wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Unit 3 Earth Sun Moon System Study Game

Total questions: 77

Worksheet time: 5hrs 52mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What are the reasons for the seasons?
a)
Earth's tilt and rotation.
b)
Earth's rotation and revolution.
c)
Earth's tilt and revolution.
d)
Earth's tilt and resolution
2.
When the Northern Hemisphere of Earth is leaning away from the Sun, What season is the Southern Hemisphere experiencing?
a)
Summer
b)
Winter
c)
Spring
d)
Fall
3.
When the Northern Hemisphere is pointing towards the sun, what season is the Southern Hemisphere?
a)
Winter
b)
Spring
c)
Fall
d)
Summer
4.
The spinning of an object on its axis is called _?_.
a)
orbit
b)
rotation
c)
revolution
d)
tide
5.
The rotation of the Earth causes . . .
a)
day & night
b)
summer & winter
c)
fall & spring
d)
Leap Year
6.
When does the Southern Hemisphere experience the coldest weather?
a)
When the Earth's orbit is the fastest
b)
When the South Pole is tilted toward the Sun
c)
When the South Pole is tilted away from the Sun
d)
When the northern and southern hemispheres get equal amount of sunlight
7.

Which season is taking place in the Northern Hemisphere in Position 3?

a)

Winter

b)

Spring

c)

Summer

d)

Fall

8.

The diagrams represent the position of the noon Sun along its apparent daily path as seen by an observer on the first day of three consecutive months (X, Y, and Z). The observer was located in Utica, New York.

Which dates are represented by months X, Y, and Z?

a)

X-February 1

Y-March 1

Z-April 1

b)

X-May 1

Y-June 1

Z-July 1

c)

X-August 1

Y-September 1

Z-October 1

d)

X-November 1

Y-December 1

Z-January 1

9.

The diagram represents the apparent path of the Sun through the sky as viewed by an observer in the Northern Hemisphere. Points A,B,C, and D represent four positions of the Sun.

The observer has the longest shadow when the Sun is at position

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

10.

This apparent path of the Sun through the sky is caused by

a)

Earth's revolution around the Sun

b)

Earth's rotation on its axis

c)

the Sun's revolution around Earth

d)

the Sun's rotation on its axis

11.

The diagram represents the apparent path of the Sun as observed at four locations, A through D, on Earth's surface on the same date. The present positions of the Sun represent the same time of day at each location. The zenith (the position directly overhead) is shown for an observer at each location. [Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]

During the course of the day, which location had the greatest intensity of insolation at solar noon?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

12.

The model below represents the apparent path of the Sun across the sky on March 21 as seen by an observer on Earth.

At which latitude is the observer located?

a)

90° N

b)

42° N

c)

23.5° N

d)

13.

The model below shows the apparent path of the Sun as seen by an observer in New York State on the first day of one of the four seasons.

This apparent path of the Sun was observed on the first day of

a)

Spring

b)

Summer

c)

Fall

d)

Winter

14.

The diagram represents the Sun's apparent paths and the solar noon positions for an observer at 42° N latitude on December 21, September 23, and June 21.

In which direction will sunrise occur on June 21?

a)

north of due west

b)

north of due east

c)

south of due west

d)

south of due east

15.

The diagram below represents the apparent path of the Sun as seen by an observer on June 21 at a location in New York State.

Which diagram best represents the apparent path of the Sun at this same location on December 21?

a)
b)
c)
d)
16.

Which location on Earth receives a 90 degree Angle of Insolation on the Equinox?

a)

Tropic of Cancer

b)

Equator

c)

Tropic of Capricorn

d)

South Pole

17.

What is the Duration of Insolation for New York State on the Summer Solstice?

a)

9 hours

b)

12 hours

c)

15 hours

d)

24 hours

18.

What is the Duration of Insolation for New York State on the Winter Solstice?

a)

0 hours

b)

9 hours

c)

12 hours

d)

15 hours

19.

What is the Duration of Insolation for the North Pole on the Summer Solstice?

a)

0 hours

b)

12 hours

c)

15 hours

d)

24 hours

20.

What is the Duration of Insolation for the Equator on the Equinox?

a)

9 hours

b)

12 hours

c)

15 hours

d)

24 hours

21.

4. Incoming solar radiation that is intercepted by the Earth is known as __________________.

a)

Solar Constant

b)

Terrestrial radiation

c)

Insolation

22.

What is at the middle of a Heliocentric system?

a)

Mars

b)

Moon

c)

Sun

d)

Earth

23.

Who supported the Geocentric system?

a)

Ptolemy

b)

Aristotle

c)

Copernicus

d)

Galileo

24.

