Explanation:
Let’s go through each question one by one, using simple science facts.
1.
Does the moon give off its own light?
No. The Moon does not produce its own light like the Sun does. Instead, it reflects sunlight — just like a mirror or a shiny ball in a dark room that shines only because a lamp is shining on it.
2.
Why can we see the moon at night? Give two reasons.
- Reason 1: The Moon reflects sunlight, and even though the Sun is not visible at night, the part of the Moon facing us is lit up by sunlight (like how you can see a white wall in a dark room if a flashlight shines on it from outside).
- Reason 2: The night sky is dark, so the reflected light from the Moon stands out clearly — there’s no bright sunlight washing it out, unlike during the day.
3.
We see many stars at night. Are they close to or far from Earth? Give a reason for your answer.
Stars are *very far* from Earth. Even the closest star (other than the Sun) is about 4 light-years away — that’s over 40 trillion kilometers! We see them as tiny points of light because they’re so distant, even though many are much bigger and brighter than our Sun.
4.
Why can’t we see the stars during the day?
Because the Sun’s light makes the sky very bright (due to scattering in Earth’s atmosphere), and this brightness overwhelms the faint light from the stars — like trying to see a candle flame next to a powerful spotlight.
5.
Explain why one half of the Earth is lit and the other half is dark.
The Sun shines on only one side of Earth at a time because Earth is a sphere and the Sun’s light travels in straight lines. The side facing the Sun gets daylight; the side facing away is in shadow — that’s night. As Earth rotates, different places move into and out of the sunlight, causing day and night cycles.
Final Answer:
1. No
2. (i) The Moon reflects sunlight; (ii) The night sky is dark, making the Moon visible
3. Far from Earth — stars are huge but appear tiny and faint because they are extremely distant
4. Sunlight scatters in the atmosphere and makes the sky too bright to see faint starlight
5. The Sun lights only the side of Earth facing it; the opposite side is in shadow (night)
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of science worksheet for grade 4.
