WorksheetsEarth, Moon and Celestial Cycles Test
Total questions: 41
Worksheet time: 21mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which diagram below shows the Earth‐Moon‐Sun system arranged to cause a total solar eclipse?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
2.
Why does the amount of daylight change during the course of a year?
a)
The amount of light and heat radiated by the Sun changes at different times of the year.
b)
The distance between the Sun and Earth changes from summer to winter.
c)
The North Pole points more toward the Sun at one time of the year than another; while the South Pole is further away.
d)
Earth rotates at different speeds at different times of the year.
3.
The northern hemisphere experiences summer in June, July, and August because
a)
the Earth is closest to the sun during these months.
b)
the Earth is orbiting the sun faster during these months.
c)
the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun during these months.
d)
the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun during these months.
4.
What is the main cause of seasons on Earth?
a)
the distance between Earth and the sun
b)
the tilt of Earth’s axis and the revolution of the Earth around the sun
c)
the orbit of Earth
d)
the rotation of Earth
5.
Which statement best explains how a lunar eclipse occurs?
a)
Earth is aligned between the Sun and the Moon, and is casting its shadow on the Moon
b)
The Moon is aligned between Earth and the Sun, and is blocking all or part of the Sun’s surface.
c)
The Sun is aligned between Earth and the Moon, and the Moon’s surface cannot be seen.
d)
Venus is aligned between the Sun and Earth, and the Sun’s surface cannot be seen.
6.
During the first day of which season does the Northern Hemisphere experience its most least of daylight?
a)
Winter Solstice
b)
Spring Equinox
c)
Summer Solstice
d)
Fall Equinox
7.
During the first day of which season does the Northern Hemisphere experience its most amount of daylight?
a)
Winter Solstice
b)
Spring Equinox
c)
Summer Solstice
d)
Fall Equinox
8.
The diagram below shows the Moon revolving around Earth as viewed from space.What makes it possible to see the Moon from Earth?
a)
The surface of the Moon emits its own light, which can be seen from Earth.
b)
The Moon absorbs light during the day and emits the light at night.
c)
Light emitted by Earth illuminates the Moon’s surface, making it visible.
d)
The Moon is reflecting light from the Sun to the Earth.
9.
Look at the illustration below. Which statement is true?
a)
The illustration shows a solar eclipse.
b)
The illustration shows a lunar eclipse.
c)
The illustration shows how summer occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.
d)
The illustration shows how a full moon occurs.
10.
Look at the illustration below. What season is the location the arrow is pointing to on Earth experiencing?
a)
Spring
b)
Winter
c)
Autumn
d)
Summer
11.
Which statement explains why seasons occur in the Northern and Southern hemispheres?
a)
The Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer.
b)
The Earth is closer to the Sun in the winter.
c)
The Earth is tilted on its axis and each hemisphere points toward the Sun in the summer.
d)
The orbit of the Earth is not a circle.
12.
What force is most responsible for Earth’s orbit around the sun?
a)
Earth's Gravity
b)
Moon's Gravity
c)
Sun's Gravity
d)
Mars' Gravity
13.
What force is most responsible for Moon’s orbit around the Earth?
a)
Earth's Gravity
b)
Moon's Gravity
c)
Sun's Gravity
d)
Mars' Gravity
14.
Day and night are caused by
a)
Earth's revolution around the sun.
b)
Earth's rotation on its axis.
c)
eclipses.
d)
the tilt of Earth's axis.
15.
The diagram below represents the Earth in space.Which date is most likely represented by the diagram?
a)
May 4
b)
September 2
c)
June 6
d)
December 30
16.
How many days does the moon take to go around the Earth?
a)
27.32
b)
28.7
c)
29.5
d)
30.2
17.
How does the rate of Earth’s revolution around the sun compare year after year?
a)
Earth’s orbital speed is progressively slowing down year after year
b)
Earth’s orbital speed is progressively speeding up year after year
c)
Earth’s orbital speed varies year to year
d)
Earth’s orbital speed slightly varies, but it always has and always will take Earth the same amount of time to orbit the sun
18.
What are shadows like during a sunrise?
a)
Shadows are long and point west
b)
Shadows are short and point west
c)
Shadows are long and point east
d)
Shadows are short and point directly south
19.
When the moon is positioned between the sun and Earth, you do not see the moon inthe sky. We call this phase __________________. This is the starting (1st) phase of the lunar cycle.
a)
New Moon
b)
Full Moon
c)
First Quarter
d)
Third Quarter
20.
A student wants to model what causes day and night on Earth. The student uses a globe to represent Earth and a light bulb to represent the Sun. Pictures of the globe and light bulb are shown below. How can the student use the globe and light bulb to show what causes day and night on Earth?
a)
by rotating the globe near the light bulb
b)
by tilting the globe and rotating the light bulb
c)
by turning the light bulb on and off near the globe
d)
by moving the light bulb in a circle around the globe
21.
As the moon revolves from its starting position, you can slowly begin to see themoon on Earth. It first appears like a very thin crescent. Over time, the crescent thickens. This intermediate phase is called __________________.
a)
Waxing Crescent
b)
Waxing Gibbous
c)
Waning Gibbous
d)
Waning Crescent
22.
