Moon, Sun & Tides

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____	1.	The diagram below shows a model of Earth and the sun.

Jan rotates Earth 360 degrees about its axis. Which of the following does one complete rotation of  Earth represent?

A.	a day	
B.	a year	
C.	a month	
D.	a season 	

____	2.	A science class created the model below to demonstrate how Earth rotates on its axis.

How long does it take Earth to rotate once on its axis?

A.	 30 days	
B.	 12 hours	
C.	 24 hours	
D.	365 days	

____	3.	Carter looked up information on the planets Mercury and Venus. He recorded information about the orbit and the rotation of each planet in the table below.

Planet	Time to complete one orbit (in Earth days)	Time to complete one rotation (in Earth days)	
Mercury	88	59	
Venus	225	243	

How long is a day on Venus?
A.	  59 Earth days	
B.	  88 Earth days	
C.	225 Earth days	
D.	243 Earth days	

____	4.	In the picture of Earth below, the United States is in the center. As Earth rotates, the position of the United States in this picture moves.

How often would the United States be in the same position in this picture again?

A.	about every 12 hours	
B.	about every 24 hours	
C.	about every 6 months	
D.	about every 12 months	

____	5.	Miranda is studying the planet Neptune. Miranda wants to know how long a year is on Neptune. Which question should Miranda ask to find out the length of Neptune’s year?
A.	How far does Neptune travel during its orbit?	
B.	How much is Neptune’s axis of rotation tilted?	
C.	How long does it take Neptune to orbit the sun?	
D.	How long does it take Neptune to rotate on its axis?	

____	6.	Jackie drew the diagram below to show how Earth moves around the sun.

Which movement of Earth is Jackie demonstrating?

A.	revolution	
B.	rotation	
C.	spin	
D.	tilt	

____	7.	The length of a year is different for each planet in the solar system. How many days are in an Earth year?
A.	235 days	
B.	265 days	
C.	335 days	
D.	365 1/4 days	

____	8.	In the diagram below, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun.

Which statement is true about the solar energy received when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun?

A.	The Northern Hemisphere receives less direct solar energy and is cooler.	
B.	The Northern Hemisphere receives less direct solar energy and is warmer.	
C.	The Northern Hemisphere receives more direct solar energy and is cooler.	
D.	The Northern Hemisphere receives more direct solar energy and is warmer.	

____	9.	Vesna drew a diagram of Earth to show how it is tilted on its axis. 

Vesna wants to include the label of Earth’s tilt on her diagram. What angle should Vesna add?

A.	15.5 degrees	
B.	23.5 degrees	
C.	30 degrees	
D.	45 degrees	

____	10.	The Northern Hemisphere receives higher amounts of solar energy during one half the year than it does during the other half of the year. Which change happens during the year to explain this?
A.	the distance of Earth from the sun	
B.	the angle that sunlight reaches Earth	
C.	the angle that Earth is tilted on its axis	
D.	the amount of energy produced by the sun	

____	11.	A region on Earth’s surface always has the highest temperatures in June and the lowest temperatures in December. Which of these statements explains why the temperatures are highest in June?
A.	This region is tilted the most toward the sun in June.	
B.	This region is the nearest distance from the sun in June.	
C.	This region is the farthest distance from the sun in June.	
D.	This region is tilted the farthest away from the sun in June.	

____	12.	The tilt of Earth at four different times throughout the year is shown in the diagram below.

At which point would the United States receive the fewest hours of daylight?

A.	position A	
B.	position B	
C.	position C	
D.	position D	

____	13.	The part of Earth that is tilted toward the sun changes throughout the year, as shown in the diagram below.

In which position is Earth when the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer?

A.	position A	
B.	position B	
C.	position C	
D.	position D	

____	14.	In January, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. What season is it in the Southern Hemisphere in January?
A.	fall	
B.	spring	
C.	summer	
D.	winter	

____	15.	Which of the following is not a common characteristic of winter compared to summer?
A.	noon sun lower in the sky	
B.	lower daytime temperatures	
C.	more daily hours of sunlight	
D.	shorter days and longer nights	

____	16.	Chang drew the diagram below to show that Earth’s axis of rotation is not perpendicular, but tilted.

Which of the following does the tilt of the axis of rotation best explain?

