Phases Of The Moon Quiz - 17 Dec 13
This quiz tests your knowledge of moons and the phases of our moon. There are 30 questions in the quiz database. Twenty questions will be selected at random for this quiz. Good luck
Questions and Answers
- 1.
All of the planets in our solar system have at least one moon.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The inner planets have few or no moons. Mercury and Venus have NO moons. Earth has one and Mars has two. The Gas Giants generally have LOTS of moons. New moons are still being discovered. Jupiter and Saturn both have more than 60 moons.Rate this question:
-
- 2.
What phase is the moon in in the image below?
- A.
New moon
- B.
Full moon
- C.
1st quarter moon
- D.
3rd / last quarter moon
- E.
Waning gibbous
- F.
Waning crescent
Correct Answer
E. Waning gibbousExplanation
This is a gibbous moon. Drawing a line though the North/South axis creates a letter "d". The moon is dying (letter d) or WANING.Rate this question:
-
- 3.
Nicolas saw the moon shown below in the night sky. He correctly noted that the moon was in its first quarter phase. About how long until the next full moon?
- A.
1 day
- B.
3 days
- C.
7 days
- D.
2 weeks
- E.
29 days
Correct Answer
C. 7 daysExplanation
From new to 1st qtr. is 7 days. From 1st qtr. to full is 7 days. From full to last qtr. moon is 7 days and from last qtr to new moon is 7 days.
A complete trip around the moon takes 28 or 29 days.Rate this question:
-
- 4.
About how long does it take for the moon to revolve around the Earth?
- A.
7 days
- B.
One month
- C.
14 days
- D.
28 days
Correct Answer
D. 28 daysExplanation
It takes the moon ABOUT 28 days to revolve around the Earth. 7 days and 14 days don't make sense. A month can be 28, 29, 30, or 31 days, so a month cannot be the correct answer.Rate this question:
-
- 5.
Which of the moons shown below are gibbous moons?
- A.
D
- B.
B and F
- C.
C and E
- D.
A and G
- E.
The gibbous moons are not shown in this image
Correct Answer
C. C and EExplanation
Gibbous moons are larger than a quarter moon, but smaller than a full moon. E is a waxing gibbous moon and C is a waning gibbous moon.Rate this question:
-
- 6.
Which of the moons shown below are crescent moons?
- A.
D
- B.
B and F
- C.
C and E
- D.
A and G
- E.
The crescent moons are not shown in this image
Correct Answer
D. A and GExplanation
A crescent moon is shaped like a banana or a crescent roll. G is a waxing crescent and A is a waning crescent. crescent moons appear immediately before and after the new moon.Rate this question:
-
- 7.
About how long does it take the moon to move from the phase shown at position F to the phase shown at position B?
- A.
1 week
- B.
2 weeks
- C.
3 weeks
- D.
4 weeks
Correct Answer
B. 2 weeksExplanation
2 weeks. From 1st qtr. to full moon is one week. From full to last qtr. takes another week.Rate this question:
-
- 8.
Where is the new moon in this image?
- A.
D
- B.
B
- C.
G
- D.
The new moon is not shown in this image
Correct Answer
D. The new moon is not shown in this imageExplanation
As seen from Earth the new moon is completely dark. It is not shown in this image. If it could be shown, it would be to the left of A or to the right of G.Rate this question:
-
- 9.
Half of the Earth is always illuminated by the sun. This image shows the Earth as seen from the moon. What phase is the Earth in as seen from the moon?
- A.
Crescent
- B.
Full
- C.
New
- D.
Gibbous
Correct Answer
D. GibbousExplanation
Gibbous means larger than a quarter or smaller than full. In this image, the Earth is in gibbous phase.Rate this question:
-
- 10.
Daniela's father was on a trip to Shanghai, China. He called her at home in Miami and told that he was looking at a beautiful full moon in the night sky. If Daniela looks at the sky in Miami that same evening, she will also see a full moon.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
This is true. The Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours. If the moon is in the 1st quarter phase, EVERYONE on Earth will see the same 1st quarter moon on the same day.Rate this question:
-
- 11.