What does the Geocentric system look like?

a)
b)
c)
d)
25.

What does the Heliocentric system look like?

a)
b)
c)
d)
26.

What is the biggest difference between the Geocentric Model and the Heliocentric Model?

a)

the shape of the planets' orbits

b)

the movement of the moon

c)

the center of the solar system

27.

Kepler's first law states that the orbits of the planets are in the shape of a/an...

a)

perfect circle

b)

ellipse

c)

spiral

28.

Who came up with this model?

a)

Copernicus

b)

Kepler

c)

Galileo Galilee

d)

Ptolemy

29.

What is at the middle of a Geocentric system?

a)

Sun

b)

Neptune

c)

Earth

d)

The Universe

30.

Which of these cycles is a direct result of Earth's rotation?

a)

Day and Night

b)

Moon Phases

c)

Rainfall and evaporation

d)

Seasons

31.

On which side of a house in Texas should a window be placed so that the people inside the house can see the sunrise each day through the window?

a)

North

b)

South

c)

East

d)

West

32.

Shadow casts by objects change throughout the day. The picture below shows the shadow cast by a tree at 3:00 p.m. Which picture shows how the tree's shadow most likely looked at 9:00 a.m. ?

a)
b)
c)
d)
33.

A student draws a model showing the movements on Earth, the moon, and the sun. Which arrow shows the movement that caused day and night on Earth?

a)

Arrow 1, because it shows the rotation of the sun

b)

Arrow 2, because it shows the orbit of Earth around the sun

c)

Arrow 3, because it shows the orbit of the moon around Earth

d)

Arrow 4, because it shows the rotation of the Earth

34.
What does this Foucault pendulum provide evidence for?
a)
the rotation of Earth on its axis
b)
the movement of the stars
c)
the orbit of the Earth around the sun
d)
none of these
35.

The best evidence that Earth rotates on its axis is the changing

a)

apparent path of a Foucault pendulum

b)

altitude of the noontime Sun from day to day

c)

phases of the Moon

d)

velocity of Earth in its orbit

36.

Earth's rotation causes winds to be deflected to the

a)

left in the Northern Hemisphere and right in the Southern Hemisphere

b)

left in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

c)

right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere

d)

right in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

37.

Earth's rate of rotation is approximately A) B) y C) D)

a)

360 degrees per day

b)

15 degrees per day

c)

1 degrees per day

d)

180 degrees per day

38.

The curving of the planetary winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere is evidence of

a)

high-and low-pressure belts

b)

the tilt of Earth's axis

c)

the Coriolis effect

d)

Earth's revolution

39.

As viewed from Earth, most stars including the Sun appear to move across the sky each night because

a)

stars orbit around Earth

b)

Earth rotates on its axis

c)

stars revolve around the center of the galaxy

d)

Earth revolves around the Sun

40.

Which photograph of star trails was taken by an observer facing directly north in New York State?

a)
b)
c)
d)
41.

Polaris is called the North Star because...

a)

It is a cold star.

b)

It is the brightest in the sky.

c)

It is located above the Earth's North Pole.

d)

It is only seen in the winter.

42.

At which location will an observer see the greatest altitude of Polaris?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

43.

How does Earth rotate?

a)

Clockwise at 90 degrees per hour

b)

Counterclockwise at 10 degrees per hour

c)

Clockwise at 45 degrees per hour

d)

Counterclockwise at 15 degrees per hour

44.

The constellations as viewed from Earth at different times of the year are evidence of

a)

Earth's Revolution

b)

Earth's Rotation

c)

Star's Rotation

d)

Star's Revolution

45.

If this star trail image has an angle of 30 degrees, how long was the camera's shutter open?

a)

One hour

b)

Two hours

c)

Three hours

d)

Four hours

46.

How many degrees is the Earth tilted on its axis?

a)

0 °

b)

23.5 °

c)

66.5 °

d)

90 °

47.

During which season in the Northern Hemisphere is Earth closest to the Sun?

a)

winter

b)

spring

c)

summer

d)

fall

48.
What are the reasons for the seasons?
a)
Earth's tilt and rotation.
b)
Earth's rotation and revolution.
c)
Earth's tilt and revolution.
d)
Earth's tilt and resolution
49.
Why is it warmer in the summer?
a)
Closer to the sun
b)
More direct light from Earth's tilt
c)
Stronger light from the sun
d)
Earth spins slower
50.

What statement best represents this relationship?

a)

As the angle increases, the temperature decreases.

b)

As the angle increases, the temperature increases.

c)

As the angle decreases, the temperature increases.

d)

There is no relationship.

51.

