Moon Phases Study Guide Review Multiple Choice PDF

1. What is the duration of a complete moon phase cycle? a) 15 days b) 29.5 days c) 45 days d) 365 days 2. When the moon appears to be getting larger, this process is called: a) Waning b) Gibbous c) Waxing d) Crescent 3. During which phase is the moon completely hidden from Earth's view?...

1. What is the duration of a complete moon phase cycle? a) 15 days b) 29.5 days c) 45 days d) 365 days 2. When the moon appears to be getting larger, this process is called: a) Waning b) Gibbous c) Waxing d) Crescent 3. During which phase is the moon completely hidden from Earth's view? a) New moon b) First quarter c) Full moon d) Third quarter 4. The moon's position farthest from Earth is called: a) Perigee b) Syzygy c) Zenith d) Apogee 5. What primary surface feature of the moon is characterized by dark, flat plains? a) Highlands b) Maria c) Craters d) Terminators 6. What causes the moon to appear red during a lunar eclipse? a) Reflection from Mars b) Earth's atmosphere scattering blue light c) Solar radiation d) Volcanic activity on the moon 7. When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to Earth, what type of tide occurs? a) Spring tide b) King tide c) Neap tide d) Rogue tide  8. How much do tides typically delay each day? a) 50 minutes b) 30 minutes c) 1 hour d) 2 hours 9. The moon's bright side is: a) Always facing Earth b) Always facing the Sun c) Always facing away from Earth d) Random depending on season 10. If the moon is half-lit and getting fuller, it is in: a) Third quarter b) Waning crescent c) First quarter d) Waning gibbous 11. What is the approximate size of the moon compared to Earth? a) One-fourth the size of Earth b) One-third the size of Earth c) One-sixth the size of Earth d) One-half the size of Earth 12. What is true about the moon's atmosphere? a) It has a thin atmosphere similar to Mars b) It has virtually no atmosphere c) It has a thick atmosphere that traps heat d) It has an atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen 13. What is a terminator on the moon's surface? a) The line between light and dark areas b) A deep crater c) A mountain range d) A flat plain area 14. How long does it take the moon to complete one rotation on its axis? a) 24 hours b) 27.3 days c) 29.5 days d) 365 days  15. During a lunar eclipse, what is the alignment of the celestial bodies? a) Moon between Sun and Earth b) Earth between Sun and Moon c) Sun between Earth and Moon d) All bodies at right angles 16. When do spring tides occur? a) Only during spring season b) When Sun and Moon are at right angles to Earth c) When Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned d) Only during full moons 17. Why are there two high tides and two low tides each day? a) Due to Earth's rotation b) Due to the Sun's gravity c) Due to the Moon's gravitational pull on both sides of Earth d) Due to wind patterns 18. Why does the "dark side" of the moon not stay permanently dark? a) It receives reflected light from Earth b) It receives direct sunlight during the moon's orbit c) It generates its own light d) It is illuminated by stars 19. What determines if the moon is waxing or waning? a) The season of the year b) The direction of the lit portion c) The distance from Earth d) The temperature of the moon 20. During what moon phase(s) can a solar eclipse occur? a) Full moon b) New moon c) First quarter d) Third quarter  21. How early or late are the tides each consecutive day? a) 25 minutes later b) 50 minutes later c) 1 hour later d) 2 hours later 22. Why do tides occur at different times each day? a) Due to Earth's rotation speed b) Due to the Moon taking longer than 24 hours to orbit Earth c) Due to seasonal changes d) Due to wind patterns 23. What is true about the "dark side" of the moon? a) It never receives sunlight b) It receives sunlight just like the near side c) It only receives Earth's reflected light d) It is permanently in shadow 24. Complete this statement: Half of the moon is always... a) Dark b) Lit by the Sun c) Facing Earth d) In shadow 25. The moon gets bright on the... a) Left side during waxing b) Right side during waxing c) Left side during waning d) Both sides equally 26. If the moon is bright on the right side, the phase is... a) Waning b) Waxing c) Full moon d) New moon 27. If the moon is dark on the right side, the phase is... a) Waxing b) Waning c) Full moon d) New moon  28. When the moon is exactly half lit, which two phases could it be? a) First quarter or third quarter b) Waxing gibbous or waning gibbous c) New moon or full moon d) Waxing crescent or waning crescent 29. What differentiates a first quarter from a third quarter moon? a) The side that is lit (right vs left) b) The distance from Earth c) The time of day it's visible d) The season it occurs in 30. What are the 8 main phases of the moon in order? a) New, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent b) Full, new, first quarter, third quarter, waxing crescent, waning crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous c) First quarter, new, full, third quarter, waxing crescent, waning crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous d) Waxing crescent, waning crescent, first quarter, third quarter, full, new, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous