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WorksheetsEarth, Moon, and Sun Relationship Basics
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 25mins
Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?
No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.
Yes, always in Diagrams 2 and 3, but never in Diagram 1.
Yes, always in Diagram 2, but never in Diagrams 1 or 3.
Yes, always in Diagram 2 and sometimes in Diagram 3.
Leticia is a space scientist who made this diagram of the Moon and Earth as seen from above (top view), with sunlight coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Why does Leticia’s diagram show that it’s brighter on the left half of the Moon?
Because Leticia’s diagram is showing that the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.
Because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and Leticia’s diagram is showing that the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock has rotated to the left.
Because as the Moon gets closer to the sun, more of it is lit by the sun, so Leticia’s diagram is showing sunlight on half of the Moon.
Because there is a shadow from Earth falling on half of the Moon, and Leticia’s diagram is showing that shadow on the right half of the Moon.
Tania went outside and made two observations of the Moon that were several days apart. Her observations are shown in the diagram above. The light part of the Moon appeared to get larger over time. Why did this happen?
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved so that Tania was able to see more of the half that faces the sun.
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved closer to the sun so more sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon rotated so that more of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.
Between the first observation and the second observation, Earth moved so its shadow was blocking less of the Moon so Tania was able to see more of it.
Three students made the diagrams above to show what they think the Moon looks like when it is seen from above (top view). In these diagrams, the sunlight is coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Which diagram is accurate and why?
Diagram A is accurate because the whole Moon is bright as long as there are no shadows covering parts of it.
Diagram B is accurate because the Moon is almost as close as it can be to the sun, so the Moon is almost fully lit by the sun.
Diagram C is accurate because the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.
All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock rotates to face different directions.
Which model best shows the relationship between the Earth, moon, and sun?
A
B
C
D
The daily rising and falling of the (a) is caused by the (b) of the (c)
tides
Moon
lava
gravitational pull
solar system
Milky Way
shadow
Moon and the Sun
oceans and lakes
equinoxes
The diagram above shows Earth and the Moon from above (top view). Why is there a dotted circle drawn in this diagram?
To show the locations where the sun’s light can reach the Moon.
To show the locations of satellites that are in Earth’s atmosphere.
To show the way that the Moon can move back and forth across Earth’s sky.
To show that the Moon is always orbiting around Earth in a circle.
Spring tides have the largest tidal ranges because...
the earth, moon, and sun are aligned for greater gravitational force.
the moon has the strongest gravitational force.
the sun has the most gravitational force.
none of the above
A[n] ______________ tide occurs when the sun is at right angles to the line between Earth and the moon.
high
neap
low
spring
What is the definition of ORBIT?
the nearly circular path a smaller object travels around a larger object
the shape of the illuminated part of the Moon as it appears from Earth
something we observe to be similar over and over again
the border between light and dark on the Moon
A student astronomer went out and took photographs of the Moon that were several days apart. Images that look like her photographs are shown above. The light part of the Moon appeared to get smaller over time. Why did this happen?
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved farther away from the sun so less sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, Earth moved so its shadow was blocking more of the Moon so the student astronomer was able to see less of it.
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon rotated so that less of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved so that the student astronomer was able to see less of the half that faces the sun.
The diagrams above show Earth and the Moon in different positions, as seen from above (top view). Sunlight is coming from the left, but these diagrams do not show what parts of Earth or the Moon are light or dark. Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?
No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.
Yes, always in Diagrams 1 and 2, but never in Diagram 3.
Yes, always in Diagram 2, but never in Diagrams 1 or 3.
Yes, always in Diagram 2 and sometimes in Diagram 1.
Three student astronomers made the diagrams above to show what they think the Moon looks like when it is seen from above. In these diagrams, the sunlight is coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Which diagram is accurate and why?
Diagram A is accurate because the Moon is almost as far as it can be from the sun, so almost none of the Moon is lit by the sun.
