FTCE Subject Area Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Prep Guide

Question: 1 / 400

When the moon appears to be decreasing in size, what phase is it going through?

Waxing

Waning

The moon appears to be decreasing in size during the waning phase. This occurs after a full moon, when the illuminated portion of the moon visible from Earth diminishes over time until it reaches the new moon phase. During the waning phase, the moon transitions from full moon to new moon, which is characterized by decreasing visibility.

In contrast, the waxing phase refers to the period where the moon is increasing in size from a new moon to a full moon. The full moon is the phase where the moon is fully illuminated, presenting the largest appearance. The new moon phase occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun, resulting in the moon being completely obscured from view, not showing any illumination at all. Therefore, waning is the correct choice when discussing the moon's apparent decrease in size.

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