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The Moon

Total questions: 28

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

There are thousands of stars around us at all times, yet we cannot see them during the day. What is the BEST explanation for this phenomenon?

a)

The stars are only on the side of the Earth that is facing away from the Sun

b)

The Sun is much closer to the Earth than other stars and appears much brighter, making them impossible to see

c)

The stars only burn their gases at night

d)

The Sun in our solar system is the brightest star in the universe and blocks the light of all other stars

2.

Unlike the Sun, the Moon can be seen in both the night and day sky. What reason(s) make this possible?

a)

The revolution of the Earth around the Moon makes the Moon appear to rise and set

b)

The Moon orbits around the Earth

c)

The Moon is closer to the Earth than to the Sun

d)

The Moon reflects the Sun's light on its surface while orbiting the Earth

3.

True or False: The Moon and the Earth orbit in a counterclockwise direction, both rotate on their axis and revolve around the Sun in a counterclockwise direction at the same time.

a)

True

b)

False

4.

During a full moon phase, the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. If the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, and the Moon is only a quarter the size of the Earth, how is it possible that from Earth we see the face of the Moon completely illuminated?

a)

It is not possible because the Earth blocks all the light to the Moon in that specific alignment

b)

This is possible because the Sun's light goes around the Earth and illuminates the Moon

c)

This would only occur if there were a lunar eclipse

d)

This is possible because the orbital path of the Moon around the Earth has a 5-degree inclination

5.

What is the best explanation for why we only see the near side of the Moon from Earth if the Moon orbits around the Earth?

a)

The Moon orbits around the Earth but does not rotate

b)

The Moon orbits around the Earth and rotates on its axis at an extremely fast speed

c)

The time it takes for the Moon to orbit once around the Earth is the same time it takes to rotate once on its axis

d)

The Moon's orbital path is elliptical

6.

How long does it take for the Moon to orbit the Earth?

a)

24 hours

b)

24 days

c)

29.5 days

d)

365 days

7.

Based on the following diagram, number (3) represents the Earth while numbers (1) and (2) represent the Moon at different points during its elliptical path around the Earth. Regarding the Moon and its appearance in the sky as seen from Earth, what terms are used to describe numbers (1) and (2)?

a)

(1) Solar Eclipse (2) Lunar Eclipse

b)

(1) Synchronous Rotation (3) Asynchronous Rotation

c)

(1) Perigee (2) Apogee

d)

(1) Apogee (2) Perigee

8.

Why does the Moon appear during the day sometimes and at night at other times?

a)

The Moon rises and sets in a rotating cycle

b)

The rotation and revolution of the Earth around the Moon

c)

The Earth reflects light on the surface of the Moon at different times

d)

The Moon rotates on its axis

9.

True or False: The orbital period of the Moon is the same as its rotation period and is known as synchronous rotation.

a)

True

b)

False

10.

True or False: The Moon's orbit is elliptical in nature, and therefore, sometimes the Moon appears larger and smaller in the sky.

a)

True

b)

False

11.

The shape of the Moon changes during the lunar cycle that lasts 29.5 days. The changes in the shapes we see from Earth are called?

a)

Eclipses

b)

Reflections

c)

Cycles

d)

Phases

12.

The lunar cycle technically takes 27.5 days, however, it ends up taking 29.5 days in the end. What is the reason for the two-day delay?

a)

The Earth's speed of revolution varies, causing the Moon to take longer to complete the orbital cycle

b)

The elliptical path of the Moon widens towards the end of the lunar cycle, making it travel further

c)

The Earth is also revolving around our Sun, and the Moon must travel a bit further to complete its orbital path

d)

The Earth has less gravitational pull on the Moon during apogee, and therefore, the Moon's orbital cycle takes longer to complete

13.

True or False: A Moon that is in the waxing phase is increasing the amount of light it reflects on its surface from the Sun on the left side from the perspective of the Earth.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

True or False: A waning Moon is decreasing the amount of light it reflects on its surface from the Sun on the left side from the perspective of the Earth.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

New Moon

b)

First Quarter

c)

Full Moon

d)

Last Quarter

16.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

Waning gibbous

b)

First quarter

c)

Waning crescent

d)

Waxing gibbous

17.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

Waxing gibbous

b)

Waxing crescent

c)

First quarter

d)

Waning

18.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

First Quarter

b)

Third Quarter

c)

Waxing Gibbous

d)

Waning Gibbous

19.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

Full Moon

b)

New Moon

c)

First Quarter

d)

Waxing Gibbous

20.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

Waxing gibbous

b)

Full moon

c)

Crescent

d)

Waning gibbous

21.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

Waning gibbous

b)

First quarter

c)

Third quarter

d)

Waxing gibbous

22.

What type of Moon is represented in this image?

a)

Waxing Crescent

b)

Waxing Gibbous

c)

Waning Gibbous

d)

Waning Crescent

23.

What causes the phases of the Moon that we see here on Earth?

a)

The Moon creates different amounts of light as it orbits the Earth

b)

The Sun reflects light on the surface of the Moon as it orbits the Earth

c)

The Earth's revolution around the Sun produces different reflections of light on the Moon

d)

The Moon emits its own light as it orbits the Earth

24.

True or False: Since the Moon is a sphere, half of it is always illuminated by the Sun while the other half is always dark.

a)

True

b)

False

25.

The line that divides the illuminated side from the dark side of the Moon as seen from Earth?

a)

The Vortex

b)

The Terminator

c)

The Trident

d)

The Apex

26.

The New Moon phase occurs when....

a)

It is positioned a quarter of the way around the Earth during its orbital path

b)

It is positioned halfway around the Earth in its orbital path

c)

It is positioned between the Sun and the Earth

d)

It is positioned three quarters around the Earth in its orbital path

27.

Which of the following represents the correct alignment order of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth when we experience a Full Moon on Earth?

a)

Moon, Sun, Earth

b)

Sun, Moon, Earth

c)

Sun, Earth, Moon

d)

Earth, Sun, Moon

28.

True or False: As the light reflects on the Moon and the phases change shape, more features of the Moon become apparent. This is because we are seeing different sides of the Moon.

a)

True

b)

False