Base your answers to questions 1 and 2 on the diagram below, which shows the Moon, Earth, and the
Sun’s rays as viewed from space. Letter A indicates a certain position of the Moon in its orbit.
1. Which diagram correctly shows the direction of Earth’s rotation and revolution?
A)
B)
C)
D)
2. Which diagram represents the phase of the Moon, as seen by an observer on Earth, when the Moon is
located at position A in its orbit?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Base your answers to questions 3 and 4 on the
4. An observer at location A noticed that the apparent
diagram below, which shows Earth in orbit around
size of the Moon varied slightly from month to month
the Sun, and the Moon in orbit around Earth. M 1, M 2
when the Moon was at position M4 in its orbit. Which
, M 3, and M 4 indicate positions of the Moon in its on
statement best explains this variation in the apparent
Letter A indicates a location on Earth’s surface.
size of the Moon?
A) The Moon expands in summer and contracts in
winter.
B) The Moon shows complete cycles of phases
throughout the year.
C) The Moon’s period of rotation is equal to its
period of revolution.
D) The Moon’s distance from Earth varies in a
cyclic manner.
3. An observer at location A on Earth views the Moon
when it is at position M 3. Which phase of the Moon
will the observer see?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Base your answers to questions 5 through 8 on the diagram below, which shows the Moon at position
1 in its orbit around Earth. Numbers 2 through 8 represent other positions in the Moon's orbit.
5. On the diagram below, shade the portion of the Moon that is in darkness as viewed from New York
State when the Moon is at position 1.
6. Identify one numbered orbital position where the gravitational attraction of the Moon and the Sun
cause Earth to experience the highest high tides.
____________
7. A solar eclipse could occur when the Moon is located at which numbered position?
__________
8. How many days does it take the Moon to go from one full-Moon phase to the next full-Moon phase
when viewed from Earth?
_____________ days
9. Diagram 1 shows the Moon in its orbit at four
positions labeled A, B, C, and D. Diagram 2 shows a
phase of the Moon as viewed from New York State.
At which labeled Moon position would the phase of
the Moon shown in diagram 2 be observed from New
York State?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
10. The diagram below shows the Moon orbiting Earth,
as viewed from space above Earth's North Pole. The
Moon is shown at eight positions in its orbit.
Spring ocean tides occur when the difference in
height between high tide and low tide is greatest. At
which two positions of the Moon will spring tides
occur on Earth?
A) 1 and 5
C) 3 and 7
B) 2 and 6
D) 4 and 8
11. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. The diagram represents the Moon at different positions, labeled A, B, C, and D, in its orbit
around Earth.
During which Moon phase could an observer on Earth see a lunar eclipse occur?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Base your answers to questions 12 and 13 on
the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon in
eight positions, A through H, in its orbit around Earth.
12. How many days are required for the Moon to complete a cycle of phases from the new Moon position
represented in the diagram to the new Moon the following month?
A) 2.2 d
B) 27.3 d
C) 29.5 d
D) 365.26 d
13. Which Moon phase is observed in New York State when the Moon is located at position F?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Base your answers to questions 14 through 16 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth
science. The diagram represents eight numbered positions of the Moon in its orbit around Earth.
14. Which phase of the Moon will be observed in New York State when the Moon is at position 8?
A)
B)
C)
D)
15. A solar eclipse might be observed from Earth when the Moon is at which position?
A) 1
B) 5
C) 3
D) 7
16. Which two motions cause the Moon to show a complete cycle of phases each month when viewed
from New York State?
A)
B)
C)
D)
the Moon’s rotation and Earth’s rotation
the Moon’s revolution and Earth’s rotation
the Moon’s rotation and the Sun’s rotation
the Moon’s revolution and the Sun’s rotation
Base your answers to questions 17 and 18 on the diagram below, which has lettered arrows showing
the motions of Earth and the Moon.
17. Which two motions are completed in about the same amount of time?
A) A and B
B) B and C
C) C and D
D) A and D
18. Which lettered arrow represents the motion that causes the Moon to show phases when view from
Earth
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
Base your answers to questions 19 through 21 on
the calendar below, which shows the month of July of a recent year. The dates of major Moon phases,
as seen in New York State, are shown.
The diagram below represents the phase of the Moon observed from New York State one night during
the month of July.
