Science: The Sun, Moon, and Earth: Understanding Day and Night Worksheet

Question 1

What object gives Earth most of its light during the day?

Accepted Answer

The Sun gives Earth most of its light during the day.

Question 2

Fill in the blank: It is daytime on the side of Earth that is facing the ____.

Accepted Answer

It is daytime on the side of Earth that is facing the Sun.

Question 3

Fill in the blank: It is nighttime on the side of Earth that is turned away from the ____.

Accepted Answer

It is nighttime on the side of Earth that is turned away from the Sun.

Question 4

Earth spins like a top. What is this spinning motion called?

Accepted Answer

Earth's spinning motion is called rotation.

Question 5

About how long does it take Earth to make one full rotation?

Accepted Answer

It takes Earth about 24 hours, or one day, to make one full rotation.

Question 6

Why do we see the Sun appear to move across the sky during the day?

Accepted Answer

The Sun appears to move across the sky because Earth is rotating.

Question 7

In the morning, the Sun appears low in the sky. What usually happens to the Sun's position by noon?

Accepted Answer

By noon, the Sun usually appears higher in the sky than it did in the morning.

Question 8

A student says, "The Sun goes around Earth every day." Is this correct? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

This is not correct. Day and night happen because Earth rotates, not because the Sun goes around Earth every day.

Question 9

Look at a model with a lamp as the Sun and a ball as Earth. If one side of the ball is bright, what would people on that side experience?

Accepted Answer

People on the bright side would experience daytime because that side is facing the light from the Sun.

Question 10

Look at a model with a lamp as the Sun and a ball as Earth. If one side of the ball is dark, what would people on that side experience?

Accepted Answer

People on the dark side would experience nighttime because that side is turned away from the Sun.

Question 11

Can the Moon sometimes be seen during the daytime? Write yes or no and explain.

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Moon can sometimes be seen during the daytime when it is in the sky and bright enough for us to see.

Question 12

Does the Moon make its own light like the Sun does? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The Moon does not make its own light. We see the Moon because sunlight reflects off its surface.

Question 13

Put these events in order: sunset, sunrise, daytime, nighttime.

Accepted Answer

One correct order is sunrise, daytime, sunset, nighttime.

Question 14

A town is having nighttime while another town on the opposite side of Earth is having daytime. Why can this happen?

Accepted Answer

This can happen because Earth is round, and only the side facing the Sun has daytime while the opposite side has nighttime.

Question 15

Write one sentence that explains why day changes into night.

Accepted Answer

Day changes into night because Earth rotates and the place where we live turns away from the Sun.

Science: The Sun, Moon, and Earth: Understanding Day and Night