20150207

Astronomy quiz question: moon phase, 12 hours later?

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2015
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The moon is in its third quarter phase. Which phase will the moon have 12 hours later? Clearly circle your answer below.


Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

The moon takes approximately four weeks (a "moonth") to go through its eight phases, such that it will take approximately one week to go through two phases, or approximately 3.5 days to go to the next phase. Thus the moon in its third quarter phase will essentially still be in its third quarter phase 12 hours later.

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01Su8L
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 27 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 14 students
(G) : 2 students
(H) : 3 students

Success level: 51% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.62

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