A.	why Earth has tides	
B.	how long an Earth day is	
C.	how long an Earth year is	
D.	why Earth has seasons	

____	17.	In the Northern Hemisphere, one day each year has the longest period of daylight and the shortest night. What is this day?
A.	winter solstice	
B.	vernal equinox	
C.	summer solstice	
D.	autumnal equinox	

____	18.	Which characteristic separates one season from another?

A.	a change in precipitation only	
B.	a change in temperature only	
C.	a significant change in wind direction	
D.	a pattern of recurring weather conditions	

____	19.	Which of these statements best describes tides?
A.	a water level lower than the average water level	
B.	a water level higher than the average water level	
C.	changes in water level that happen when Earth, the sun, and the moon form a straight line	
D.	the periodic rise and fall of water levels in the oceans and other large bodies of water	

____	20.	Which term describes the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans and other large bodies of water?
A.	current	
B.	neap	
C.	tide	
D.	wave	

____	21.	Zach is visiting Hilo, Hawaii. He wants to collect seashells, and the local people tell him that the best time to collect shells is at low tide. According to the diagram below, at what time should Zach collect shells?

A.	9:00 a.m.	
B.	noon	
C.	3:00 p.m.	
D.	7:00 p.m.	

____	22.	The figures below show a location in the Bay of Fundy at three different times of day.

What is happening in figure 1?
A.	low tide	
B.	high tide	
C.	tidal wave	
D.	tidal bulge	

____	23.	Taylor and Jose pulled their boat up onto the beach and went on a hike. When they returned, the beach was covered by water and the boat was floating offshore. What happened?
A.	low tide	
B.	high tide	
C.	tidal wave	
D.	tidal bulge	

____	24.	What happens during high tide?
A.	The tidal range is at its minimum in a location.	
B.	The tidal range is at its maximum in a location.	
C.	The water level in the ocean rises to above average water level.	
D.	The water level in the ocean drops to below average water level.	

____	25.	The diagram below shows the alignment of the sun, the moon, and Earth.

In which locations are high tides taking place?
A.	1 and 2	
B.	1 and 3	
C.	2 and 4	
D.	3 and 4	

____	26.	What causes tides?
A.	density differences in ocean water	
B.	heat from the sun, which causes winds	
C.	underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides	
D.	the gravitational pull of the moon on the water at Earth’s surface	

____	27.	Which gravitational pull has the greatest effect on tides?
A.	the sun’s gravitational pull on Earth	
B.	the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth	
C.	Earth’s gravitational pull on the moon	
D.	the sun’s gravitational pull on the moon	

____	28.	The diagrams below show processes that take place on Earth. Which diagram illustrates what causes tides?
A.		
B.		
C.		
D.		

____	29.	The figure below illustrates ocean water levels in a location on the Florida coast. 

What is the tidal range in this location?
A.	–1 m	
B.	  0 m	
C.	+1 m	
D.	  2 m	

____	30.	The graph below shows tides in Boston Harbor. 

Which statement best explains the shift in times of high and low tides each day?
A.	The moon rises and sets later each day.	
B.	The sun rises and sets later each day.	
C.	The moon rises and sets earlier each day.	
D.	The sun rises and sets earlier each day.	

____	31.	What is tidal range?
A.	the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans	
B.	a tide of minimum range that takes place two times a month	
C.	the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and at low tide	
D.	a rise in ocean water levels that takes place on the side of Earth nearest the moon	

____	32.	The table below shows a tide chart from a location in Canada.
Date	High tide time	High tide height (m)	Low tide time	Low tide height (m)	
June 3	6:04 a.m.	6.11	12:01 a.m.	1.76	
June 4	6:58 a.m.	5.92	12:54 a.m.	1.87	
June 5	7:51 a.m.	5.80	1:47 a.m.	1.90	
June 6	8:42 a.m.	5.75	2:38 a.m.	1.87	
June 7	9:30 a.m.	5.79	3:27 a.m.	1.75	
June 8	10:16 a.m.	5.90	4:13 a.m.	1.56	
June 9	11:01 a.m.	6.08	4:59 a.m.	1.32	
June 10	11:46 a.m.	6.28	5:44 a.m.	1.05	
June 11	12:32 p.m.	6:47	6:30 a.m.	0.78	

What was the tidal range on June 7?

