GCSE (9-1) Astronomy Pupil Worksheet

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New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

Pupil Worksheet

Week 38 Topic 4.2

Spec. refs 4.9, 4.10

1. How long is the lunar phase cycle? Choose from:

27.3 days 28.0 days 29.5 days

Your answer: ...... (1)

2. What is the orbital period of the Moon around the Earth? Choose from:

27.3 days 28.0 days 29.5 days

Your answer: ...... (1)

3. The correct answers to questions 1 and 2 differ by 2.2 days

Explain the 2.2 day difference between a sidereal month and a solar (synodic) month.

......

...... (2)

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Questions 4 and 5. The image shows part of the Moon’s near-side.

4. What is the phase of the Moon in the image?

x A waning crescent

x B waning gibbous

x C waxing crescent

x D waxing gibbous (1)

5. Approximately how many days into the lunar cycle was the image obtained?

Your answer: ...... days (1)

6. The image shows a lunar eclipse.

What is the phase of the Moon during a lunar eclipse?

Your answer: ...... (1)

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7. State the shape of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth.

Your answer: ...... (1)

8. In the space below, draw a diagram of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth.

Use your diagram to explain how annular eclipses occur.

......

...... (4)

9. Paula observed a full Moon.

What would the phase be if Paula observed the Moon 12 days later?

x A waning crescent

x B waxing crescent

x C waning gibbous

x D waxing gibbous (1)

10. How many times does the Moon orbit the Earth in one year?

Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

Your answer: ...... (1)

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11. The image shows a waxing crescent Moon

Approximately how many days will elapse before the Moon is full?

Choose from:

4 days 10 days 16 days

Your answer: ...... (1)

Solutions

1. 29.5 days (1 mark)

2. 27.3 days (1)

3. During the 27.3-day orbit of the Moon, the Earth has moved significantly in its orbit around the Sun (1); it needs a further 2.2 days for the Earth, Sun and Moon to become aligned again (1).

4. D (1)

5. 10 (±1) days (1)

6. full (1)

7. ellipse/elliptical (1)

8. Diagram showing (exaggerated) elliptical orbit of the Moon (1)

full Moon TO THE close to Earth SUN apogee

An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is close to apogee (1) and so appears slightly smaller (or subtends a smaller angle) than ‘usual’/the Sun (1), allowing the Sun to appear as a thin annulus (1). maximum 3 marks

9. A (1)

10. 13 (1)

11. 10 days (1)

Your score: / 15