope

d)

Continental Shelf

75.

As the depth of the ocean water increases, the amount of light...

a)

Increases (more light)

b)

Decreases (less light)

76.

Which ocean floor feature is labeled "G"?

a)

Continental Slope

b)

Ocean Trench

c)

Continental Rise

d)

Abyssal Plain

77.

The distance between two crests or two troughs on a wave is the...

a)

Crest

b)

Trough

c)

Wavelength

78.

What do the arrows on the map represent?

a)

Size of waves

b)

Water density

c)

Ocean currents

d)

Time between tides

79.
Which of the following does not affect salinity?
a)
precipitation
b)
river run-off
c)
evaporation
d)
tides
80.
Which warm ocean current affects the climate of Virginia?
a)
Gulf Stream Current
b)
East Australian Current
c)
Pacific Current
d)
African Current
81.
These ocean motions are caused by winds
a)
tides and waves
b)
surface currents and waves
c)
surface and deep water currents
d)
tides and tsnamis
82.
This increases as depth increases________
a)
light
b)
pressure
c)
temperature
83.
As depth increases, temperature _________
a)
increases
b)
stays the same
c)
decreases
84.
As the amount of light increases, pressure_______
a)
decreases
b)
increases
c)
stays the same
85.
The flat, smooth part of the deep ocean floor
a)
continental shelf
b)
continental slope
c)
continental rise
d)
abyssal plain
86.
The basic ocean motions are
a)
waves, tides, and rivers
b)
waves, tides, and currents
c)
tides, currents, and  springs
d)
tides, currents, depth
87.
The highest part of a wave is the
a)
trough
b)
wave length
c)
crest
d)
wave height
88.
The lowest point of a wave
a)
wave length
b)
wave height
c)
crest
d)
trough
89.
This is the distance from crest to crest
a)
crest
b)
trough
c)
wave length
d)
wave height
90.
The ocean floor -------
a)
is always a flat bed of sand
b)
is covered by the same amount of water everywhere
c)
has mountains, plains, and ridges like land surfaces
d)
covers less area than the land
91.
The main difference between ocean water and lake water is that ocean water contains —
a)
oxygem
b)
plants
c)
algae
d)
salt
92.
A person who studies the ocean
a)
geologist
b)
oceanographer
c)
biologist
d)
audiologist
93.
What percent of Earth is water?
a)
71%
b)
50%
c)
25%
d)
89%
94.
Precipitation that flows over land into rivers, streams, and eventually into the ocean
a)
Precipitation
b)
Condensation
c)
Evaporation
d)
Runoff
95.
What is the main cause of tides?
a)
The gravitational pull of land on Earth
b)
The magnetic pull from the poles
c)
The gravitational pull of the moon
d)
The density differences of water 
96.

Part of a coral reef is shown. A coral reef is---

a)

a rock

b)

an ecosystem

c)

an ocean current

d)

an underwater cave

97.
Which early astronomers believed EARTH was the center of the universe?
a)
Aristotle & Ptolemy
b)
Galileo & Copernicus
98.
Which astronomers discovered that the SUN is actually in the center of our solar system?
a)
Aristotle and Ptolemy
b)
Copernicus and Galileo
99.
The correct order of the planets starting closest to the sun is...
a)
Earth; Jupiter; Mercury; Saturn; Uranus; Neptune; Venus; Mars
b)
Mercury; Venus; Earth; Mars; Jupiter; Saturn; Uranus; Neptune
c)
Neptune; Uranus; Saturn; Jupiter; Mars; Earth; Venus; Mercury
d)
Mercury; Mars; Jupiter; Saturn; Venus; Uranus; Earth; Neptune
100.
Which planet is the smallest and closest to the sun?
a)
Mars
b)
Earth
c)
Venus
d)
Mercury
101.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are considered...
a)
Inner Terrestrial
b)
Gas Giants
102.
Which planet is sixth from the sun?
a)
Venus
b)
Jupiter
c)
Saturn
d)
Neptune
103.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are...
a)
...further away from the sun than Earth
b)
...closer to the sun than Earth
104.
Which planet is similar in size and mass to Earth?
a)
Mercury
b)
Venus
c)
Jupiter
d)
Saturn
105.
Which planet is the largest and has no solid surface?
a)
Mars
b)
Saturn
c)
Neptune
d)
Jupiter
106.
Which planets all have rings?
a)
Mercury; Venus; Earth; Mars
b)
Jupiter; Saturn; Uranus; Neptune
107.
Why was Pluto's status changed from planet to dwarf planet?
a)
It has an irregular orbit and is too small
b)
It's orbit is too fast and is too big
108.
Which planet is eighth from the sun and appears blue in color?
a)
Venus
b)
Saturn
c)
Jupiter
d)
Neptune
109.
Which planet has canyons and riverbeds and is often called the red planet?
a)
Mercury
b)
Mars
c)
Jupiter
d)
Uranus
110.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are considered...
a)
Inner Terrestrial Planets
b)
Gas Giants
111.
Which planet's atmosphere and liquid water make it a haven for life?
a)
Earth
b)
Mars
c)
Saturn
d)
Neptune
112.
Which planet is third from the Sun?
a)
Mercury
b)
Earth
c)
Venus
d)
Mars

Similar Resources on Wayground

5th grade final '22

116 questions

5th grade final '22

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th - 6th Grade

Properties of Matter - Part 2

111 questions

Properties of Matter - Part 2

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th Grade

Grade 5 Big Science Review

116 questions

Grade 5 Big Science Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th - 6th Grade

Astronomy

114 questions

Astronomy

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th Grade

Geology Part 2 Study Guide: Plate Tectonics, Energy and Hazards

111 questions

Geology Part 2 Study Guide: Plate Tectonics, Energy and Hazards

quiz

Worksheet

•

4th Grade - University

Casteel Science SOL Review 4/10/25

113 questions

Casteel Science SOL Review 4/10/25

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th Grade

Science 5.L.1.2 Human Body Systems

117 questions

Science 5.L.1.2 Human Body Systems

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th Grade

Year 5 First trimester Revision

111 questions

Year 5 First trimester Revision

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th Grade