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WorksheetsSPACE SYSTEMS
Total questions: 36
Worksheet time: 18mins
Regular eclipses of the Sun and the Moon are best explained by which of the following?
The revolution of Earth and the Moon around the Sun
The irregular shape of the orbits of Earth and the Moon
The different chemical compositions of the Sun and the Moon
The rotation of Earth and the Moon on their axes
A diagram of the Earth-Sun-Moon system is provided below. The diagram shows the relative position of the Moon at various times in the lunar cycle. We would observe a totally dark moon starting to become illuminated when the Moon moves between which two phases?
Position W and Position Z
Position Z and Position Y
Position Y and Position X
Position X and Position W
Katherine is drawing a model of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon to represent a solar eclipse. A diagram of her drawing is provided.
If Katherine wanted to represent a solar eclipse, at what position should she place the Moon?
A
B
C
D
Lucia and Junior observe the Moon every night for a month. They notice that the Moon changes shapes each night. Which of the following best explains why Lucia and Junior see various Moon shapes throughout the month?
The Sun illuminates the Moon's surface as the Moon revolves around Earth.
The shadow of Earth falls on the Moon, causing varying shapes of the Moon.
Earth's atmosphere gives off varying amounts of light energy throughout the month.
The rotation of Earth around the Moon means we see it from different angles.
Which of the following is true about a moon in orbit around a planet?
It is kept in a circular motion by its mass.
It changes its orbit with each rotation due to gravity.
It wants to move in a straight line due to inertia.
It generates friction created by the path of the orbit.
A diagram of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun is provided below.
At what two positions will the Moon appear as a crescent to viewers on Earth?
1 and 5
2 and 8
3 and 7
4 and 6
The diagram shows the relative position of the Moon at various times in the lunar cycle.
On Earth, we would observe a fully illuminated Moon when it is at what location?
A
B
C
D
Explain the positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during solar and lunar eclipses.
Solar--Earth, Sun, Moon Lunar--Moon, Sun, Earth
Solar-Sun, Earth, Moon Lunar--Sun, Moon, Earth
Europa, a Galilean moon, is quite different from Earth's Moon. One characteristic it shares with Earth's Moon is that Europa--
is covered in ice.
orbits a planet.
has an oxygen atmosphere.
contains water
Which of the following diagrams is the most accurate representation of Earth's relationship with the Sun and the Moon?
Which of the following best describes how the interaction of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth results in the lunar cycle? Light from the Sun-
illuminates different amounts of the Moon's surface as the distance between the Sun and the Moon changes.
always illuminates half the Moon, but we see different portions of the lit half as relative positions change.
illuminates the entire surface of the Moon at all times but looks different because of Earth's shadow.
reaches only the parts of the Moon not blocked by clouds, which shrink and grow over time.
The appearance of the Moon on November 29, 2012 is shown. What would be the most reasonable prediction of the date for the next new moon?
December 1, 2012
December 7, 2012
December 13, 2012
December 23, 2012
Which of the phases of the Moon would come a few days after a first quarter moon?
waxing crescent
waning gibbous
waxing gibbous
full moon
. Students are planning to build a scale model of the outer planets of the solar system. The table here shows some of the objects the students will use for their scale model.
Based on the information in the table provided, which of the following representative objects and scaled diameters should they choose for the planet Saturn?
Basketball, 24 cm
Softball, 10 cm
Tennis ball, 5.2 cm
Baseball, 7.5 cm
Earth and its solar system are a part of which of the following galaxies?
Andromeda
Black Eye
Milky Way
Cartwheel
If someone is building a scale model of our solar system which characteristic would be the most difficult to build into the model?
The relative sizes of the objects
The colors of the objects
The distances between objects
The composition of the objects
The orbital motions of the objects in the solar system are the direct result of which of the following features of the Sun?
magnetic field
brightness
gravitational pull
chemical composition
Maria is stargazing with her grandmother. Her grandmother points out a star called Rigel Kentaurus, which she says is one of the closest stars to our solar system. Maria's grandmother tells her that it is about 4.2 light-years away. Which of the following is the correct way for Maria to understand this information?