What season is represented by this diagram (North Hemisphere)?

a)

Spring

b)

Fall

c)

Summer

d)

Winter

52.
To a nighttime observer on Earth, how many degrees do the stars appear to move around Polaris in 3 hours?
a)
60°
b)
45°
c)
3°
d)
15°
53.
Base your answer to the question on the map of the night sky below, which represents the apparent locations of some of the constellations that are visible to an observer at approximately 40° N latitude at 9 p.m. in April. The point directly above the observer is labeled zenith.
Which motion causes the constellation Leo to no longer be visible to an observer at 40º N in October?
a)
spin of the constellation on its axis
b)
revolution of the constellation around the Sun
c)
spin of Earth on its axis
d)
revolution of Earth around the Sun
54.
Which observation provides the best evidence that Earth revolves around the Sun?
a)
The constellation Orion is only visible in the night sky for part of the year.
b)
The North Star, Polaris, is located above the North Pole for the entire year.
c)
The Sun appears to move across Earth’s sky at
d)
The Coriolis effect causes Northern Hemisphere winds to curve to the right.
55.

At a location in the Northern Hemisphere, a camera was placed outside at night with the lens pointing straight up. The shutter was left open for four hours, resulting in the star trails shown below.

How many degrees did each star travel?

a)

1°N

b)

30° N

c)

60°N

d)

90°N

56.
About how many days does it take to moon to go through a complete cycle?
a)
7 days
b)
365 days
c)
29 days
d)
20 days
57.
When the visible (lit) portion of the moon is increasing, the moon is:
a)
waning
b)
full
c)
waxing
d)
new
58.
The 1st Quarter moon is lit on the:
a)
Left Side
b)
Right Side
59.
Name the moon phase
a)
waning crescent
b)
waxing crescent
c)
waning gibbous
d)
waxing gibbous
60.
As the moon's shape appears to get smaller, we say that the moon is _.
a)
swelling
b)
waxing
c)
waning
d)
disappearing
61.
Name the moon phase
a)
First Quarter
b)
Last Quarter
c)
New Moon
d)
Full Moon
62.
What moon phase came right BEFORE this one?
a)
First Quarter
b)
Last Quarter
c)
New Moon
d)
Full Moon
63.
How much of the moon is always lit?
a)
can't tell
b)
always changes
c)
half
d)
3/4
64.
Name the moon phase
a)
First Quarter
b)
Last Quarter
c)
New Moon
d)
Full Moon
65.

If we are experiencing a new moon on March 6 what will the moon look like on 15?

a)
b)
c)
d)
66.

Tides are caused by _________________

a)

the gravitational pull of the moon only.

b)

large storms over the ocean.

c)

the action of Earth's tectonic plates.

d)

the combined gravitational forces of the sun and moon.

67.

How would the moon appear from point B?

a)
b)
c)
d)
68.
Which body has the greater effect on Earth's tides?
a)
Sun
b)
Saturn
c)
Moon 
d)
Venus
69.

Wha type of tide would this arrangement of earth-moon-sun create?

a)

full moon tide

b)

new moon tide

c)

neap tide

d)

spring tide

70.
What type of tides would this arrangement of earth-moon-sun create?
a)
neap tide
b)
spring tide
c)
new moon tide
d)
full moon tide
71.
If tides alternate from high to low and there are two of each type of tide a day, about how many hours will generally be between each different tide?
a)
2 hours
b)
6 hours
c)
12 hours
d)
24 hours
72.
How many low tides and high tides happen in a day?
a)
1 low tide, 1 high tide
b)
4 low tides, 4 high tides
c)
3 low tides, 3 high tides
d)
2 low tides, 2 high tides
73.
The Moon has a greater influence on Earth tides than the Sun because...
a)
it is smaller than the Sun
b)
it revolves around the Earth
c)
it is closer to the Earth
74.
The bulge of water on the side of the Earth closest to the moon produces ___________.
a)
high tide
b)
low tide
c)
neap tide
d)
spring tide
75.
What is a difference between spring and neap tides?
a)
Spring tides occur when the earth and sun are IN LINE with the new or full moon. 
b)
Spring tides occur when moon in 3rd or 1st quarter phases
c)
Spring tides are LOWER than neap tides
d)
Spring tides occur in Spring and neap tides can occur in any season
76.
Base your answer on the graph below. The graph shows the recorded change in water level (ocean tides) at a coastal city in the northeastern United States during 1 day. 
According to the pattern shown on the graph, the next high tide will occur on the following day at approximately
a)
12:30am
b)
2:00am
c)
3:15am
d)
4:00am
77.
Ocean tides are best described as
a)
unpredictable and cyclic
b)
unpredictable and noncyclic
c)
predictable and cyclic 
d)
predictable and noncyclic