WVGSA Grade 5 Science Practice Questions - West Virginia General Summative Assessment Grade 5 Science Exam

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At 9:00 PM, a student observes the Big Dipper low in the northern night sky. At 3:00 AM (6 hours later), the Big Dipper appears higher in the sky, rotated counter-clockwise around Polaris. What causes this position shift during a single night?

Stars in the Big Dipper fly across space at high speeds. Earth's rotation on its axis causes constellations to appear to rotate around Polaris throughout the night. The Sun's gravity pulls stars around Earth. Earth's annual orbit around the Sun changes position dramatically in 6 hours.

Correct Answer:

Earth's rotation on its axis causes constellations to appear to rotate around Polaris throughout the night.

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