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Quizzes > Science > Earth & Space Science

Brainpop Moon Phases Quiz - Challenge Your Lunar Knowledge

Ready to ace the moon phases Brainpop quiz? Start Now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art moon phases arranged around glowing orb on teal background with quiz title and lunar cycle theme

Calling all stargazers and eager learners: Test your knowledge with our free brainpop moon phases challenge! In this friendly moon phases brainpop quiz, you'll explore every phase - from waxing crescent to full moon - through fun questions that reveal your grasp of phases of the moon brainpop style. Dive into our interactive moon phases quiz or jump into a quick moon phases test , unlock bonus insights, and measure your score against brainpop moon phases quiz answers. Embrace the lunar adventure and start now to prove you're a true moon expert and cosmic navigator!

During which lunar phase is the side of the Moon facing Earth completely unlit?
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
First Quarter
New Moon
A new moon occurs when the Moon sits between Earth and the Sun so the near side is in shadow. During this phase, the illuminated portion faces away from our viewpoint and appears completely dark. No sunlight falls on the side that faces us, making it invisible at night. NASA Moon Phases
Approximately how many days does it take to complete one full cycle of moon phases (synodic month)?
27.3 days
23.5 days
29.5 days
31 days
The synodic month is the period required for the Moon to complete a full cycle of phases as seen from Earth. It averages about 29.53 days from new moon to new moon. This accounts for the orbital motion of Earth around the Sun. NASA: Moon By the Numbers
What is the term for the lunar phase when exactly half of the Moon's visible surface is illuminated and increasing?
Waxing Crescent
Waning Gibbous
Third Quarter
First Quarter
The first quarter phase occurs when half of the Moon's near side is illuminated and the illuminated portion is increasing, or waxing. It appears as a perfect half-circle in the sky. This phase happens roughly one week after the new moon. NASA Moon Phases
What is the lunar phase called when only a small sliver of the Moon is visible before a new moon?
First Quarter
Waning Crescent
Waxing Crescent
Full Moon
In the waning crescent phase, the Moon's illuminated portion continues to decrease, leaving only a thin sliver visible before it reaches the new moon phase. This occurs just before the Moon is entirely dark again. It marks the final phase of the lunar cycle. NASA Moon Phases
What is the phase called when the Moon is fully illuminated?
New Moon
Gibbous Moon
Full Moon
Quarter Moon
During the full moon phase, the entire face of the Moon that faces Earth is illuminated by sunlight. This happens when the Moon is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun. It appears as a complete circular disc in the night sky. NASA Moon Phases
What do we call the lunar phase after a full Moon when the illuminated portion is decreasing?
Waning Crescent
Waxing Gibbous
Waning Gibbous
Waxing Crescent
After a full moon, the visible illuminated portion of the Moon begins to shrink, or wane. The phase immediately following full moon is called waning gibbous. It appears as a bulging shape that gradually decreases. NASA Moon Phases
What is the term for the line dividing the lit and dark parts of the Moon?
Equator
Meridian
Terminator
Horizon
The terminator is the line that separates the illuminated and dark hemispheres of the Moon. Observers often see craters and mountains along this line in sharp relief because of the contrast. It moves across the lunar surface as the phase changes. NASA Moon Phases
What is the term for the lunar phase when half the Moon is illuminated and the lit portion is decreasing?
First Quarter
New Moon
Full Moon
Third Quarter
The third quarter phase, also called the last quarter, occurs when exactly half of the Moon's surface facing Earth is illuminated and that illuminated portion is waning. This phase appears about three weeks into the lunar cycle. It looks like a half-moon in the sky. NASA Moon Phases
What primarily causes the phases of the Moon?
The relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon
The Moon's atmosphere scattering sunlight
Earth's shadow casting darkness
Seasonal tilt of Earth's axis
The phases of the Moon result from how much of the Moon's sunlit half is visible from Earth, which changes depending on the Moon's position relative to Earth and the Sun. As the Moon orbits Earth, different angles of sunlight illuminate its near side. This geometry creates the familiar sequence of phases. NASA: Earth's Moon Overview
What is the approximate interval between a new Moon and the next full Moon?
14.8 days
7 days
29 days
27 days
The period between new Moon and full Moon is half of the synodic month, so it is roughly 14.8 days. This represents the time it takes the Moon to go from completely dark to fully illuminated as seen from Earth. The full cycle lasts about 29.5 days. Space.com Moon Phases
What is a lunar eclipse?
When the Sun eclipses stars behind the Moon
When the Moon blocks Earth's view of the Sun
When Earth passes between the Sun and Moon and casts a shadow on the Moon
When the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth creating a shadow
A lunar eclipse happens when Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth's shadow to fall on the lunar surface. This only occurs at the full Moon phase when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align. There are three types: total, partial, and penumbral lunar eclipses. NASA Lunar Eclipses
