Middle School Earth and Space Science : Middle School Earth and Space Science

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Middle School Earth and Space Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #10 : Determine The Next Phase In A Lunar Cycle

Which of the following images best represents a waning gibbous?

Possible Answers:

Screen shot 2020 07 29 at 1.03.36 pm

Screen shot 2020 07 29 at 1.03.39 pm

Screen shot 2020 07 29 at 1.03.33 pm

Screen shot 2020 07 29 at 1.03.30 pm

Correct answer:

Screen shot 2020 07 29 at 1.03.33 pm

Explanation:

The moon generates no light of its own. It can be seen because it reflects the light from the sun. Though it does not always appear so from Earth, half of the moon is always illuminated, and the other half is always in darkness. However, as the moon orbits the Earth, its position in relation to the Earth and the sun changes, and more or less of the illuminated side may be seen from Earth. These different views are called “phases of the moon.”

  1. New moon: When the moon is directly between the sun and the Earth, the side of the moon facing the Earth is in darkness; hence, it is not visible in the sky. The light from the sun reflects off the moon back toward the sun; not toward Earth. This phase is called the new moon.

  2. Waxing crescent: As the moon continues to move in its orbit around the Earth, a sliver of the illuminated side of the moon becomes visible. This phase is called the waxing crescent. (To wax is to increase.)

  3. First quarter: When the moon has completed one quarter of its orbit around the Earth, it makes a right angle with the Earth and the sun. One half of the moon is still illuminated by the sun, and the other half is still in darkness. However, from the Earth, the moon now appears to be a half circle. This phase is called the first quarter.

  1. Waxing gibbous: As the moon continues in its orbit, the portion of the illuminated side of the moon visible from the Earth continues to increase. When the moon appears to be more than a half moon but less than a full moon, it is called a gibbous moon. At this point in its orbit, the moon appears to be growing, so this phase is called a waxing gibbous.

  2. Full moon: When the moon has completed one half of its orbit around the Earth, it is almost in a straight line with the Earth and the sun. The entire side of the moon that faces Earth is illuminated. This phase is called a full moon.

  3. Waning gibbous: The darkened side of the moon begins to reappear to observers after the full moon. This phase is called a waning gibbous. The moon is described as waning when it appears to grow smaller. (To wane is to decrease.)

  4. Third quarter: When the moon has completed three‐quarters of its orbit around the Earth, it again makes a right angle with the Earth and the sun. This phase is called the third quarter or last quarter.

  5. Waning crescent: As the moon’s orbit continues, the moon appears as a crescent shape once again. Since it appears to grow smaller, this phase is called a waning crescent.

  6. New Moon again: The darkened area continues to grow larger until no portion of the illuminated moon can be seen. The moon has returned to the new moon phase.

Example Question #1 : Define Planets, Solar Systems, And Galaxies

Which of the following images best represents a galaxy?

Possible Answers:

Screen shot 2020 06 19 at 3.21.39 pm

Screen shot 2020 06 19 at 2.51.36 pm

Screen shot 2020 06 19 at 2.51.10 pm

Screen shot 2020 06 19 at 3.11.58 pm

Correct answer:

Screen shot 2020 06 19 at 2.51.10 pm

Explanation:

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Example Question #101 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

Which of the following lists celestial bodies in order from smallest to largest?

Possible Answers:

star, planet, solar system, galaxy, universe

planet, star, solar system, galaxy, universe

planet, galaxy, solar system, star, universe

planet, solar system, star, galaxy, universe

Correct answer:

planet, star, solar system, galaxy, universe

Explanation:

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Example Question #102 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

Which of the following best defines the term "galaxy?"

Possible Answers:

 ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes it glow

a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets

a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star

Correct answer:

a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Explanation:

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Example Question #103 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

Which of the following terms is defined as, "a ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of is extremely hot and produces energy"?

Possible Answers:

a gas planet

a star

a galaxy

a nebula

Correct answer:

a star

Explanation:

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

 

Example Question #104 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

Which of the following is the primary difference between a planet and a moon?

Possible Answers:

all of these

planets are part of the solar system but moons are part of the asteroid belt

a planet rotates and a moon does not

none of these

a planet revolves around a star and a moon revolves around a planet

Correct answer:

a planet revolves around a star and a moon revolves around a planet

Explanation:

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Example Question #105 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

Which of the following answer choices is a satellite that orbits a planet and reflects light from a star?

Possible Answers:

an asteroid

a star

another planet

a moon

Correct answer:

a moon

Explanation:

The answer is "a moon" because moons revolve around planets.

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Example Question #106 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

Where would a new star likely form?

Possible Answers:

in a pulsar

in a supernova

inside a blackhole

in a nebula

Correct answer:

in a nebula

Explanation:

The answer is "in a nebula" because a nebula is a cloud of interstellar dust, hydrogen and helium, the components of star.

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Example Question #107 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

Which of the following is the best description of the Milky Way Galaxy?

Possible Answers:

a collection of planets that rotates around a single star

a type of nebula

the portion of space filled with asteroids just past Jupiter

a spiral shaped cloud of billions of stars

Correct answer:

a spiral shaped cloud of billions of stars

Explanation:

The answer is "a spiral shaped cloud of billions of stars."

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

Example Question #108 : Middle School Earth And Space Science

What characteristics are shared by the first four planets in our solar system?

Possible Answers:

They all have many moons.

They have similar length of day.

They are solid and rocky. 

They are large and gaseous.

Correct answer:

They are solid and rocky. 

Explanation:

The answer is "They are solid and rocky."

Star - A ball of hydrogen gas held together by gravity. The central core of a star is extremely hot and produces energy. Some of this energy is released as visible light, which makes the star glow.
Planet - a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star
Solar System - a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around a star, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
Galaxy - a system of millions or billions of stars and the solar systems within them, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

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