Question 1

Which way will the "horns," or sharp ends of the crescent, of the Moon point in the sky when the Moon is above the western horizon at sunset, at a phase 3 days after new moon? (Hint: Think about what causes the crescent phase of the Moon; Figure 3-2 of Universe, 11th ed., may help.)
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A)The horn points toward the Sun, westward.
B)The Moon is not crescent shaped at this phase.
C)The horn points at a right angle to direction of the Sun, northward.
D)The horn points away from the Sun, eastward.

Accepted Answer

At sunset, the Moon is on the western horizon, meaning the Sun is on the eastern horizon. The "horns" or sharp ends of the crescent Moon point away from the Sun, so they will point eastward. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.

Question 2

When will the first quarter moon rise, approximately? (You may want to examine Figure 3-2 of Universe, 11th ed., and think about where you would need to stand on Earth to see the first quarter moon rising.)
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A) 6 A.M.
B) noon
C) 3 A.M.
D) 6 P.M.

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

If on a particular day the Sun is at one of the solstices and the Moon is at one of the equinoxes, then the lunar phase on that day is:
A)not predictable from this information alone.
B)full.
C)new.
D)either first or last quarter.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

The waxing gibbous phase of the Moon occurs when the Moon passes:
A)from third quarter to new moon.
B)between the two positions when the Moon and the Sun are at right angles to each other during which new moon occurs.
C)from new moon to first quarter.
D)from first quarter to full moon.

Accepted Answer

The waxing gibbous phase of the Moon occurs after the first quarter and before the full moon, when the Moon is between a 90 and 180 degree angle with the Sun.

Question 5

The waning gibbous phase of the Moon occurs when the Moon passes:
A)from third quarter to new moon.
B)between the two positions when the Moon and the Sun are at right angles to each other during which a new moon occurs.
C)from full moon to third quarter.
D)from first quarter to full moon.

Accepted Answer

The waning gibbous phase of the Moon occurs after the full moon and before the third quarter.

Question 6

If the Moon is located at the vernal equinox on September 20, what is the phase of the Moon?
A)new
B)third quarter
C)first quarter
D)full

Accepted Answer

The Moon at the vernal equinox on September 20 is opposite the Sun from Earth's perspective, indicating a full moon phase.

Question 7

When does the third quarter moon rise? (You may want to examine Figure 3-2 of Universe, 11th ed., and think about where you would need to stand on Earth to see the third quarter moon rising.)
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A) about 6 A.M.
B) close to noon
C) about 6 P.M.
D) close to midnight

Accepted Answer

The answer of When does the third quarter moon rise?...

Question 8

Is the Moon ever visible during the daytime (on a clear day)?
A)It is only during solar eclipses, when the sky is dark.
B)No, the Moon is never visible during the daytime.
C)Yes, but only if the Sun is very close to the horizon (just after sunrise or just before sunset).
D)Yes, whenever the Moon is above the horizon and it is not close to new moon.

Accepted Answer

The Moon can indeed be visible during the daytime whenever it is above the horizon and its phase is not close to the new moon. This is because the Moon's orbit around Earth does not perfectly align with the night/day cycle, allowing it to be visible at various times of the day depending on its phase and position in the sky.

Question 9

The Moon would NOT go through phases if:
A)it were tilted on its axis, like Earth.
B)it did not rotate.
C)it took 1 year to go around Earth.
D)(in addition to the Moon going around Earth) the Sun went around Earth instead of Earth around the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Moon would NOT go through phases...

Question 10

Which one of the following affects the rate at which the Moon goes through its phases?
A)the rotation period of the Moon about its axis
B)the rotation period of Earth about its axis
C)the period of Earth's motion around the Sun
D)the period of the Moon's motion around Earth

Accepted Answer

The rate at which the Moon goes through its phases is determined by the period of the Moon's motion around Earth. As the Moon orbits around Earth, its position relative to the Sun changes, causing different amounts of sunlight to reflect off its surface, resulting in the different phases. Therefore, the period of the Moon's motion around Earth directly affects the rate at which it goes through its phases.

Question 11

If an observer on Earth sees the Moon to be full, then at the same time an observer on the Moon would see Earth to be at what phase?
A)full
B)new
C)third quarter
D)Earth does not appear to go through phases when observed from the Moon.

Accepted Answer

When the Moon appears full from Earth, it is because the Sun is directly illuminating the entire face of the Moon visible from Earth. At the same time, an observer on the Moon would see the Earth in the opposite direction of the Sun, and therefore the Earth would appear to be at a new phase (completely dark).

Question 12

If an observer on Earth sees the Moon to be at first quarter, then at the same time, an observer on the Moon would observe Earth to be at what phase?
A)first quarter
B)third quarter
C)full
D)Earth does not appear to go through phases when observed from the Moon.

Accepted Answer

When the Moon is at its first quarter phase as seen from Earth, an observer on the Moon would see the Earth at its third quarter phase. This is because the phases of the Earth as seen from the Moon are opposite to the phases of the Moon as seen from Earth. When one is in its first quarter, the other appears to be in its third quarter due to the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

Question 13

If the Moon is now in its waxing crescent phase, 2 weeks from now it will be:
A)waxing gibbous.
B)full.
C)waning gibbous.
D)waning crescent.