During which phase can a lunar eclipse only occur?
Full Moon
New Moon
Last Quarter
First Quarter
A lunar eclipse can only take place during a full moon because that is when the Moon is opposite the Sun in Earth's sky, allowing Earth's shadow to fall on the lunar surface. The Sun, Earth, and Moon must be nearly in a straight line. NASA Lunar Eclipses
What distinguishes a sidereal month from a synodic month?
Sidereal includes eclipses; synodic does not
They are the same length
Synodic measures orbit speed; sidereal measures rotation speed
Sidereal is relative to the stars; synodic to the Sun
A sidereal month (~27.3 days) is the time the Moon takes to complete one orbit relative to the fixed stars. A synodic month (~29.5 days) is the time between identical lunar phases as seen from Earth. The difference arises because Earth is orbiting the Sun as the Moon completes a circuit. Weber State Univ. - Moon Phases
What causes the phenomenon of earthshine on the Moon?
The Moon emitting its own faint glow
Residual sunlight scattering in space
Meteor trails lighting the lunar surface
Sunlight reflected off Earth's surface illuminating the dark side of the Moon
Earthshine is sunlight that reflects off Earth and then illuminates the Moon's dark side. It is most noticeable when the Moon is a thin crescent. The brightness and color of earthshine can vary with Earth's cloud cover and surface conditions. NASA Earthshine
What is the orbital inclination of the Moon's orbit relative to the ecliptic plane?
45°
5°
23.5°
0°
The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees relative to Earth's orbital plane (the ecliptic). This tilt prevents eclipses from occurring every month. Only when the Moon is near its orbital nodes during new or full phases do eclipses happen. Time and Date - Moon
How long does it take the Moon to rotate once on its axis?
24 hours
14 days
One synodic month
One sidereal month
The Moon is tidally locked with Earth, rotating on its axis in the same time it takes to orbit Earth relative to the stars, which is one sidereal month (~27.3 days). This synchronous rotation keeps the same face pointed toward Earth. NASA: Moon By the Numbers
What is lunar libration?
Atmospheric distortion of lunar images
The Moon's shadow wobbling during eclipse
Rapid fluctuations in lunar brightness
The Moon's periodic slight wobble that reveals more than half its surface over time
Lunar libration refers to the Moon's small oscillations in orientation that allow observers on Earth to see up to about 59% of the lunar surface over time. These result from the Moon's orbital eccentricity and axial tilt. Without libration, we would always see exactly 50%. NASA Lunar Libration
What is the maximum libration angle of the Moon?
3.5°
1°
15°
7.9°
The maximum combined libration (longitudinal plus latitudinal and diurnal) yields apparent oscillations of up to about 7.9 degrees, allowing us to peek around the edges of the lunar near side. This small angle is due to orbital eccentricity and inclination. NASA Lunar Libration
What is the Saros cycle?
The 18-year, 11-day eclipse recurrence cycle
A 29.5-day lunar cycle
The period of lunar perigee precession
The time between harvest moons
The Saros cycle lasts approximately 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours, after which the Sun, Earth, and Moon return to nearly the same relative geometry, yielding similar eclipses. It results from the interplay of synodic, draconic, and anomalistic month lengths. NASA Eclipse Cycles
What is the term for a full Moon that occurs at the Moon's closest point to Earth in its orbit, making it appear larger?
Harvest Moon
Supermoon
Blue Moon
Blood Moon
A "supermoon" is a full or new Moon that occurs when the Moon is near perigee, the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. This makes it appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than when at apogee. Time and Date - Supermoon
What lunar phase angle corresponds to a waxing gibbous Moon?
270° - 360°
0° - 90°
180° - 270°
90° - 180°
Phase angle is the angle between the Sun, Moon, and observer on Earth. A waxing gibbous occurs when the phase angle is between 90° and 180°, with more than half illuminated and still increasing until full Moon. University of Maryland - Moon Phases
What is the length of an anomalistic month?
27.212 days
27.321 days
29.531 days
27.554 days
An anomalistic month (~27.554 days) is the time the Moon takes to return to perigee, its closest point to Earth, due to the elliptical shape of its orbit. It differs from the sidereal and synodic months because of orbital precession. Wikipedia - Anomalistic Month
Which phenomenon describes the westward shift of the Moon's orbital nodes completing a full circle in about 18.6 years?
Synodic Precession
Libration
Nodal Precession
Apsidal Precession
Nodal precession is the gradual westward regression of the Moon's orbital nodes, taking about 18.6 years to complete a 360° cycle. This cycle affects the timing and occurrence of eclipses. Wikipedia - Nodal Precession
What is the length of a draconic (nodal) month, the time between successive passages of the Moon through the same node?
29.531 days
27.554 days
27.321 days
27.212 days
A draconic month, lasting about 27.212 days, measures the time it takes for the Moon to return to the same ascending or descending node of its orbit. It's crucial for eclipse prediction because eclipses only occur when the Moon is near a node. Wikipedia - Draconic Month
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Moon Phases -

