Regents Earth Science Test Preparation Practice Earth Revolution

Which motion causes the Coriolis effect on Earth?*

(1) revolution of Earth around the Sun

(2) revolution of the Moon around Earth

(3) rotation of Earth on its axis

(4) rotation of the Moon on its axis

How many days during one year is the Sun directly overhead at noon in New York City?*

(1) one

(2) two

(3) three

(4) zero

Seasonal changes on Earth are primarily caused by the*

(1) parallelism of the Sun’s axis as the Sun revolves around Earth

(2) changes in distance between Earth and the Sun

(3) elliptical shape of Earth’s orbit around the Sun

(4) tilt of Earth’s axis as Earth revolves around the Sun

Base your answers to questions 4 on the time-exposure photograph shown below. The photograph was taken by aiming a camera at a portion of the night sky above a New York State location and leaving the camera’s shutter open for a period of time to record star trails.

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, geocentric-model-heliocentric-model, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12012-examw_g34.png

Which celestial object is shown in the photograph near the center of the star trails?*

(1) the Sun

(2) the Moon

(3) Sirius

(4) Polaris

Which diagram best represents the tilt of Earth’s axis that causes the Northern Hemisphere seasons shown? (Diagrams are not drawn to scale.)*

(1)

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, seasons-and-astronomy, motion-of-objects-in-the-solar-system, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12014-examw_g10.png

(2)

(3)

(4)

Which diagram best represents the regions of Earth in sunlight on June 21 and December 21? [NP indicates the North Pole and the shading represents Earth’s night side. Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]*

(1)

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, geocentric-model-heliocentric-model, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12015-examw_g16.png

(2)

(3)

(4)

Base your answers to questions 7 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents Earth’s revolution around the Sun. Points A, B, C, and D represent Earth’s positions in its orbit on the first day of each of the four seasons. The major axis and the foci (the center of the Sun and the other focus) of Earth’s orbit are shown.

At positions A, B, C, and D, the north end of Earth’s axis of rotation is pointing toward*

(1) Betelgeuse

(2) Polaris

(3) the center of the Milky Way

(4) the center of our solar system

Which statement best explains why stars viewed from the Northern Hemisphere appear to revolve around Polaris?*

(1) Polaris rotates on its axis.

(2) Earth rotates on its axis.

(3) Polaris revolves around Earth.

(4) Earth revolves around Polaris.

Base your answers to questions 9 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Positions A, B, C, and D represent Earth’s location on the fi rst day of each season. Letter N indicates the North Pole.

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, seasons-and-astronomy, the-solar-system, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, geocentric-model-heliocentric-model fig: esci12019-examw_g25.png

At each position in Earth’s orbit, the North Pole is pointing toward*

(1) Pollux

(2) the Sun

(3) Polaris

(4) the Moon

Which factor is a primary cause of seasonal changes on Earth?*

(1) change in Earth’s distance from the Sun

(2) change in the rate of Earth’s rotation

(3) wobble of Earth’s axis

(4) tilt of Earth’s axis

The time-exposure photograph shown below was taken by an observer in the Northern Hemisphere to record the apparent paths of stars.

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, standard-6-interconnectedness, systems-thinking, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci12020-examw_g3.png

The name of the bright star near the center that the other stars appear to be circling is*

(1) Polaris

(2) Alpha Centauri

(3) Betelgeuse

(4) Deneb

Base your answers to questions 12 on the diagram of the Sun, Earth, and the constellation Sagittarius shown below. Positions A through D show Earth in its orbit around the Sun on the first day of each season. Sagittarius is represented in its position in space relative to Earth’s orbit.

At which lettered position does Sagittarius appear highest in the sky at midnight to observers near Earth’s equator? [1]

Lettered position:*

Base your answers to questions 13 on the diagram in image provided, which shows Earth as viewed from space on December 21. Some latitudes are labeled.

On the diagram in the image provided, place an X at a location on Earth’s surface where the Sun was directly overhead at some time on December 21. [1]

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12013-ansbk_abkq1.png

Base your answers to questions 14 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents a view of Earth from above the North Pole, showing longitude lines at 15 degree intervals. Letters A and B represent surface locations on the equator.

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, geocentric-model-heliocentric-model, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12017-examw_g29.png

Identify one date represented by this diagram. [1]*

Base your answers to questions 15 on the table below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The table provides information about sunlight received on four dates of a certain year. Letter A represents a date. The arrows indicate the Sun’s direct rays.

seasons-and-astronomy, earth-revolution, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci62014-examw_g43.png

Identify one possible date represented by letter A. [1]*