Accepted Answer

The lunar cycle, from one new moon to the next, takes approximately 29.5 days. Starting from the waxing crescent phase, two weeks later, the Moon will be in its waning gibbous phase, having passed the full moon phase approximately halfway through this period.

Question 14

If the Moon is now in its waxing crescent phase, 1 week ago it was:
A)new.
B)waning crescent.
C)waxing gibbous.
D)full.

Accepted Answer

The waxing crescent phase occurs after the new moon phase, which is the first phase of the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle is approximately 29.5 days, so one week ago, the moon would have been in the waning crescent phase, which occurs just before the new moon phase. Therefore, the best choice is B) waning crescent.

Question 15

If the Moon is now in its waxing crescent phase, 1 week from now it will be:
A)new.
B)waning crescent.
C)waxing gibbous.
D)full.

Accepted Answer

The Moon progresses through its phases in a specific order. Waxing crescent is followed by first quarter, then waxing gibbous, and finally full. None of the other answer choices follow this order, making choice C the best option.

Question 16

Suppose the Moon orbited Earth with the same period it has now but in the opposite direction. Which one of the following would NOT change?
A)the length of a synodic month
B)the length of a sidereal month
C)the frequency of solar eclipses
D)the frequency of lunar eclipses

Accepted Answer

The length of a sidereal month is determined by the Moon's orbit around Earth, which would not be affected by the direction of its orbit. The length of the synodic month (A) would still be 29.5 days because it is determined by the relative positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun. However, the frequency of solar eclipses (C) and lunar eclipses (D) would change because the orientation of the Moon's orbit would be different.

Question 17

Suppose the Moon rotated on its axis with the same period it has now but in the opposite direction. Which of the following would change?
A)the length of a synodic month
B)the length of a sidereal month
C)the frequency of lunar eclipses
D)None of these would change.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose the Moon rotated on its axis...

Question 18

How does the Moon rotate to keep one face pointed toward Earth at all times, as can be seen in Figure 3-4 of Universe, 11th ed.?
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A)It rotates once per month.
B)It rotates once per year.
C)It rotates once per day.
D)It does not rotate at all.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does the Moon rotate to keep...

Question 19

To observers on the near side of the Moon, Earth:
A)rises in the east and sets in the west.
B)rises in the west and sets in the east.
C)appears overhead at all times.
D)is not visible at any time.

Accepted Answer

The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning the same side of the Moon always faces Earth. Therefore, to observers on the near side of the Moon, Earth would appear to hang in roughly the same position in the sky, not rising or setting like the Sun does on Earth.

Question 20

If you were standing on the Moon in darkness on the opposite side from Earth at a particular time, which of the following conditions would be true?
A)You would never see the Sun from that position.
B)You would see Earth in about 7 days.
C)It would take about 1/4 year (3 months) before you would see Earth from that position.
D)You would never see Earth from that position.

Accepted Answer

The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning the same side of the Moon always faces Earth. If you're on the opposite side from Earth (the far side of the Moon), you would never see Earth from that position due to this tidal locking.

Quiz 3: Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon

Which way will the "horns," or sharp ends of the crescent, of the Moon point in the sky when the Moon is above the western horizon at sunset, at a phase 3 days after new moon? (Hint: Think about what causes the crescent phase of the Moon; Figure 3-2 of Universe, 11th ed., may help.)

When will the first quarter moon rise, approximately? (You may want to examine Figure 3-2 of Universe, 11th ed., and think about where you would need to stand on Earth to see the first quarter moon rising.)

If on a particular day the Sun is at one of the solstices and the Moon is at one of the equinoxes, then the lunar phase on that day is:

The waxing gibbous phase of the Moon occurs when the Moon passes:

The waning gibbous phase of the Moon occurs when the Moon passes:

If the Moon is located at the vernal equinox on September 20, what is the phase of the Moon?

When does the third quarter moon rise? (You may want to examine Figure 3-2 of Universe, 11th ed., and think about where you would need to stand on Earth to see the third quarter moon rising.)

Is the Moon ever visible during the daytime (on a clear day) ?

The Moon would NOT go through phases if:

Which one of the following affects the rate at which the Moon goes through its phases?

If an observer on Earth sees the Moon to be full, then at the same time an observer on the Moon would see Earth to be at what phase?

If an observer on Earth sees the Moon to be at first quarter, then at the same time, an observer on the Moon would observe Earth to be at what phase?

If the Moon is now in its waxing crescent phase, 2 weeks from now it will be:

If the Moon is now in its waxing crescent phase, 1 week ago it was:

If the Moon is now in its waxing crescent phase, 1 week from now it will be:

Suppose the Moon orbited Earth with the same period it has now but in the opposite direction. Which one of the following would NOT change?

Suppose the Moon rotated on its axis with the same period it has now but in the opposite direction. Which of the following would change?

How does the Moon rotate to keep one face pointed toward Earth at all times, as can be seen in Figure 3-4 of Universe, 11th ed.?

To observers on the near side of the Moon, Earth:

If you were standing on the Moon in darkness on the opposite side from Earth at a particular time, which of the following conditions would be true?