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Science: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Days and Seasons (Questions)

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Days, seasons and years are all based on how the Earth moves through space. It orbits the Sun once every year and at different times some parts are pointing away from the Sun (winter) whilst others are pointing towards it(summer). The Earth also spins on its axis once every day so one half is in shadow (night) whilst the other half receives the light of the Sun. Many people enjoy the beauty of sunrise and sunset and the changing seasons without ever thinking of how they are caused. You will know from science lessons that the Sun does not really 'rise' or 'set' in the sky. It appears that the Sun orbits the earth but it's actually the other way round.

What causes day and night?

[ ]	The Sun moves around the Earth
[ ]	The Moon comes out, causing night
[ ]	The Earth orbits the Sun
[ ]	The Earth rotates on its axis

How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun?

[ ]	One day
[ ]	One month
[ ]	One year
[ ]	One decade

The Earth is divided into its northern and southern hemispheres by what?

[ ]	Its axis
[ ]	The Equator
[ ]	The North and South Poles
[ ]	Lines of longitude

How long does it take the Earth to rotate once on its axis?

[ ]	One day
[ ]	One week
[ ]	One month
[ ]	One year

Which of the following causes the seasons to change?

[ ]	The Moon
[ ]	The Earth's tilt on its axis
[ ]	The Earth's rotation
[ ]	Changing weather

If it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere?

[ ]	Spring
[ ]	Summer
[ ]	Autumn
[ ]	Winter

When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which pole is tilted towards the Sun?

[ ]	The North pole
[ ]	The South pole
[ ]	Both poles are equidistant (an equal distance) from the Sun
[ ]	Both poles are tilted away from the Sun

In which season are the nights much longer than the days?

[ ]	Spring
[ ]	Summer
[ ]	Winter
[ ]	Autumn

On two days each year, the Earth receives equal amounts of daylight and darkness. What are these days called?

[ ]	Rotation days
[ ]	Seasons
[ ]	Solstices
[ ]	Equinoxes

10.

Why does the South Pole receive no sunlight during its winter?

[ ]	The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun
[ ]	The Sun doesn't orbit the Earth in the winter
[ ]	The Earth stops rotating in the winter
[ ]	The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun

Science: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Days and Seasons (Answers)

What causes day and night?

[ ]	The Sun moves around the Earth
[ ]	The Moon comes out, causing night
[ ]	The Earth orbits the Sun
[x]	The Earth rotates on its axis

The Earth rotates on its axis. When part of the Earth is facing away from the Sun, it is dark because it cannot receive any sunlight. As the Earth rotates, that part gradually turns to face the Sun (we call this moment 'sunrise') and it becomes day

How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun?

[ ]	One day
[ ]	One month
[x]	One year
[ ]	One decade

When our part of the Earth is tilted towards the Sun it is summer and when we are tilted away from the Sun it is winter

The Earth is divided into its northern and southern hemispheres by what?

[ ]	Its axis
[x]	The Equator
[ ]	The North and South Poles
[ ]	Lines of longitude

The Equator is an imaginary line which goes around the Earth's middle

How long does it take the Earth to rotate once on its axis?

[x]	One day
[ ]	One week
[ ]	One month
[ ]	One year

When our part of the Earth is pointing towards the Sun it is daytime and when we are pointing away from the Sun it is night

Which of the following causes the seasons to change?

[ ]	The Moon
[x]	The Earth's tilt on its axis
[ ]	The Earth's rotation
[ ]	Changing weather

The Earth's tilt on its axis means that as the Earth orbits the Sun, the amount of sunlight received by each hemisphere changes, causing the changing seasons. The equator, however, always receives 12 hours of sunlight each day and does not experience changing seasons (although it does experience changing weather)

If it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere?

[ ]	Spring
[x]	Summer
[ ]	Autumn
[ ]	Winter

When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere

When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which pole is tilted towards the Sun?

[x]	The North pole
[ ]	The South pole
[ ]	Both poles are equidistant (an equal distance) from the Sun
[ ]	Both poles are tilted away from the Sun

When the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun the South Pole is tilted away from it

In which season are the nights much longer than the days?

[ ]	Spring
[ ]	Summer
[x]	Winter
[ ]	Autumn

In summer the days are much longer than the nights. In autumn and spring the days and nights are roughly the same length

On two days each year, the Earth receives equal amounts of daylight and darkness. What are these days called?

[ ]	Rotation days
[ ]	Seasons
[ ]	Solstices
[x]	Equinoxes

In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring (vernal) equinox is around the 21st of March and the autumnal equinox is around the 21st of September

10.

Why does the South Pole receive no sunlight during its winter?

[ ]	The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun
[ ]	The Sun doesn't orbit the Earth in the winter
[ ]	The Earth stops rotating in the winter
[x]	The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun

When the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, the South Pole is in darkness for 24 hours every day, while the North Pole (which is tilted towards the Sun at the same time) receives 24 hours of sunlight every day