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Phases of the Moon

Total questions: 70

Worksheet time: 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A model can be used to demonstrate the phases of the moon by showing the relative positions of which three objects?

a)

Sun, Earth, and Moon

b)

Earth, Mars, and Moon

c)

Sun, Venus, and Earth

d)

Sun, Earth, and Mars

2.

The word ______ means related to the moon.

a)

Luna

b)

Solar

c)

Stellar

d)

Terra

3.

True or False: The moon actually changes shape as it orbits the Earth.

a)

True

b)

False

4.

Exactly ______ or 50% of the moon is always lit by the Sun.

a)

half

b)

one-third

c)

one-fourth

d)

three-quarters

5.

No matter where the moon is on its normal orbit around the Earth, it always shines on ______ of it.

a)

half

b)

one-fourth

c)

three-quarters

d)

all

6.

The moon looks different because of your ______.

a)

point of view

b)

distance from the sun

c)

color of the sky

d)

shape of the earth

7.

How many days does it take for the moon to complete one revolution around the Earth?

a)

29.5 days

b)

7 days

c)

365 days

d)

14 days

8.

One complete rotation on the moon takes how many days?

a)

29.5 days

b)

7 days

c)

14 days

d)

365 days

9.

Because the moon's rotation and revolution is the same, we never see the side of the moon facing away from the Earth.

a)

True

b)

False

10.

The part of the moon that we never see from Earth is also known as the ______ side of the moon.

a)

dark

b)

bright

c)

hidden

d)

sunny

11.

The 'dark side' of the moon is always dark.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

Look at the images of the moon. Which side of the moon can we see from Earth?

a)

The side we can't see

b)

The side we can see

13.

Because of equal rotation and revolution, the moon’s surface always looks the same from ________.

a)

Earth

b)

Mars

c)

Venus

d)

Jupiter

14.

The moon's surface always looks the same from Earth because its rotation and revolution are equal.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Over the course of a lunar month or ____ days, the Earth goes through 8 different phases of the moon. Fill in the blank with the correct number of days.

a)

29.5

b)

24

c)

31

d)

15

16.

How many different phases does the Earth go through in a lunar month?

a)

6

b)

8

c)

10

d)

12

17.

Each phase of the moon lasts about ____ days. Fill in the blank with the correct number of days.

a)

3.5

b)

7

c)

1

d)

14

18.

How many phases of the moon are shown in the diagram?

a)

6

b)

8

c)

10

d)

12

19.

Refer to the diagram of Moon Phases. Which object in the diagram represents the Sun?

a)

The large yellow circle

b)

The circle labeled 'Earth'

c)

The black and white circles numbered 1-8

d)

The red arrow

20.

Refer to the diagram of Moon Phases. What does the red arrow labeled 'Point of View from Earth' indicate?

a)

The direction of sunlight

b)

The position of the Sun

c)

The perspective from which the Moon phases are observed

d)

The movement of the Moon

21.

Refer to the diagram of Moon Phases. The object at the center of the Moon's orbit is labeled as _________.

a)

Earth

b)

Sun

c)

Mars

d)

Venus

22.

New Moon happens when the moon is located between which two celestial bodies?

a)

Earth and Mars

b)

Earth and Sun

c)

Sun and Mars

d)

Earth and Venus

23.

When the moon is in the New Moon position, the entire lit side of the moon faces ______ from Earth.

a)

away

b)

toward

c)

upward

d)

downward

24.

True or False: We can see the moon during the New Moon phase.

a)

True

b)

False

25.

During the New Moon phase, which object is located between the Earth and the Sun?

a)

Mars

b)

Moon

c)

Venus

d)

Jupiter

26.

Refer to the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the eight positions of the Moon. Which position represents the New Moon phase?

a)

Position 4

b)

Position 1

c)

Position 3

d)

Position 5

e)

Position 2

27.

What is the name of the moon phase shown in the image?

a)

Full Moon

b)

New Moon

c)

First Quarter

d)

Last Quarter

28.

As the moon continues in its ______, you will begin to see more and more of its lit side on the right.

a)

orbit

b)

shadow

c)

crater

d)

axis

29.

What shape does the moon appear to be during the waxing crescent phase?

a)

Full

b)

Crescent

c)

Gibbous

d)

New

30.

If the light is on the right side of the moon, is it waxing or waning?

a)

Waxing

b)

Waning

31.

During the waxing crescent phase, the lit side of the moon appears to get bigger from day to day.

a)

True

b)

False

32.

What does 'waxing' mean in relation to the moon?

a)

Shrinking

b)

Growing

c)

Staying the same

33.

Look at the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the eight phases of the Moon. The position labeled '2' is marked with an arrow. Which Moon phase is shown at position 2?

a)

New Moon

b)

Waxing Crescent

c)

Full Moon

d)

Waning Gibbous

34.

The diagram illustrates the relationship between the Sun, Earth, and the Moon as follows:

a)

The Moon orbits the Earth, and the Earth orbits the Sun.

b)

The Earth orbits the Moon, and the Moon orbits the Sun.

c)

The Sun orbits the Earth, and the Earth orbits the Moon.

d)

The Earth and the Moon both orbit the Sun independently.

35.

Look at the image of the moon phase shown. What is the name of this moon phase?

a)

Full Moon

b)

New Moon

c)

Waxing Crescent

d)

Waning Gibbous

36.

After a few days, half the bright side of the moon is visible from Earth on the ______ side.

a)

right

b)

left

c)

top

d)

bottom

37.

