Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice test

What is the main characteristic of the waxing crescent phase?

1. The moon is invisible

2. The moon is fully illuminated

3. Less than half of the moon is illuminated and is increasing

4. More than half of the moon is illuminated and is decreasing

The correct answer is: Less than half of the moon is illuminated and is increasing

The main characteristic of the waxing crescent phase is that less than half of the moon is illuminated, and this illuminated portion is increasing as it progresses towards the first quarter phase. During this phase, the moon appears as a thin crescent shape, with the illuminated side growing larger each night. In this phase, the moon is positioned between the new moon and the first quarter, which means that observers on Earth see a small sliver of the moon reflecting sunlight. This contrasts with the other choices: the moon being invisible corresponds to the new moon phase; full illumination describes the full moon phase; and more than half illumination that is decreasing refers to the waning gibbous phase. Each phase of the moon has its own unique characteristics based on the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth, specifically their positions relative to one another in space.