When the moon is positioned “next to” the Earth, you can see half of the portion ofthe moon that is lit up. In other words, you can see a quarter of the moon. It looks like a right-sided half circle in the sky. We call this phase _________________. This is the 2nd principal phase.
a)
New Moon
b)
Full Moon
c)
First Quarter
d)
Third Quarter
23.
As the moon continues its revolution, it looks like a “humped” half circle. It slowly begins to look like a full circle. This intermediate phase is called ________________.
a)
Waxing Crescent
b)
Waxing Gibbous
c)
Waning Gibbous
d)
Waning Crescent
24.
When the moon is positioned opposite of Earth, you see the entire half of the moon litup. It looks like a circle in the sky. We call this phase ______________. This is the 3rd principal phase.
a)
New Moon
b)
Full Moon
c)
First Quarter
d)
Third Quarter
25.
After Full Moon, the moon begins to be less illuminated in the sky. It becomes “lessfull.” This intermediate phase is called _________________.
a)
Waxing Crescent
b)
Waxing Gibbous
c)
Waning Gibbous
d)
Waning Crescent
26.
When the moon is positioned next to Earth (opposite of 1st quarter), you see aquarter of the moon in the sky. However, the moon looks like a left-sided half circle. We call this phase ________________ (or Last Quarter). This the last (4th) principal phase.
a)
New Moon
b)
Full Moon
c)
First Quarter
d)
Third Quarter
27.
The moon begins to “darken” in the sky. It looks like a thick crescent that thinsover time. This intermediate phase is called ____________________.
a)
Waxing Crescent
b)
Waxing Gibbous
c)
Waning Gibbous
d)
Waning Crescent
28.
The winter solstice occurs on either December 21 or 22, depending on the year. Which of the following statements bestexplains why the time of the year the winter solstice occurs has the least amount of daylight in North Carolina?
a)
Earth is farthest away from the Sun on the winter solstice.
b)
Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun on the winter solstice.
c)
Earth’s rotational speed on its axis is greatest on the winter solstice.
d)
Earth is traveling around the Sun with the greatest speed on the winter solstice.
29.
Which diagram correctly shows the orbits of Earth (E), the moon (M) and the sun (S)?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
30.
Choose the correct explanation for the question, "Tell the correct location for the next season after point B." Think about what direction the Earth moves around the sun.
a)
The next season is at Point D because the earth travels into the sun to reach the other side.
b)
The next season is at Point C because the earth revolves counterclockwise around the sun.
c)
The next season is at Point A because the earth revolves clockwise around the sun.
31.
How do stars appear to move at night?
a)
They move southward
b)
They move towards Polaris (the North Star)
c)
They rotate around Polaris
d)
Stars do not appear to move at night
32.
Where are seasonal constellations located in relation to Earth?
a)
They are located far above the Earth
b)
They are located far below the Earth
c)
They are located outward (deep in space) from the Earth
d)
They are located between the Earth and sun
33.
Look at the diagram below of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth. Which phase of the Moon would be seen by people on Earth
a)
full moon
b)
new moon
c)
waxing gibbous
d)
waning gibbous
34.
What motion occurs when the earth spins on its axis? This motion lasts 24 hours and results in day and night.
a)
Tidal Cycle
b)
Earth’s Revolution
c)
Earth’s Rotation
d)
Moon’s Revolution
35.
What motion occurs when the earth travels around the sun? This motion lasts 365 1⁄4 days and results in the seasons.
a)
Tidal Cycle
b)
Earth’s Revolution
c)
Earth’s Rotation
d)
Moon’s Revolution
36.
What motion occurs the moon travels around the Earth? This motion lasts 29 1⁄2 days days and results in the phases of the moon.
a)
Tidal Cycle
b)
Earth’s Revolution
c)
Earth’s Rotation
d)
Moon’s Revolution
37.
What motion occurs when the moon’s gravity pulls on the Earth’s ocean waters? This motion lasts 24 hours and 50 minutes.
a)
Tidal Cycle
b)
Earth’s Revolution
c)
Earth’s Rotation
d)
Moon’s Revolution
38.
Students in Mr. Smith's class were asked to create a model that demonstrates how the position of the sun and earth causes seasons. The students used a flashlight and globe to develop their model, an example of one of these models is shown below.
If a group of students were to model how the seasons change, what factors must be present within the model?
a)
The flashlight must have a tilt and revolve around the globe
b)
Both the globe and the flashlight must be tilted
c)
The globe must have a tilt and revolve around the flashlight
d)
Neither the globe nor the flashlight should have a tilt
39.
What causes the high and low tides on the Earth?
a)
Earth’s rotation and the Moon's revolution
b)
The Rings of Saturn
c)
The Sun's Gravity
d)
Gravity from the Moon
40.
Which of the following best describes why we have day and night and see different stars throughout the year?
a)
The Earth has only one star in its solar system.
b)
The Earthorbits the Sun and it rotates on its tilted axis.
c)
The Earth has only one moon in its solar system.
d)
The Earth has bodies of water with different currents.
41.
The above diagram shows the orbit of the moon around Earth. Which point represents a full moon?
a)
Q
b)
R
c)
S
d)
T
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