Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Understanding Sun's Position and Movement

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 2hrs 43mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following causes the shadow to form in the picture?

a)

The Sun's rotation

b)

Earth's rotation

c)

Earth's revolution

d)

Earth's gravity

2.

The diagram shows the revolution of Earth around the Sun. About how long does one of Earth’s revolutions around the Sun take?

a)

1 day

b)

1 week

c)

1 month

d)

1 year

3.

Where is the sun positioned to create the tree's shadow in the picture?

4.

What time of day is the shadow most likely occurring? ​ (a)  

Choose from the below words
12:00 am
12:00 pm
9:00 am
6:00 pm
5.

Shadows are SHORTER when the sun is ______________ in the sky

a)

Lower

b)

Higher

6.

Based on the shadow, what time of day is it?

a)

12:00 p.m (noon)

b)

2:00 p.m.

c)

5:00 p.m.

d)

8:00 a.m.

7.

Based on the shadow, what time of day is it?

a)

12:00 p.m (noon)

b)

2:00 p.m.

c)

1:00 p.m.

d)

7:00 a.m.

8.

Which picture shows the shadow of a pole at noon?

a)
b)
c)
d)
9.

Which picture shows the shadow of a pole in the morning?

a)

b)

c)

d)

10.

Which pictures show the shadow of a pole in the afternoon? Select two answers.

a)

b)

c)

d)

11.

How many hours would pass from point Z to X?

a)

6 hours

b)

12 hours

c)

18 hours

d)

24 hours

12.

A student draws a model showing the movements of Earth, the moon, and the sun. Which arrow shows the movement that causes day and night on Earth? (5.8C)

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 Earth

13.

A student draws diagrams of her house and the location of the sun in the sky. Which diagram does not correctly represent the location of the sun at the time indicated? (5.8C)

a)
b)
c)
d)
14.

Shadows cast by objects change throughout the day. The picture shows the shadow cast by a tree at 3 pm. Which picture shows how the tree's shadow most likely looked at 9 am? (5.8C)

a)
b)
c)
d)
15.

Shadows cast by objects change throughout the day. The picture shows the shadow cast by a tree at 3 pm. Which picture shows how the tree's shadow most likely looked at noon? (5.8C)

a)

b)

c)

d)

16.

Shadows cast by objects change throughout the day. The picture shows the shadow cast by a tree at 3 pm. Which picture shows how the tree's shadow most likely looked later in the evening? (5.8C)

a)

b)

c)

d)

17.

Some students used a globe to model the rotation of Earth. They shaded in Texas on the globe, as shown in the picture. They rotate the globe and observed that Texas was in exactly the same place after each rotation. The students could rotate the globe quickly or slowly. If the globe could rotate only at the rate that Earth actually rotates, about how long would each complete rotation take? (5.8C)

a)

30 days

b)

60 minutes

c)

24 hours

d)

365 days

18.

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? (5.8C)

a)

North

b)

South

c)

East

d)

West

19.

Which of these cycles is a direct result of Earth's rotation? (5.8C)

a)

Day and night

b)

Moon phases

c)

Rainfall and evaporation

d)

Seasons

20.

Which of these best explains why the sun appears to move across the sky each day? (5.8C)

a)
b)
c)
d)
21.

Which of these best explains why seasons exist? Choose two correct answers (5.8C)

a)

Moon Phases last approximately 29 days

Moon Phases last approximately 29 days

b)

Tilt = ~ 23.4 degrees

Tilt = ~ 23.4 degrees

c)

Earth Orbiting revolving around the sun

Earth Orbiting revolving around the sun

d)

Day and Night cycle

Day and Night cycle

22.

A teacher asks students to explain what they see in this picture. Four student explanations are shown in the box. Which of the students gave a correct explanation? (5.8C)

a)

Student 1 only

b)

Students 2 and 4 only

c)

Student 2 only

d)

Students 1 and 3 only

23.

A student builds a model of the solar system that includes a sphere representing Earth. The sphere turns in a full circle on its axis. By using a model of Earth that spins on its axis, the student can best demonstrate--- (5.8C)

a)

the cycle of the four seasons

b)

the aging of a star

c)

the passing of a year

d)

the cycle of day and night

24.

Where would the sun be based off of the shadow being casted?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

25.

About what time of day could this be based on the position of the sun and the shadow that is cast on the ground?

a)

12:00 PM

b)

10:00 AM

c)

2:00 PM

d)

5:00 PM

26.

Where should the sun be based of the cast of this shadow?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

27.

Where should the sun be based of the cast of this shadow?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

28.

What time of Day could this be based of the position of the sun and the shadow?

a)

5:00 PM

b)

7:00 AM

c)

10:00 AM

d)

8:00 PM

29.

Where should the sun be based on the shadow?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

30.

Which letter represents the sun at about 2:00 PM?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

31.

Where is the sun at midday?

a)

to the east

b)

directly overhead

c)

to the west

32.

From which direction does the sun appear to set each evening?

a)

north

b)

east

c)

south

d)

west

33.

From which direction does the sun appear to rise each morning?

a)

north

b)

east

c)

south

d)

west

34.

When are shadows the SHORTEST?

a)

in the morning

b)

at noon

c)

in the evening

35.

As the earth rotates, it makes the sun seem to move from...

a)

east to west

b)

west to east

c)

north to south

d)

south to north

36.

How long does the earth take to make one full turn?

a)

12 hours

b)

6 hours

c)

2 days

d)

24 hours

37.

An imaginary line that Earth rotates around.

a)

Axis

b)

Mason Dixon Line

c)

North Pole

d)

Revolution

38.

Which of these cycles is a direct result of Earths rotation?

a)

Day and night

b)

Moon phases

c)

Rainfall and evaporation

d)

Seasons

39.

The diagram shows the shadow of a tree in a field at noon on a summer day. The sun rises at 7:00 A.M. on this day. Which diagram best shows the shadow of the tree at 10:00 A.M. on the same day?

a)

b)

c)

d)

40.

A student draws diagrams of her house and the location of the sun in the sky. Which diagram below does not correctly represent the location of the sun at the time indicated?

a)

b)

c)

d)

41.
3. Which drawing best represents the location of the Sun in the sky at 4 P.M.?
a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

42.

The students observed the Sun throughout a school-day, over the school's play ground. The Sun appeared in different position each time all through the day. This was caused by:

a)

the Earth's revolution around the Sun

b)

the earth orbiting and revolving around other planets

c)

the Sun's orbit of the Solar System

d)

the Earth's rotation on its axis

43.

As we observe the Sun moving into different positions in the sky all throughout the day; we have noticed that the shadow of object/s around us change in size and position as well. Look at the drawing; at which point will the shadow of the building, will appear about 11:00 am?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

44.

How are shadows formed?

a)

When an object blocks the path of light.

b)

When the sky is cloudy

c)

When the sun is directly overhead

d)

When the moon is full

45.

Explain the relationship between the position of the sun and the length of shadows.

a)

The length of shadows has no relation to the position of the sun.

b)

Shadows are longer when the sun is directly overhead.

c)

The position of the sun has no effect on the length of shadows.

d)

The length of shadows is determined by the position of the sun.

46.

The student uses a globe to represent Earth and a light bulb to represent the Sun. How can the student use the globe and light bulb to show what causes day and night on Earth?

a)

rotate the globe near the lightbulb

b)

tilt the globe but rotate the lightbulb

c)

turn the lightbulb on and off

d)

move the lightbulb around the globe in a circle