19. On which date was this phase of the Moon visible from New York State?
A) July 4
B) July 11
C) July 19
D) July 26
20. Why does the Moon's gravity have a greater effect on Earth's ocean tides than the Sun's gravity?
A) The Sun is composed mostly of gases.
B) The Sun's gravity influences more planets.
C) The Moon has a greater mass.
D) The Moon is much closer to Earth.
21. On which date will the next first-quarter Moon phase occur?
A) August 6
B) August 10
C) August 16
D) August 22
22. Which diagram sequence correctly shows the order of Moon phases, as viewed from Earth, for a
period of 1 month? [Note that some phases have been omitted.]
A)
B)
C)
D)
23. One complete cycle of the phases of the Moon takes
approximately one
A) day
B) week
C) month
D) year
24. Which sequence of Moon phases could be observed
from Earth during a 2-week period?
A)
26. The diagram below shows the Moon at four
positions in its orbit around Earth as viewed from
above the North Pole. The date of one of the four
positions has been labeled.
B)
C)
D)
25. The diagram below represents the Moon in its orbit,
as viewed from above Earth's North Pole. Position 1
represents a specific location of the Moon in its
orbit.
Which photograph shows the appearance of the
Moon as viewed by an observer in
New York State on May 17, 2000?
A)
B)
C)
Which phase of the Moon will be seen from Earth
when the Moon is at position 1?
A)
B)
C)
D)
D)
Base your answers to questions 27 through 29 on the diagram below, which shows positions of the
Moon in its orbit and phases of the Moon as viewed from New York State.
27. Which statement best explains why the same side of the Moon is viewed from Earth as the Moon
goes through its phases?
A) The Moon does not rotate as it revolves around Earth.
B) The Moon's period of rotation equals Earth's period of rotation.
C) The Moon's period of rotation equals Earth's period of revolution around the Sun.
D) The Moon's period of rotation equals the Moon's period of revolution around Earth.
28. During which Moon phase might a solar eclipse be viewed on Earth?
A) new Moon
B) first quarter
C) full Moon
D) last quarter
29. Approximately how many days occur between the Moon’s first-quarter phase and the Moon’s
last-quarter phase?
A) 7 d
B) 15 d
C) 29.5 d
30. How many days are required for the Moon to go
from one full-Moon phase to the next full-Moon
phase when viewed from Earth?
A) 24
B) 27.3 C) 29.5 D) 365
D) 365.26 d
31. The diagram below shows the Moon as it revolves around Earth. The numbered locations represent
different positions of the Moon in its orbit.
Which Moon phase would be seen by an observer in New York State when the Moon is at position
2?
A)
B)
C)
32. The diagram below represents eight positions of the
Moon in its orbit.
D)
33. The time required for the Moon to show a complete
cycle of phases when viewed from Earth is
approximately
A) 1 day
C) 1 month
Why are high tides on Earth greatest when the Moon
is in position A and in position E?
A)
B)
C)
D)
The Moon is closer to the Sun.
The Moon is closer to Earth.
The Moon, the Sun, and Earth are aligned.
The Moon is in the same phase at both
locations.
B) 1 week
D) 1 year
34. The photographs below show the surface of the Moon as seen from Earth over an 80-minute period
during a single night.
Which motion is responsible for this changing appearance of the Moon?
A) The Moon moves into the shadow of Earth.
B) The Moon moves into the shadow of the Sun.
C) The Sun moves into the shadow of Earth.
D) The Sun moves into the shadow of the Moon.
35. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which shows Earth and the Moon
in relation to the Sun. Positions A, B, C, and D show the Moon at specific locations in its orbit. Point
X is a location on Earth's surface.
Which phase of the Moon would be observed on Earth when the Moon is at location A?
A)
B)
C)
D)
36. The diagram below shows the Moon at one position in its orbit around Earth. Letter Xindicates the
location of an observer in New York State.
Which phase of the Moon will the observer see when the Moon is at the position shown in its orbit?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Answer Key
Moon Phases
1.
C
30.
C
2.
A
31.
B
3.
C
32.
C
4.
D
33.
C
34.
A
35.
A
36.
B
5.
6.
4 or 8
7.
8
8.
29 d to 30 d
9.
B
10.
A
11.
D
12.
C
13.
A
14.
C
15.
A
16.
B
17.
C
18.
D
19.
C
20.
D
21.
A
22.
B
23.
C
24.
C
25.
D
26.
B
27.
D
28.
A
29.
B