Science Assessment ~ Items ~ CL033002

Which of the following statements is TRUE about changes in the Sun’s daily maximum height in the sky at Place 1 shown below starting on a day in late December (the first day of winter)?

The maximum height the sun reaches in the sky increases each day over the next 12 months.
The maximum height the sun reaches in the sky decreases each day over the course of the next 12 months.
The maximum height the sun reaches in the sky increases each day for six months and then decreases each day for the next six months.
The maximum height the sun reaches in the sky does not change.

Details
Performance
NGSS

Topic: Weather and Climate II: Seasonal Differences
Correct Answer: C
Misconceptions

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item CL033002

Students Responding Correctly

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	775	2188	35%
Grades
6–8	370	1177	31%
9–12	401	998	40%
Gender
Male	378	1061	36%
Female	370	1055	35%
Primary Language
English	687	1897	36%
Other	63	212	30%

View data table

Disciplinary Core Ideas: ESS1.A Patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models.
ESS1.B The orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, cause observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year.

Science Assessment

Item CL033002: For places that are north of the topical region, the maximum height the sun reaches in the sky increases each day for six months and then decreases each day for the next six months.