A.	1.75 m	
B.	4.04 m	
C.	5.79 m	
D.	7.54 m	

____	33.	Maureen measured the water level of the ocean at high tide and at low tide every day near her home in Florida. The table below shows her results.
Date	High tide time	High tide height (m)	Low tide time	Low tide height (m)	
June 3	6:04 a.m.	6.11	12:01 a.m.	1.76	
June 4	6:58 a.m.	5.92	12:54 a.m.	1.87	
June 5	7:51 a.m.	5.80	1:47 a.m.	1.90	
June 6	8:42 a.m.	5.75	2:38 a.m.	1.87	
June 7	9:30 a.m.	5.79	3:27 a.m.	1.75	
June 8	10:16 a.m.	5.90	4:13 a.m.	1.56	
June 9	11:01 a.m.	6.08	4:59 a.m.	1.32	
June 10	11:46 a.m.	6.28	5:44 a.m.	1.05	
June 11	12:32 p.m.	6.47	6:30 a.m.	0.78	

On which day did a spring tide most likely take place?

A.	June 3	
B.	June 6	
C.	June 9	
D.	June 11	

____	34.	Which statement best describes a spring tide?
A.	the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans	
B.	a tide of maximum range that takes place two times a month	
C.	the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and at low tide	
D.	a rise in ocean water levels that takes place on the side of Earth nearest the moon	

____	35.	Which statement best describes a neap tide?
A.	the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans	
B.	a tide of minimum range that takes place two times a month	
C.	the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and at low tide	
D.	a rise in ocean water levels that takes place on the side of Earth nearest the moon	

____	36.	How often do spring tides take place?
A.	once a day	
B.	twice a day	
C.	once a month	
D.	twice a month	

____	37.	How often do neap tides take place?
A.	twice a day	
B.	twice a week	
C.	twice a month	
D.	twice a year	

____	38.	The diagrams below show the alignment of the sun, the moon, and Earth. Which diagram shows an alignment in which spring tides take place?
A.		
B.		
C.		
D.		

____	39.	The diagrams below show the alignment of the sun, the moon, and Earth. Which diagram shows an alignment in which neap tides take place?
A.		
B.		
C.		
D.		

____	40.	During which two phases of the moon do neap tides take place?
A.	new moon, full moon	
B.	new moon, first quarter moon	
C.	third quarter moon, full moon	
D.	first quarter moon, third quarter moon	

____	41.	The tide table below shows the tidal range for a beach in Canada.
Date	High tide time	High tide height (m)	Low tide time	Low tide height (m)	
June 3	6:04 a.m.	6.11	12:01 a.m.	1.76	
June 4	6:58 a.m.	5.92	12:54 a.m.	1.87	
June 5	7:51 a.m.	5.80	1:47 a.m.	1.90	
June 6	8:42 a.m.	5.75	2:38 a.m.	1.87	
June 7	9:30 a.m.	5.79	3:27 a.m.	1.75	
June 8	10:16 a.m.	5.90	4:13 a.m.	1.56	
June 9	11:01 a.m.	6.08	4:59 a.m.	1.32	
June 10	11:46 a.m.	6.28	5:44 a.m.	1.05	
June 11	12:32 p.m.	6.47	6:30 a.m.	0.78	

Which event that happened on June 6 takes place only twice a month?
A.	low tide	
B.	high tide	
C.	neap tide	
D.	spring tide	

____	42.	Cassie is writing an equation to show the effect of the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon on tidal range. Which equation would Cassie use to show the effect of the sun and the moon on spring tides?
A.	sun + moon = spring tides	
B.	sun + Earth = spring tides	
C.	moon – sun = spring tides	
D.	Earth – moon = spring tides	