What phase is the moon in in this image?
- A.
Waxing crescent
- B.
Waning crescent
- C.
Full moon
- D.
Waning gibbous
Correct Answer
B. Waning crescentExplanation
This is a waning crescent moon. The waxing crescent is on the right side.Rate this question:
-
- 12.
What phase was the moon in on November 3, 2008?
- A.
Waxing crescent
- B.
Waxing gibbous
- C.
Waning gibbous
- D.
Waning crescent
Correct Answer
A. Waxing crescentExplanation
The waxing crescent is the crescent that is on the SIDE. From the 1st to the 4th of November, the moon was a waxing crescent.Rate this question:
-
- 13.
Which moon phases occur immediately before and immediately after the new moon?
- A.
Crescent
- B.
Gibbous
- C.
Full
- D.
Quarter
Correct Answer
A. CrescentExplanation
Crescent moons appear before and after the new moon.Rate this question:
-
- 14.
Which moon phases occur immediately before and immediately after the full moon?
- A.
Crescent
- B.
Gibbous
- C.
Full
- D.
Quarter
Correct Answer
B. GibbousExplanation
The moon phases that occur immediately before and immediately after the full moon are the gibbous phases. The gibbous phase occurs when more than half but less than fully illuminated portion of the moon is visible from Earth. This phase comes after the quarter moon phase and before the full moon phase. During the gibbous phase, the moon appears to be almost fully illuminated, but not completely.Rate this question:
-
- 15.
About how long does it take the moon to move from the 1st quarter phase to the next 3rd quarter phase?
- A.
1 week
- B.
2 weeks
- C.
3 weeks
- D.
One month
Correct Answer
B. 2 weeksExplanation
It takes 7 days for the moon to move from quarter moon. From new to 1st quarter is 7 days. From 1st quarter to 2nd quarter (full moon) takes 7 days. From full to last quarter is 7 days, and from last quarter to 4th quarter (new moon.) From 1st quarter to 3rd quarter takes 14 days.Rate this question:
-
- 16.
ABOUT when was the FIRST full moon in DECEMBER 2008?
- A.
December 27, 2008
- B.
December 11, 2008
- C.
December 1, 2008
- D.
December 31, 2008
Correct Answer
B. December 11, 2008Explanation
The first full moon in December 2008 will be ABOUT 4 weeks after the full moon that occurred on 11/12/08.Rate this question:
-
- 17.
These pigeons are enjoying a beautiful full moon. About how long until the next new moon?
- A.
One week
- B.
2 weeks
- C.
3 weeks
- D.
29 days
Correct Answer
B. 2 weeksExplanation
It takes ABOUT 4 weeks from full moon to full moon. The new moon is halfway through this cycle. It takes 14 days from full to new moon.Rate this question:
-
- 18.
These pigeons are enjoying a beautiful full moon. About how long until the next 3rd quarter moon?
- A.
One week
- B.
2 weeks
- C.
3 weeks
- D.
29 days
Correct Answer
A. One weekExplanation
From full to 3rd quarter is 1/4 of the way around. 1/4 of 28 days is 7 days.Rate this question:
-
- 19.
These pigeons are enjoying a beautiful full moon. About how long until the next full moon?
- A.
One week
- B.
2 weeks
- C.
3 weeks
- D.
29 days
Correct Answer
D. 29 daysExplanation
From full to full moon takes ABOUT 28 days.Rate this question:
-
- 20.
These pigeons are enjoying a beautiful full moon. If the birds return to the branch 10 days from now and gaze at the moon again, what phase will the moon be in?
- A.
Waxing crescent
- B.
Waning crescent
- C.
1st quarter
- D.
New moon
Correct Answer
B. Waning crescentExplanation
7 days after the full moon is the last quarter moon. 14 days after the full moon is the new moon. 10 days would be BETWEEN the last quarter and new moon. The phase that is APPROACHING the new moon is the waning crescent moon.Rate this question:
-
- 21.
What phase is the moon in when the Earth is directly between the moon and the Sun.
- A.
Full
- B.
New
- C.
1st quarter
- D.