What is the name of the moon phase when half the bright side of the moon is visible from Earth on the right side?

a)

1st quarter

b)

full moon

c)

new moon

d)

3rd quarter

38.

Why is the 1st Quarter moon phase called '1st Quarter'?

a)

Because it has completed one quarter of a full revolution around the Earth.

b)

Because it is the first visible phase after the New Moon.

c)

Because half of the Moon is visible from Earth.

d)

Because it marks the start of a new lunar cycle.

39.

Which side of the moon is visible from Earth during the 1st Quarter phase?

a)

Left side

b)

Right side

c)

Top side

d)

Bottom side

40.

Based on the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the positions of the moon, which numbered position represents the 1st Quarter moon phase?

a)

3

b)

4

c)

1

d)

2

e)

5

41.

Look at the image of the moon phase shown. What is the name of this moon phase?

a)

New Moon

b)

Full Moon

c)

1st Quarter

d)

Last Quarter

42.

When the moon’s lit side is more than half, but less than full on the right side, it is called a ________.

a)

waxing gibbous

b)

waning crescent

c)

new moon

d)

first quarter

43.

What does 'gibbous' mean?

a)

more than half

b)

less than half

c)

completely dark

d)

completely full

44.

What does 'waxing' mean?

a)

growing and is on the right side

b)

shrinking and is on the left side

c)

growing and is on the left side

d)

shrinking and is on the right side

45.

Refer to the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the eight positions of the moon. The position labeled 'Here' (position 4) is highlighted. Which phase of the moon is represented at this position?

a)

New Moon

b)

Full Moon

c)

Waxing Gibbous

d)

Waning Crescent

46.

Look at the image of the moon phase shown. What is the name of this moon phase?

a)

New Moon

b)

Waxing Crescent

c)

Waxing Gibbous

d)

Full Moon

47.

Full moon happens when the moon is located on the ______ side of Earth farthest from the sun.

a)

opposite

b)

same

c)

left

d)

right

48.

When the moon is in the full moon position, what faces toward the Earth?

a)

The dark side of the moon

b)

The entire lit side of the moon

c)

The sun

d)

The opposite side of the moon

49.

During a full moon, the moon is located on the same side of Earth as the sun.

a)

True

b)

False

50.

Where does the word 'lunatic' get its name from?

a)

The sun

b)

The full moon phase

c)

The stars

d)

The new moon phase

51.

Hundreds of years ago, it was a popular belief that a full moon made animals and humans act ________.

a)

differently

b)

quietly

c)

normally

d)

slowly

52.

Read the passage: Ever heard of the word Lunatic? The word lunatic and many others gets its name from the full moon phase. Hundreds of years ago it was popular belief that a full moon made animals and humans act differently. Many believed more murders, births, crimes, and catastrophes happened on full moons.

a)

Murders

b)

Births

c)

Crimes

d)

All of the above

53.

What mythical creature is often associated with the full moon?

a)

Werewolf

b)

Vampire

c)

Unicorn

d)

Phoenix

54.

Refer to the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the phases of the Moon. Which numbered position represents the Full Moon phase?

a)

1

b)

3

c)

5

d)

7

55.

Refer to the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the phases of the Moon. The Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.

a)

True

b)

False

56.

Refer to the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the phases of the Moon. Fill in the blank: The Full Moon phase is shown at position _____

a)

5

b)

1

c)

3

d)

7

57.

What phase of the moon is shown in the image?

a)

Full Moon

b)

New Moon

c)

First Quarter

d)

Waning Crescent

58.

After a full moon, do you begin to see more or less of the lit half of the moon as time passes?

a)

More

b)

Less

c)

The same

59.

As the moon continues to orbit Earth, you see a waning ______ moon.

a)

gibbous

b)

crescent

c)

full

d)

new

60.

When you see the moon on the left, is it waxing or waning?

a)

Waxing

b)

Waning

61.

Refer to the diagram showing the positions of the moon around the Earth and Sun. Which moon phase is represented at position 6 (indicated by 'Here')?

a)

Full Moon

b)

Waning Gibbous

c)

New Moon

d)

Waxing Crescent

62.

Look at the image of the moon phase shown. What is the name of this moon phase?

a)

Full Moon

b)

Waning Gibbous

c)

Waxing Crescent

d)

New Moon

63.

After a few more days pass, less of the lit side of the moon is visible. What is this phase called?

a)

New Moon

b)

Full Moon

c)

3rd Quarter

d)

1st Quarter

64.

When half the moon’s lit side is on the left, it is called the ________.

a)

3rd quarter

b)

new moon

c)

full moon

d)

1st quarter

65.

Based on the diagram showing the Sun, Earth, and the eight positions of the moon, which position represents the 3rd Quarter moon phase?

a)

3

b)

5

c)

7

d)

1

66.

Look at the diagram below. Which moon phase is shown in the image?

a)

New Moon

b)

Full Moon

c)

1st Quarter

d)

3rd Quarter

67.

As the moon continues in its orbit, you will begin to see less and less of its lit side on the _______.

a)

left

b)

right

c)

top

d)

bottom

68.

When the moon is less than half visible on the left side, what do you see?

a)

Full Moon

b)

Waning Crescent

c)

Waxing Gibbous

d)

New Moon

69.

The waning crescent is a _______ shape that appears to get smaller from day to day.

a)

crescent

b)

square

c)

triangle

d)

rectangle

70.

If the light is on the left side of the moon, is it waning or waxing?

a)

Waning

b)

Waxing