1.
What causes the auroras or Northern and Southern lights?
Correct Answer
B. Charged particles from the sun begin to glow as they enter the earth's atmospHere
Explanation
Charged particles from the sun, such as electrons and protons, are responsible for causing the auroras or Northern and Southern lights. These particles are emitted during solar flares or coronal mass ejections and are carried towards the Earth by the solar wind. When they enter the Earth's atmosphere, they collide with gas molecules, causing them to emit light. This phenomenon creates the beautiful and colorful displays known as auroras.
2.
What moon phase would be seen from earth?
Correct Answer
B. Full moon
Explanation
The full moon phase would be seen from Earth. During this phase, the moon is directly opposite the Sun, with its entire illuminated side facing Earth. This results in a bright, fully illuminated moon that is visible throughout the night. The full moon is a significant and easily recognizable phase in the lunar cycle.
3.
How would this galaxy be classified?
Correct Answer
B. Spiral, earth and sun located at point B
Explanation
The classification of the galaxy as spiral is determined by the presence of a spiral structure in its shape. The location of the earth and sun at point B is irrelevant to the classification of the galaxy.
4.
What is the season at points 1 and 2?
Correct Answer
C. Summer
Explanation
Points 1 and 2 are in the summer season.
5.
This is the alignment of the earth, moon and sun during which type of unusual tide?
Correct Answer
B. Spring
Explanation
During a spring tide, the sun, moon, and earth align in a straight line, with the moon being either in its new moon or full moon phase. This alignment creates a stronger gravitational pull, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides. Therefore, the given correct answer, "spring," accurately describes the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun during this type of unusual tide.
6.
What causes the seasons?
Correct Answer
B. The tilt of the earth at various stages of the earth's revolution around the sun
Explanation
The correct answer is the tilt of the earth at various stages of the earth's revolution around the sun. The tilt of the earth's axis causes different parts of the earth to be tilted towards or away from the sun at different times of the year, resulting in the changing seasons. When a hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it receives more direct sunlight and experiences summer, while the opposite hemisphere is tilted away and experiences winter. As the earth continues its revolution around the sun, the tilt changes, causing the seasons to change as well.
7.
How long does it take us to see light from stars 1000 light years away from the earth?
Correct Answer
A. 1000 years
Explanation
When we see light from stars that are 1000 light years away from Earth, it means that the light emitted by those stars takes 1000 years to reach us. This is because light travels at a speed of approximately 300,000 kilometers per second. Therefore, it takes 1000 years for the light to travel a distance of 1000 light years and reach our eyes on Earth.
8.
What causes the planets to orbit around the sun?
Correct Answer
B. Strong gravitational force of the sun
Explanation
The planets orbit around the sun due to the strong gravitational force exerted by the sun. Gravitational force is the attractive force between two objects with mass, and it is directly proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The sun's immense mass and gravitational pull keep the planets in their respective orbits, as they continuously fall towards the sun but also have enough tangential velocity to keep them moving in a circular or elliptical path around it.
9.
What object has the largest mass in the solar system?
Correct Answer
B. Sun
Explanation
The Sun has the largest mass in the solar system. As the central star of our solar system, it contains approximately 99.8% of the total mass. Its immense gravitational pull holds the planets, including Jupiter and Saturn, in orbit around it. Jupiter, while being the largest planet, is still significantly smaller and less massive than the Sun. Saturn, although also a large planet, has even less mass compared to the Sun. Therefore, the Sun is the correct answer as it has the largest mass in the solar system.
10.
Why does the moon exert more gravitational force on the earth's tides than the sun?
Correct Answer
B. Because the moon is closer to the earth than the sun
Explanation
The moon exerts more gravitational force on the earth's tides than the sun because it is closer to the earth than the sun. Gravitational force decreases with distance, so the closer an object is, the stronger its gravitational force. Even though the sun is much larger than the moon, its distance from the earth is much greater, resulting in a weaker gravitational force compared to the moon.
11.
What is the rotation period of the earth?
Correct Answer
B. 24 hours
Explanation
The rotation period of the Earth refers to the time it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis. This period is approximately 24 hours, which is why we have day and night cycles. The option "24 hours" correctly represents the rotation period of the Earth.
12.
What type of eclipse is occurring in the diagram?
Correct Answer
C. Lunar
Explanation
The diagram is showing a lunar eclipse. In a lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. This causes the Moon to appear darkened or reddish in color. This is different from a solar eclipse, where the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out the Sun's light. An annular eclipse is a type of solar eclipse where the Moon is at its farthest distance from Earth, resulting in a ring of light around the Moon.
13.
Pretend that the earth took only 100 days to orbit the sun. How would that effect the earth?
Correct Answer
C. Years would be shorter
Explanation
If the Earth took only 100 days to orbit the sun instead of the usual 365 days, it would result in shorter years. This means that the time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the sun would be significantly reduced. As a result, the length of a year, which is currently defined as the time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit, would be shorter. This would have a significant impact on the Earth's climate, seasons, and the way we measure time.
14.
What is the moon phase?
Correct Answer
A. Waxing
Explanation
The moon phase refers to the shape of the illuminated portion of the moon as seen from Earth. "Waxing" is the correct answer because it describes the phase when the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing in size from a crescent to a full moon. This occurs after the new moon phase and before the full moon phase.
15.
Why is there a neap tide during this alignment of the earth, moon, and sun?
Correct Answer
B. Exceptionally low tides because less gravity is pulling on the earth from the same direction
Explanation
During the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun, the gravitational forces from the moon and the sun combine, resulting in higher than normal high tides called spring tides. However, the gravitational forces from the moon and the sun partially cancel each other out, causing lower than normal low tides known as neap tides. This occurs because the gravitational pull from the moon is pulling water away from the side of the earth opposite to the moon, while the gravitational pull from the sun is pulling water towards the moon, resulting in a decrease in the overall gravitational force on the earth's surface.
16.
What could be the cause of radio and satellite interruptions on the earth?
Correct Answer
B. Solar flare activity from the sun
Explanation
Solar flare activity from the sun can cause radio and satellite interruptions on Earth. Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy and radiation from the sun's surface. When these flares occur, they release a large amount of electromagnetic radiation, including X-rays and ultraviolet light. This radiation can interfere with radio waves and disrupt satellite communications. Solar flares can also cause geomagnetic storms, which can further disrupt radio signals and satellite transmissions. Therefore, solar flare activity from the sun is a likely cause of radio and satellite interruptions on Earth.
17.
What are cooler, darker spots on the sun's surface?
Correct Answer
B. Sunspots
Explanation
Sunspots are cooler, darker spots on the sun's surface. They appear darker because they are cooler than the surrounding areas, with temperatures ranging from 3,500 to 4,500 degrees Celsius. Sunspots are caused by intense magnetic activity on the sun's surface, which inhibits the convective transfer of heat. This results in a localized cooling effect, making them appear darker compared to the hotter photosphere. Sunspots can vary in size and shape and are often associated with solar flares and other solar activity.
18.
What is the surface of the sun?
Correct Answer
B. pHotospHere
Explanation
The surface of the sun is known as the photosphere. It is the outermost layer that emits visible light and is responsible for the sun's brightness. The photosphere is composed of hot gases and is the layer from which most of the sun's energy is radiated into space. The corona, on the other hand, is the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, while the chromosphere is the middle layer. However, the question does not provide enough information to determine the exact nature of the sun's surface, so this explanation is based on general knowledge.
19.
What feature of the sun produces huge amounts of energy that can be thrust into space?
Correct Answer
A. Prominences
Explanation
Prominences are huge, arch-shaped eruptions of hot gas that are ejected from the Sun's surface into space. These eruptions are caused by the intense magnetic activity occurring in the Sun's atmosphere. As the magnetic fields of the Sun become twisted and tangled, they release vast amounts of energy, resulting in these massive eruptions. This energy is in the form of hot gas and plasma, which is thrust into space, producing the huge amounts of energy mentioned in the question. Therefore, prominences are the feature of the Sun that produces this energy.
20.
What is moon light?
Correct Answer
A. Reflected light from the sun
Explanation
Moonlight is the light that we see from the moon, and it is not produced by the moon itself. The moon does not have its own source of light, so the correct answer is that moonlight is actually reflected light from the sun. The sun's light hits the moon's surface and is then reflected back towards Earth, creating the glow that we perceive as moonlight. This reflection process is similar to how other objects, such as mirrors, reflect light.
21.
When is it summer in the northern hemisphere?
Correct Answer
B. B
Explanation
The correct answer is B. In the northern hemisphere, summer occurs during the months of June, July, and August. This is because during this time, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, resulting in longer days and warmer temperatures.