Phases of the Moon

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   the Moon's shape is not drawn. On an evening hike, Esme sees the Moon rising in the east just as the Sun sets in the west. Which phase must it be, and why?

   • Full moon, opposite the Sun
   • New moon, on the Sun's side of Earth
   • First quarter, a quarter of the way around
   • Any phase, since the Moon rises when night begins
2. 2.

   At 4 p.m., Jun sees the Moon in the southeast while the Sun is still up. Its right half is lit. Which explanation fits?

   • A third quarter Moon, which rises around noon
   • A first quarter Moon, which rises around noon
   • A full moon, which rises around noon
   • A daytime glare, since the real Moon rises after dark
3. 3.

   At 8 a.m. on the walk to school, Kira sees a Moon in the southwest with its left half lit. Which explanation fits?

   • A night Moon that is running late to set
   • A new moon, which sets around noon
   • A third quarter Moon, which sets around noon
   • A first quarter Moon, which sets around noon
4. 4.

   Luz sees a full moon on the first night of summer camp. Camp lasts about 15 days. Which phase will the Moon be in on the last night?

   • Third quarter
   • Full moon again
   • Waning crescent
   • New moon
5. 5.

   Noah starts a Moon diary on the night of a new moon. About 22 days later, which phase will the diary show?

   • New moon again
   • First quarter
   • Waxing gibbous
   • Third quarter
6. 6.

   Pia's friend says a first quarter Moon looks half lit because Earth's shadow covers the other half. Which response is best?

   • Agree: Earth's shadow covers half the Moon at a quarter moon
   • Disagree: the Sun lights half the Moon, and we see half of that half
   • Agree: the Moon dims half of its own glow in this phase
   • Disagree: a quarter moon should show a quarter of its face lit
7. 7.

   Ren reads a class blog post saying a full moon happens when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun. Which response is best?

   • Agree: the Moon is between Earth and the Sun at full moon
   • Disagree: at full moon, Earth is between the Sun and the Moon
   • Disagree: Earth's shadow on the Moon is what makes it full
   • Agree: the Moon glows brightest when it is closest to the Sun
8. 8.

   “Orbit diagram, top view, not to scale” Tala's cousin says nobody sees a new moon because its sunlit side faces away from Earth. Which response is best?

   • Disagree: the side facing away from Earth stays dark
   • Disagree: a new moon is hidden inside Earth's shadow
   • Agree: the lit half faces the Sun, which is beyond the Moon
   • Disagree: the Moon has no sunlit side, since it lights itself

9. Read this first

   Classroom model, top view

   a lamp on the left; a student in the middle; four ball spots around the head: W between the head and the lamp, X and Z at the sides at right angles to the lamp, Y on the far side from the lamp.

10. 9.

    In a class model, a lamp is the Sun, a foam ball is the Moon and Zee's head is Earth. Where should Zee hold the ball to show a full moon?

    • At Y, low enough to sit in the head's shadow
    • At Y, raised just above the head's shadow
    • At X, beside the head at a right angle
    • At W, between the head and the lamp

11. Classroom model, top view

    a lamp on the left; a student in the middle; the ball at spot W between the head and the lamp, with its lamp-facing half white.

12. 10.

    In the lamp model, Bo holds the ball at spot W, between the head and the lamp, and sees no lit part. Why?

    • The side of the ball away from the viewer gets no light
    • The lit half of the ball faces the lamp, not the viewer
    • The ball's own glow turns off near the lamp
    • The head's shadow falls on the ball