Question

which phase occurs when the moon is positioned between earth and the sun?
a) last quarter
b) full moon
c) new moon
d) waning crescent

1. if the moon is moving from full moon toward new moon, what is happening?

a) staying the same
b) growing larger
c) becoming fully lit
d) shrinking

1. which phase comes after the waxing crescent?

a) full moon
b) waning gibbous
c) first quarter
d) last quarter

1. what term describes the moons illuminated portion getting smaller?

a) waxing
b) waning
c) crescenting
d) orbiting

1. if less than half of the moon is visible and the left side is lit, what phase is it?

a) waxing crescent
b) waning crescent
c) first quarter
d) last quarter

1. what phase occurs immediately before the new moon?

a) waning crescent
b) last quarter
c) waning gibbous
d) waxing crescent

Explanation:

1. When the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, its illuminated side faces away from Earth, creating a new moon.
2. Moving from full to new moon means the visible lit portion decreases, so it is shrinking.
3. The lunar phase order is new moon → waxing crescent → first quarter → waxing gibbous → full moon, so first quarter follows waxing crescent.
4. "Waning" is the term for the Moon's illuminated portion decreasing in size.
5. A waning crescent has less than half the Moon visible, with the left side lit (from the Northern Hemisphere perspective).
6. The phase right before new moon is the waning crescent, as the lit portion shrinks completely.

Answer:

1. c) New moon
2. d) Shrinking
3. c) First quarter
4. b) Waning
5. b) Waning crescent
6. a) Waning crescent