Diagram B is accurate because the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.
Diagram C is accurate because the whole Moon is bright as long as there are no shadows covering parts of it.
All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock rotates to face different directions.
Astronomers made two observations of the Moon that were several days apart. Their observations are shown in the diagram above. The light part of the Moon appeared to get larger over time. Why did this happen?
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon rotated so that more of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved so that the astronomers were able to see more of the half that faces the sun.
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved closer to the sun so more sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.
Between the first observation and the second observation, Earth moved so its shadow was blocking less of the Moon so the astronomers were able to see more of it.
The diagrams above show Earth and the Moon in different positions, as seen from above (top view). Sunlight is coming from the left, but these diagrams do not show what parts of Earth or the Moon are light or dark. Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?
No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.
Yes, always in Diagrams 1 and 3, but never in Diagram 2.
Yes, always in Diagram 3 and sometimes in Diagram 1.
Yes, always in Diagram 3, but never in Diagrams 1 or 2.
The diagram above shows Earth and the Moon from above (top view). Why is there a dotted circle drawn in this diagram?
To show that the Moon is always moving around Earth in a circle.
To show the locations of satellites that are in Earth’s atmosphere.
To show the way that the Moon can move back and forth across Earth’s sky.
To show the locations where the sun’s light can reach the Moon.
Three students made the diagrams above to show what they think the Moon looks like when it is seen from above (top view). In these diagrams, the sunlight is coming from the left, as shown by the arrows. Which diagram is accurate and why?
Diagram A is accurate because sometimes the whole Moon is dark if shadows are covering it.
Diagram B is accurate because the Moon is as close as it can be to the sun, and so all of the Moon is lit by the sun.
Diagram C is accurate because the half of the Moon that is facing the sun is lit by the sun, and the other half is dark.
All three diagrams are sometimes accurate because the Moon has some lighter-colored rock and some darker-colored rock, and the half of the Moon with the lighter-colored rock rotates to face different directions.
An artist took two photographs of the Moon that were several days apart. Images that look like his photographs are shown above. The light part of the Moon appeared to get smaller over time. Why did this happen?
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon rotated so that less of the light-colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth.
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, Earth moved so its shadow was blocking more of the Moon so the artist was able to see less of it.
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved so that the artist could see less of the half that faces the sun.
Between the first photograph and the second photograph, the Moon moved farther away from the sun so less sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.
Could the half of the Moon that faces Earth ever be completely dark in any of these diagrams?
No, the Moon is always lit by the sun.
Yes, always in Diagrams 2 and 3 but never in Diagram 1.
Yes, always in Diagram 3 and sometimes in Diagram 2.
Yes, always in Diagram 3 but never in Diagrams 1 or 2.
If Suki looks for the Moon again in one month, what will he see?
Suki will see a crescent moon again, like Diagram A.
Suki will see a quarter moon, like Diagram B.
Suki could see either a crescent or a quarter moon; it depends on the time of year.
There’s no way to tell because the Moon’s pattern is always changing.
The phases of the moon are are caused by the relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon. Lunar phases refer to the appearance of the illuminated portion of the moon as seen by an observer on Earth. When the moon is aligned with and between Earth and the sun, which phase is happening?
full moon
new moon
first quarter moon
third quarter moon
Earth, the moon, and the sun can affect each other in many ways. The diagram shows Earth, the moon, and the sun lined up in one specific arrangement.
a full moon
a lunar eclipse
a solar eclipse
a winter solstice
What causes the different phases of the Moon as observed from Earth?
The Earth's shadow on the Moon
The Moon's rotation on its axis
The relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun
The distance of the Moon from the Earth
Which phenomenon occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon?
Solar eclipse
Lunar eclipse
New moon
Full moon
What is the primary reason for the occurrence of tides on Earth?
The gravitational pull of the Sun
The gravitational pull of the Moon
The rotation of the Earth
The orbit of the Earth around the Sun