A beam of light traveling from Earth to Rigel Kentaurus would take a little more than 4 years to get there.
The diameter of Rigel Kentaurus is just about 4x bigger than the diameter of our Sun.
It takes a little more than 4 years for the star to make one orbit around the center of the galaxy.
The light coming from the star is four times brighter than the light from our Sun
Carlos is building a model of the solar system. He needs to build the model's components with correct proportions to each other. Which of the following accurately presents the hierarchy of components, from smallest to largest, for Carlos's model?
Planets → solar systems → galaxies → universe
Universe → galaxies → solar systems → planets
Planets → solar systems → universes → galaxy
Solar systems → universe → galaxies → planets
Planets in the solar system revolve around the Sun in an orbital path and can vary from rocky and terrestrial objects to gaseous and liquid object. Which set of characteristics is unique to the outer planets?
Gaseous, liquid
Rocky, small
Cool, wet
Terrestrial, small
Due to continued technological improvements, great advances in knowledge have been gained about the solar system and the stars beyond. Which of the following was the earliest technology that allowed humans to gather information about remote objects in space?
Space shuttle
Telescope
Microscope
Thermometer
Which of the following is primarily responsible for the changing of seasons on Earth?
Orbit of Earth around the Sun and the rotation of Earth
Orbit of Earth around the Sun and rotation of the Sun
Rotation of Earth and rotation of the Sun
Tilt of the axis of Earth and the orbit of Earth around the Sun
Which of the following best explains why the tilt of Earth on its axis creates the seasons? Because the axis of Earth is tilted -
the amount of time it takes for the light to reach Earth changes a little throughout the year.
the surface area of Earth is not constant at all parts of its orbit.
the angle of sunlight varies on different parts of Earth at different times.
the north pole of Earth will always be pointed away from the Sun, making it colder.
Which of the following changes would cause the seasons on Earth to change more rapidly?
Increasing the speed of the rotation of Earth on its axis
Decreasing the time it takes Earth to make one orbit around the Sun.
Increasing the radiation output produced each year by the Sun.
Decreasing the number of times Earth rotates on its axis per year.
All of the following affect the seasonal variation in weather on the Earth EXCEPT -
the time it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun.
the varying amounts of daylight during the year.
the tilt of the Earth on its axis of rotation.
the distance between the moon and the Earth.
The Southern Hemisphere experiences the coldest seasonal weather during what portion of the Earth's orbit?
When the orbital speed of the Earth is the fastest.
During the time when the Earth passes Jupiter
When the South Pole tilts away from the Sun.
During the time when both hemispheres have a full moon.
Saturn rotates on its axis once approximately every 10.5 hours. From this information it can be concluded that Saturn will have which difference compared to Earth?
On average, less than half the hours of daytime as Earth.
More extreme seasonal temperature changes than Earth
A shorter path when orbiting around the Sun compared to Earth's orbital path.
A smaller mass that allows it to rotate faster than Earth.
How does the tilt of Earth affect the seasons?
Seasons are caused by how close the Earth is to the Sun.
Seasons are caused by Earth's tilt on the its axis toward or away from the sun
The axis on which Earth now rotates is tilted at an angle. If the axis was to be changed so that it was perfectly upright, which change would be expected on Earth?
There would no longer be periods of light and darkness.
It would always be winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
For every season, the length of the day would be shorter.
There would not be the same pattern of seasonal changes in weather.
The speed of the rotation of Earth has the greatest effect on which of the following?
Length of day and night
Path of the Moon's orbit
Length of a year
Path of orbit around the Sun
How many phases of the moon are there?
7
6
8
9
What does the term waxing mean?
the lit portion of the moon is getting larger
the lit portion of the moon is getting smaller
the lit portion of the moon stays the same
What does the term waning mean?
the lit portion is getting bigger
the lit portion of the moon is getting smaller
the lit portion of the moon stays the same size
Which phase is directly opposite of a 1st quarter moon?
new moon
full moon
waxing gibbous
3rd quarter
This moon phase comes directly after a new moon.
1st quarter
waxing crescent
waning crescent
waxing gibbous
When drawing the lunar cycle, which direction do the phases move?
counterclockwise
clockwise
across
diagonal
