Earth, Sun, and Moon
All about the earth
The Galaxy and Universe
Kepler
Random
100
What is most likely to occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned in a relatively straight line
A a decrease in global wind patterns
B an increase in temperature near the equator
C more earthquakes near the equator and fewer at the poles
D a larger-than-normal height difference between low tide and high tide
What is D a larger-than-normal height difference between low tide and high tide?
100
The temperate zones of the United States experience changing of seasons from winter to summer. Which is the reason for this annual change of seasons
A the rotation of Earth on its axis
B the tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation
C the distance of Earth from the Sun
D the size and orbit of the Moon around Earth
What is B the tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation
100
Which number is closest to the estimated number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy
A 200 thousand
B 200 million
C 200 billion
D 200 trillion
What is C 200 billion?
100
A new planet is discovered orbiting a single star. The planet has one moon. According to Kepler’s first law, what do scientists know about the orbit of the planet around the star
A The orbit is circular with the star at the center of the circle.
B The orbit is elliptical with the star at one focus of the ellipse.
C The planet takes 12 times longer to orbit the star than the moon takes to orbit the planet.
D The planet orbits the star in a direction opposite to the direction of the moon’s orbit of the planet.
What is B The orbit is elliptical with the star at one focus of the ellipse?
100
How does the energy produced by the sun travel to Earth
A by the magnetic fields between the sun and Earth
B by the convection of heat through particles in space
C by the radiation of electromagnetic waves through space
D by the process of conduction of heat between the sun and Earth
What is C by the radiation of electromagnetic waves through space?
200
A direct alignment of bodies in the solar system can occur.
This alignment causes which phenomenon at Point X on Earth
A low tides
B full moon
C solar eclipse
D winter season
What is C solar eclipse?
200
If the fission theory of moon formation is true, what is also true about the motion of Earth in its formative stages
A Early Earth rotated on its axis much more slowly than it does today.
B Early Earth rotated on its axis much more quickly than it does today.
C Early Earth revolved around the Sun much more slowly than it does today.
D Early Earth revolved around the Sun much more quickly than it does today
What is B Early Earth rotated on its axis much more quickly than it does today?
200
What type of galaxy is the Milky Way
A spiral
B elliptical
C irregular
D oval
What is A sprial?
200
Earth travels on an elliptical orbit around the Sun.
When Earth is at the point labeled on the diagram, it moves most quickly in its orbit. Which BEST explains this more rapid motion of Earth
A The amount of solar heat reaching Earth is greatest at this point.
B The Sun’s gravitational pull on Earth is strongest at this point.
C Earth is closest to the Sun’s magnetic field at this point.
D Earth is closest to the Sun’s radioactivity at this poin
What is B The Sun’s gravitational pull on Earth is strongest at this point?
200
Planets further from the sun have an orbit that lasts MUCH longer than planets that are close to the sun.
Pluto's orbit lasts over over 90,000 days.
Mercury's orbit lasts 88 days.
A Kepler's 1st Law
B Kepler's 2nd Law
C Kepler's 3rd Law
D Nutration
What is C Kepler's 3rd Law?
300
Earth’s spherical shape results in an uneven distribution of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface.
This uneven distribution is MOST directly responsible for differences in which climatic variable at different latitudes on Earth’s surface
A wind speed
B temperature
C annual rainfall
D average humidity
What is B temperature?
300
Earth’s rotation spins Earth’s liquid metal outer core around its solid metal inner core. How does this phenomenon make life on Earth possible
A It creates the magnetosphere, which diverts high-energy particles from space away from Earth’s surface.
B It generates enough thermal energy to keep water on Earth liquid, but not so much that the water boils away.
C It generates electrical currents in the atmosphere, which causes lightning to fix atoms of nitrogen into compounds that living things can use.
D It attracts photons and other solar emissions that warm Earth and provide energy for ecosystems.
What is A It creates the magnetosphere, which diverts high-energy particles from space away from Earth’s surface?
300
Which illustration BEST represents the shape of the galaxy that includes the Sun
A
B
C
D
What is C?