____	43.	Roman is writing an equation to show the effect of the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon on tidal range. Which equation would Roman use to show the effect of the sun and the moon on neap tides?
A.	sun + moon = neap tides	
B.	sun + Earth = neap tides	
C.	moon – sun = neap tides	
D.	Earth – moon = neap tides	

____	44.	When Earth, the sun, and the moon align to form a right angle, which type of tide takes place?
A.	low tide	
B.	high tide	
C.	neap tide	
D.	spring tide	

____	45.	The phases of the moon are the regular changes in how the moon looks from Earth. In which phase is the moon not visible from Earth?
A.	new moon	
B.	waxing gibbous	
C.	waxing crescent	
D.	waning crescent	

____	46.	Just as Earth moves around the sun, the moon revolves around Earth. About how many Earth days does it take for the moon to travel around Earth?
A.	about 7 days	
B.	about 27 days	
C.	about 180 days	
D.	about 365 days	

____	47.	The cycle of the moon’s phases repeats in a predictable way. About how long does it take to cycle from one new moon to the next new moon?
A.	about one day	
B.	about one week	
C.	about one month	
D.	about one year	

____	48.	A satellite is an object that revolves around a larger object. Many satellites are orbiting Earth. Which of the following is an important factor in keeping a communications satellite in orbit around Earth?
A.	gravity	
B.	heat	
C.	light	
D.	magnetism	

____	49.	The phases of the moon are the changing appearances of the moon as seen from Earth. Which phase happens immediately after a third quarter moon?
A.	new moon	
B.	waxing gibbous	
C.	waning gibbous	
D.	waning crescent	

____	50.	The phases of the moon are the changing appearances of the moon as seen from Earth. Which solar system event can happen only during a full moon?
A.	a new moon	
B.	a solar eclipse	
C.	a lunar eclipse	
D.	a waning gibbous	

____	51.	Occasionally, one space object travels through the shadow of another space object. When the moon moves between the sun and Earth and casts a shadow on Earth, which solar system event is taking place?
A.	a full moon	
B.	a new moon	
C.	a solar eclipse	
D.	a lunar eclipse	

____	52.	The phases of the moon 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?
A.	full moon	
B.	new moon	
C.	first quarter moon	
D.	third quarter moon	

____	53.	The moon revolves around Earth. The moon travels at a speed of about 1 km/s. Which of the following keeps the moon in orbit around Earth?
A.	gravity	
B.	magnetism	
C.	ocean tides	
D.	the sun’s heat and light	

____	54.	Although half of the moon is always illuminated, usually only a portion of the illuminated side is visible from Earth. The diagram below presents the relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon. The positions of the moon are labeled 1–8.

Which of the moons in the figure are waxing moons?

A.	2 and 4	
B.	2 and 8	
C.	4 and 6	
D.	6 and 8	

____	55.	Although half of the moon is always illuminated, usually only a portion of the illuminated side is visible from Earth. The diagram below presents the relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon. The positions of the moon are labeled 1–8.

Which of the moons in the figure are in a gibbous phase?

A.	2 and 4	
B.	2 and 8	
C.	4 and 6	
D.	6 and 8	

____	56.	Space bodies, such as Earth and its moon, are not stationary. Rather, they are moving at a rapid speed. The diagrams below show the relative movements of the sun (S), Earth (E), and the moon (M). Which diagram best represents the motion of Earth and the moon, relative to the sun?
A.		
B.		
C.		
D.		

____	57.	The diagram below shows the relative positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun. The moon is shown at four possible positions around Earth.

Which position of the moon could result in a solar eclipse?

A.	1	
B.	2	
C.	3	
D.	4	

____	58.	The diagram below shows the relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon.

Which part of the diagram is labeled X?

A.	the umbra	
B.	the eclipse	
C.	the satellite	
D.	the penumbra	

____	59.	What solar system event takes place when Earth, the sun, and the moon are aligned as shown in the diagram below?

Which solar system event is happening?
A.	a solar eclipse	
B.	a lunar eclipse	
C.	a first quarter moon	
D.	a third quarter moon	

____	60.	The diagram below shows what happens during a solar system event. 

Which part of the diagram is labeled Y?

A.	the umbra	
B.	the eclipse	
C.	the satellite	
D.	the penumbra