20190926

Astronomy quiz question: waning crescent moon setting

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

What time is it when the waning crescent moon is setting?
(A) 12:00 PM (noon).
(B) 3:00 PM (afternoon).
(C) 6:00 PM (sunset).
(D) 9:00 PM (evening).
(E) 12:00 AM (midnight).
(F) 3:00 AM (wee hours).
(G) 6:00 AM (sunrise).
(H) 9:00 AM (morning).

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

The waning crescent moon is highest overhead at 9:00 AM. In a simple model of lunar phases, the moon will take 12 hours from rising to setting, and will take six hours from being highest overhead (at 9:00 AM) to setting, so it will set at 3:00 PM.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz03St3M
(A) : 1 students
(B) : 15 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 6 students
(G) : 4 students
(H) : 3 students
(No responses: 1 student)

Success level: 52% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75

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