300
The figure shows the path of a planet orbiting the Sun. The three areas shaded in gray have equal areas.
According to Kepler’s second law, which conclusion is supported by the data
A The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F are all equal.
B The time interval from A to B is twice the interval from E to F.
C The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F combine to be equal to one half of a full orbit.
D The time intervals from C to D and from E to F combine to be equal to the time interval from A to B
What is A The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F are all equal?
300
The Moon goes through phases as it revolves around Earth. During which phase of the moon would it be possible for a solar eclipse to occur
A new moon
B full moon
C waning crescent
D waxing gibbous
What is A new moon?
400
Some constellations are more prominent in the night sky of North Carolina in winter, while other constellations are more prominent in the night sky in summer. Which best explains why this occurs
A because of Earth’s rotation on its axis
B because of stars revolving around Earth
C because of Earth revolving around the sun
D because of the change in the barycenter of Earth
What is c because of Earth revolving around the sun?
400
Which of these statements best explains the shape of Earth
A Because of its rotation about its axis, Earth has a greater circumference around the equator than around the Prime Meridian.
B Because of its revolution around the sun, Earth has a greater circumference around the equator than around the Prime Meridian.
C Because of its rotation about its axis, Earth has a greater circumference around the Prime Meridian than around the equator.
D Because of its revolution around the sun, Earth has a greater circumference around the Prime Meridian than around the equator
What is A Because of its rotation about its axis, Earth has a greater circumference around the equator than around the Prime Meridian?
400
This illustration shows the sky in an undeveloped area on a clear, dark night.
What is the central glowing region that is brighter than the area around it
A the gas giant planets
B the asteroid belt
C the Milky Way galaxy
D the Orion nebula
What is C the Milky Way galaxy?
400
The planet below is orbiting the Sun. The two sweeps are on opposite sides of the Sun and are labeled t. Though the orbital distance covered in each sweep is different, the time interval for each sweep is the same. Areas A and B are bounded by the arcs of the planet’s sweep in time, t, and the lines between the endpoints of the arc and the center of the Sun.
What is the relationship between Area A and Area B
A Area A is 50% larger than Area B.
B Area A is 50% smaller than Area B.
C Area A is the same size as Area B.
D Area A is twice as big as Area B
What is C Area A is the same size as Area B?
400
How does the latitude of a region affect its climate
A by increasing the length of days throughout the year
B by increasing the amount of energy the land can absorb
C by determining the angle of sunlight throughout the year
D by determining the rate that tectonic plates can move
What is C by determining the angle of sunlight throughout the year?
500
Every day, the Moon rises a little more than a half an hour later than it rose the day before. Which statement BEST explains this phenomenon?
A Earth rotates on its axis as it revolves around the Sun.
B The Moon rotates and revolves around Earth at the same rate.
C One Earth rotation is faster than one Moon revolution around Earth.
D One Moon rotation is slower than one Moon revolution around Earth
What is C One Earth rotation is faster than one Moon revolution around Earth?
500
Mars’ axial tilt is 25.19°. Earth’s axial tilt is 23.5°. What does this MOST likely indicate about Mars
A Mars has more extreme seasonal changes than Earth.
B Mars has less extreme seasonal changes than Earth.
C Mars’ year is longer than Earth’s year.
D Mars’ year is shorter than Earth’s year.
What A Mars has more extreme seasonal changes than Earth?
500
In 2004 the Hubble space telescope captured images of distant star clusters, each containing about a million stars. These star clusters were MOST likely part of which structure
A a black hole
B a galaxy
C a nebula
D a solar system
What is B a galaxy?
500
When Earth orbits around the sun, it slows down when it is close to the sun. It speeds up its orbit when it is further from the sun. This is because the sun's gravity is stronger when you are closer to it
A Kepler's 1st Law
B Kepler's 2nd Law
C Kepler's 3rd Law
D Nutration
What is B Kepler's 2nd Law?
500
The model below shows the apparent path of the Sun
as seen by an observer in New York State on the first
day of one of the four seasons
This apparent path of the Sun was observed on the first day of
A Fall
B Winter
C Spring
D Summer
What is B winter?