Quiz 5 Practice

Question 1

Moon

Answer 1

The Earth’s only Moon.

Question 2

Phases

Answer 2

Moon passes through a full set of phases over
the course of each month

Question 3

Waxing

Answer 3

• As the Moon orbits from new to full
• Greater portion of the visible side of the Moon is illuminated each day

Question 4

Waning

Answer 4

• As the Moon orbits from full to new
• Less of the visible side of the Moon is illuminated each day

Question 5

Crescent

Answer 5

When the Moon is less than half illuminated

Question 6

Gibbous

Answer 6

When the Moon is half or more than half illuminated

Question 7

Hemisphere

Question 8

Vernal and autumnal equinox

Answer 8

Earth is tilted neither towards nor away from the Sun twice a year; Sun is directly over the equator on equinoxes

Question 9

Winter and summer solstice

Answer 9

Summer and winter solstices occur when the Earth is tilted maximally towards or away from the sun

Question 10

Eclipse

Answer 10

Cccurs when a second object passes into the shadow formed by a solid object passing in front of the Sun

Question 11

Umbra

Answer 11

The darkest part of this shadow is known as the umbra

Question 12

Penumbra

Answer 12

The lighter part is known as the penumbra

Question 13

Solar eclipse

Answer 13

Solar eclipse: Sun looks weird
* Moon blocks out Sunlight.

Question 14

Lunar eclipse

Answer 14

Lunar eclipse: Moon looks weird
* Earth blocks some sunlight and discolors Moon

Question 15

Nebula

Answer 15

The birthplace of stars; contains clouds of gas and dust; is the mass many times of a star

Question 16

Gravitational collapse (runaway)

Answer 16

When the nebula undergoes a small compression and medium clumps start to form

Question 17

Protostar

Answer 17

The beginning stages of a formation of a star through the collapse of a nebula

Question 18

Snow line

Answer 18

The distance from a central protostar at which ice grains can form

Question 19

Protoplanetary disk

Answer 19

When the remaining particles of a protostar clump together

Question 20

Heavy bombardment

Answer 20

period of Solar System history when planet-sized projectiles were flying through the Solar System, causing many impacts

Question 21

Meteor

Answer 21

Meteors—which are typically pieces of comet dust no larger than a grain of rice—burn up before reaching the ground

Question 22

Meteorite

Answer 22

When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite

Question 23

Geologic activity

Answer 23

Geological activity is measured through volcanoes, earthquakes, and tectonic movements (water, and wind too!)

Question 24

What causes Moon phases?

Answer 24

The Sun illuminates only half of the Moon at one time. The Moon’s position relative to the Earth and Sun causes the change in illumination.

Question 25

Why do Earthlings only see one side of the Moon?

Answer 25

Because of synchronous rotation (the Moon rotates at the same rate as it orbits Earth)

Question 26

What causes seasons?

Answer 26

The combination of Earth’s tilted rotation and its orbit around the Sun The tilt of Earth’s rotation means that the amount of sunlight a particular location receives depends on the time of year

Question 27

When are the equinoxes and solstices?

Answer 27

Autumnal Equinox: September 21st Winter Solstice: December 21st Vernal Equinox: March 21st Summer Solstice: June 21st

Question 28

How can we calculate how high the Sun goes in the sky (altitude) on the equinoxes and solstices?

Answer 28

* EQUINOXES: Equinox altitude = 90o - latitude * SUMMER SOLSTICE Maximum altitude = equinox altitude + 23.5o: * WINTER SOLSTICE: Minimum altitude = equinox altitude - 23.5o

Question 29

What phase must the Moon be in for a solar eclipse? A lunar eclipse?

Answer 29

Solar eclipse: New Moon because New Moon occurs when the Moon is between the Earth and Sun Lunar eclipse: Full Moon because Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between Moon and Sun

Question 30

How did the Sun form?

Answer 30

The collapse of a nebula causes particles to move inwards and the central region of the nebula becomes dense and hot. As the nebula continues to collapse, it rotates and the objects around the protostar flatten

Question 31

How did the planets form?

Answer 31

The planets form from the remaining mass of the collapsed nebula

Question 32

How did the Moon form?

Answer 32

The Moon is theorized to have formed from a chunk of the Earth that was separated during the heavy bombardment period

Question 33

What evidence do we have for the Heavy Bombardment period?

Answer 33

(1) Venus' 180-degree tilt (2) Uranus' 90-degree tilt (3) Craters on the Moon and the rocky planets

Question 34

What can the presence or lack of craters tell us about a planet/moon?

Answer 34

Where we see craters: Heavy bombardment has not been erased (geologically dead/inactive) Where we do NOT see craters: Heavy bombardment has been erased (geologically active)