Question 1: What condition is necessary for a solar eclipse to occur?
a. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly away from the sun.
b. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly toward the sun.
c. A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth passes through the moon's umbra.
d. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the earth's umbra.
e. Does not exist because the earth is flat.
Answer: b. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly toward the sun.
Question 2: What is the phase of the moon that occurs after the waxing quarter and before the full moon?
a. The waning crescent moon.
b. The waning gibbous moon.
c. The waning quarter moon.
d. The waxing crescent moon.
e. The waxing gibbous moon.
Answer: e. The waxing gibbous moon.
Question 3: What is the penumbra of a planet or moon?
a. The lighter shadow of a planet or moon around the umbra that is on the opposite side from the sun.
b. A thing that only occurs during a solar eclipse.
c. Does not exist because the earth is flat.
d. A thing that only occurs during a lunar eclipse.
e. The dark cone shaped shadow of a planet or moon that is on the opposite side from the sun.
Answer: a. The lighter shadow of a planet or moon around the umbrathat is on the opposite side from the sun.
Question 4: How long does it take the earth's rotation axis to complete one full precession cycle?
a. 12 months.
b. 24 hours.
c. 10,000 years.
d. The earth's rotation axis does not precess.
e. Approximately 26,000 years.
Answer: e. Approximately 26,000 years.
Question 7: What time of the day are you likely to see a waning crescent moon most directly overhead?
a. About 12:00 am around midnight.
b. About 9:00 pm in the late evening.
c. About 9:00 am in the mid-morning.
d. About 6:00 pm around dusk.
e. About 3:00 pm in the late afternoon.
Answer: a. About 12:00 am around midnight.
Question 8: What is the orientation of the earth during the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere?
a. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly toward the sun.
b. The equator lies completely in the plane of the solar system.
c. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly away from the sun.
d. The earth is as far as possible from the sun.
e. The earth is behind the moon which blocks the light from the sun.
Answer: a. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly toward the sun.
Question 9: What is theorientation of the earth during the spring and fall equinoxes?
a. The northern and southern hemispheres receive equal amounts of direct sunlight.
b. The tilt of the earth's rotation axis with respect to the ecliptic plane goes to zero.
c. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly away from the sun.
d. The north rotation axis is tilted most directly toward the sun.
e. The earth reverses its magnetic poles.
Answer: a. The northern and southern hemispheres receive equal amounts of direct sunlight.
Question 10: What is the phase of the moon that occurs halfway after the full moon and before the new moon?
a. The waning quarter moon.
b. The waning gibbous moon.
c. The waning crescent moon.
d. The waxing crescent moon.
e. The waxing gibbous moon.
Answer: c. The waning crescent moon