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Planet Earth

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

For many years most people mistakenly thought that the Earth was

a)

very old.

b)

spherical in shape.

c)

the only planet in the universe.

d)

flat.

2.

It is now common knowledge that the Earth is round, spins on its axis and

a)

contains a lot of rock & minerals.

b)

has more than one moon.

c)

sometimes has ice ages.

d)

revolves around the Sun.

3.

The Earth is shaped like a ____ - which is a round three-dimensional object.

a)

sphere

b)

circle

c)

ellipse

d)

potato

4.

Aristotle and others observed that Earth displayed a curved shadow during a(n)

a)

solar eclipse.

b)

lunar eclipse.

c)

equinox.

d)

time of winter solstice.

5.

Other observational evidence that shows the Earth as spherical in shape included

a)

sailing ships falling off the edge.

b)

sailing ships top mast slowly coming into view on approach.

c)

artificial satellites & space probes sending back pictures.

d)

looking at the Sun.

6.

Earth spins around an imaginary line called the axis - which is also known as its ____.

a)

rotation

b)

revolution

c)

axis of symmetry

d)

spherical movement

7.

Earth's steady rotation causes day & night, and also the

a)

seasons.

b)

equinoxes.

c)

illusion that the Sun, Moon & stars go around the Earth.

d)

solstices.

8.

One complete rotation takes about 24 hours - or

a)

one day.

b)

about 360 minutes.

c)

one revolution.

d)

about 360 degrees.

9.

One complete ____ around the Sun takes about 365 days or one year.

a)

rotation

b)

trip

c)

revolution

d)

spin

10.

Earth is the ____ of the inner planets (Mercury, Venus & Mars).

a)

largest

b)

coldest

c)

smallest

d)

hottest

11.

The spinning core of the Earth is believed to be a cause of the seasons.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

Earth's magnetic field acts as a barrier against harmful solar radiation.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

The location of Earth's magnetic poles have slowly changed over time.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

Compass needles point to magnetic north - which is 11.5 degrees off from

a)

from the equator.

b)

geographic north (or the north pole).

c)

most GPS measurements.

d)

satellite measurements.

15.

Earth travels in a(n) ___ around the Sun - which brings it closer & farther away during a year.

a)

perfect circle

b)

helical

c)

circle

d)

ellipse

16.

Earth's axis is also tilted 23.5 degrees from its orbit. This tilt causes the ____

a)

Earth to wobble.

b)

ice ages.

c)

Earth to precess on its axis.

d)

seasons.

17.

The hemisphere that is tilted towards the Sun receives

a)

more hours of sunlight each day.

b)

very little sunlight.

c)

less hours of sunlight each day.

d)

no sunlight at its pole.

18.

The combination of Earth revolving around the Sun, its tilt and ____ explain the seasons.

a)

roving magnetic pole

b)

the changing magnetic field

c)

varying angles of sunlight

d)

distance from the Sun

19.

A solstice is the day when the Sun reaches its greatest distance

a)

north of the equator.

b)

south of the equator.

c)

from the Earth.

d)

from the galactic center.

20.

Which statement best describes an equinox?

a)

when there are equal amounts of solar-angled radiation

b)

equal nighttime hours all over

c)

when the Sun appears directly over the equator

d)

equinoxes only happens once a year