Earth and Space Science

Question 1

What is the term for the Earth’s spinning on its axis?

Answer 1

Rotation

Question 2

How long does one full rotation of the Earth take?

Answer 2

24 hours

Question 3

What is the imaginary line running between the North and South poles called?

Answer 3

Axis

Question 4

What occurs when a location on Earth is in sunlight?

Answer 4

Daytime

Question 5

What occurs when a location on Earth is in shadow?

Answer 5

Night

Question 6

When does a day officially start?

Answer 6

Midnight (12:00 am)

Question 7

What is the tilt of the Earth?

Answer 7

23.5°

Question 8

From which direction does the Sun appear to rise?

Answer 8

East

Question 9

From which direction does the Sun appear to set?

Answer 9

West

Question 10

What is the term for the time of day when the Sun rises?

Answer 10

Dawn

Question 11

What is the term for the time of day when the Sun sets?

Answer 11

Dusk

Question 12

What is the definition of the horizon?

Answer 12

The point where the sky appears to meet the land or the sea

Question 13

What causes temperature changes during the day?

Answer 13

The position of the Sun in the sky

Question 14

True or False: The Moon produces its own light.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

What is the term for the Moon’s rotation time around Earth?

Answer 15

27.3 days

Question 16

What is synchronous rotation?

Answer 16

The Moon takes the same time to orbit Earth as it does to rotate once

Question 17

What does waxing mean in relation to the Moon?

Answer 17

Increasing light, decreasing shadow

Question 18

What does waning mean in relation to the Moon?

Answer 18

Decreasing light, increasing shadow

Question 19

How long does it take for the Moon to complete a cycle of phases?

Answer 19

29.5 days

Question 20

What causes the Moon to rise and set an hour later each day?

Answer 20

Earth’s movement in its orbit around the Sun

Question 21

What occurs when Earth, the Moon, and the Sun align?

Answer 21

Full moon

Question 22

What are tides affected by?

Answer 22

Gravitational force of the Moon and the Sun

Question 23

What is a high tide?

Answer 23

Water bulging towards the Moon due to its gravity

Question 24

What is a low tide?

Answer 24

Regions halfway between the high tides experiencing less water

Question 25

What are spring tides?

Answer 25

Higher high tides and lower low tides when Earth, Moon, and Sun align

Question 26

What are neap tides?

Answer 26

Smallest difference between high tide and low tide

Question 27

What is a solar eclipse?

Answer 27

When the Moon blocks the light from the Sun

Question 28

What is the term for the alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun during a solar eclipse?

Answer 28

Syzygy

Question 29

What is the umbra during a solar eclipse?

Answer 29

The dark central part of the shadow

Question 30

What is the penumbra during a solar eclipse?

Answer 30

The lightly shaded area on Earth

Question 31

What occurs during a lunar eclipse?

Answer 31

Earth’s shadow blocks the light travelling to the Moon

Question 32

True or False: A solar eclipse is a more common event than a lunar eclipse.

Answer 32

False

Question 33

What happens during a total lunar eclipse?

Answer 33

The full moon moves into Earth’s shadow

Question 34

What is the difference between solar and lunar eclipses?

Answer 34

Solar eclipses occur during the day; lunar eclipses occur at night