    Master the names and characteristics of major lunar stages such as new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter.

  2. Sequence the Lunar Cycle -

    Arrange moon phases in their correct chronological order to illustrate how the lunar cycle progresses each month.

  3. Differentiate Waxing and Waning -

    Distinguish between waxing and waning phases and explain how the moon's appearance changes over time.

  4. Recall Lunar Terminology -

    Remember key terms introduced in the Brainpop moon phases lesson, reinforcing your lunar vocabulary.

  5. Apply Knowledge in Quiz Format -

    Use your understanding to answer quiz questions accurately and test your mastery of moon phases.

  6. Evaluate and Reinforce Learning -

    Assess your quiz results to identify areas for improvement and solidify your grasp of lunar concepts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Synodic Month & Phase Names -

    The moon completes its synodic cycle in about 29.5 days, passing through eight principal phases from new to waning crescent (NASA, 2022). Remember the order - New, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, Waning Crescent - to ace the brainpop moon phases quiz. Try the mnemonic "New Wizards Fight Great Battles For Wealthy Warlords" to lock in phase order.

  2. Earth - Moon - Sun Geometry -

    Moon phases arise from the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun, which control how much of the Moon's surface is illuminated (USGS, 2020). When the Moon is between Earth and Sun, it's a New Moon; when Earth is between Sun and Moon, it's Full Moon. Visualizing the three-body alignment helps cement your understanding for moon phases brainpop content.

  3. Waxing vs. Waning Identification -

    "Waxing" means the illuminated portion grows, while "waning" means it shrinks. In the Northern Hemisphere, waxing looks like a right-side smile and waning like a left-side grin - remember "Wax On" to recall which side brightens first. This handy trick makes phases of the moon brainpop quizzes feel like play!

  4. Orbital Inclination & Eclipses -

    The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° relative to Earth's orbit around the Sun, so lunar eclipses don't occur every month (NAOJ, 2019). When the Moon crosses Earth's orbital plane during Full or New Moon, that's when eclipses can happen. Understanding this tilt gives extra context to your brainpop moon lessons and deepens lunar cycle mastery.

  5. Quiz Strategies & Brainpop Moon Phases Quiz Answers -

    Create flashcards with phase names and images or sketch the lunar cycle to reinforce memory - active recall beats passive reading. Test yourself in order and backward, then check your brainpop moon phases quiz answers to identify gaps. Consistent practice with these techniques boosts confidence and prepares you to ace any moon phases brainpop challenge!

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