Waning crescent
Correct Answer
A. FullExplanation
If the Earth is directly between the moon and the Sun, people and Earth would be able to see ALL of the illuminated portion of the moon. That's a full moon.Rate this question:
-
- 22.
What phase is the moon in when the moon is directly between the Earth and the Sun.
- A.
Full
- B.
New
- C.
1st quarter
- D.
Waning crescent
Correct Answer
B. NewExplanation
If the moon is directly between the Earth and the Sun, people and Earth would NOT be able to see ANY of the illuminated portion of the moon. That's a new moon.Rate this question:
-
- 23.
If the Earth was the size of a basketball, about how big would the moon be?
- A.
Ping pong ball
- B.
Bowling ball
- C.
Golf ball
- D.
Tennis ball
Correct Answer
D. Tennis ballExplanation
The diameter of the moon is about 1/4 the diameter of Earth. If you could put the moon on the Earth, it would stretch all the way across the United States. The correct answer is tennis ball.Rate this question:
-
- 24.
How long does it take sunlight reflecting off the moon to reach Earth?
- A.
1 second
- B.
1 minute
- C.
8 minutes
- D.
1 hour
Correct Answer
A. 1 secondExplanation
The answer is about 1 second. Light travels about 186,000 miles every second. FYI, it takes light from the Sun about 8 minutes to reach Earth. Light from the star closest to our solar system (not including the sun) takes about 4 years to get to Earth.Rate this question:
-
- 25.
In what phase of the moon are you most likely to experience a lunar eclipse?
- A.
Full
- B.
New
- C.
1st quarter
- D.
Last quarter
Correct Answer
A. FullExplanation
In a lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks sunlight that is illuminating the FULL moon.Rate this question:
-
- 26.
In what phase of the moon are you most likely to experience a solar eclipse?
- A.
New moon
- B.
Full moon
- C.
1st quarter moon
- D.
Last quarter moon
Correct Answer
A. New moonExplanation
Solar eclipses occur when the moon blocks the Sun. The only time this can happen is during a new moon. Very cool.Rate this question:
-
- 27.
The gravitational pull of which of the following is MOST responsible for tides on Earth?
- A.
Moon
- B.
Sun
- C.
Jupiter
- D.
Mars
Correct Answer
A. MoonExplanation
The moon's gravity is primarily responsible for tides on Earth. When the Earth/Moon/Sun are directly lined up, the Sun's gravitational force can add to the moon's gravity to create higher tides called "flood' tides.Rate this question:
-
- 28.
This is the Bay of Fundy in eastern Canada. The moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans and literally pulls the water toward the moon (a little bit). Generally, most shorelines experience 2 high tides and 2 low tides every day.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
This is true. Miami usually experiences 2 high tides and 2 low tides every day.Rate this question:
-
- 29.
This model shows the Earth/Moon/Sun as seen from space. Seen from space looking "down" on the Earth and moon, HALF of the Earth and HALF of the moon are always illuminated. On Earth, however, we can't always see the whole illuminated side of the moon. Depending on the angle of the Earth and moon, we see "phases" of the moon. Which of the following shows the new moon phase?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
5
- D.
7
Correct Answer
A. 1Explanation
The new moon occurs when the moon is between the Earth and Sun. We can NOT see the illuminated half of the moon. This is called the new moon.Rate this question:
-
- 30.
This model shows the Earth/Moon/Sun as seen from space. Seen from space looking "down" on the Earth and moon, HALF of the Earth and HALF of the moon are always illuminated. On Earth, however, we can't always see the whole illuminated side of the moon. Depending on the angle of the Earth and moon, we see "phases" of the moon. Which of the following shows the FULL moon phase?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
5
- D.
7
Correct Answer
C. 5Explanation
The full moon occurs when the Earth is between the moon and Sun. From Earth we can see the entire illuminated HALF of the moon. This is called the full moon.Rate this question:
-
.jpg "These pigeons are enjoying a beautiful full moon. About how long until the next new moon?")
.jpg "In what phase of the moon are you most likely to experience a lunar eclipse?")
Back to top