Original Project
Weather and Climate II: Seasonal Differences
The orientation of earth's axis of rotation with respect to the sun changes as the earth moves around the sun.
Item CL091002: The shape of the earth's path around the sun is slightly elliptical (nearly circular).
Diagram 1 below shows that the earth’s path around the sun as nearly circular and Diagram 2 shows that the path as strongly elliptical.
What is the actual shape of the earth’s path around the sun?
- Nearly circular (slightly elliptical)
- Strongly elliptical
- The shape of the path changes so that some years it is nearly circular and other years it is strongly elliptical
- Neither. The earth does not move around the sun; the sun moves around the earth.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 674 | 2199 | 31% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 356 | 1210 | 29% |
| 9–12 | 314 | 980 | 32% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 332 | 1039 | 32% |
| Female | 320 | 1084 | 30% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 572 | 1892 | 30% |
| Other | 69 | 211 | 33% |
- NRC Framework
- ESS1.B ...Earth’s orbit is very nearly circular...