The Earth
The Sun
The Moon and History
The Universe
Eclipses and Seasons
100
What is an axis of rotation?
The imaginary line running through Earth's center, which it rotates around.
100
How does the Sun's lifespan and size compare to other stars?
The Sun has a average lifespan and a is a medium sized star.
100
Why do we only see one side of the moon?
Because the Moon orbits (revolves) around the Earth at the same rate as the Moon's rotation, so only one side is always pointed towards Earth. (1 rotation = 1 revolution)
100
What makes up the Universe?
Everything! Space and all the matter and energy in it.
100
What causes seasons on Earth?
Earth's tilted axis and orbit (revolution) around the Sun.
200
What is revolution? How long is Earth's revolution?
The motion of one object around another; 365.25 days.
200
What is the Sun, and other stars, primarily made of?
Hydrogen gas.
200
Who proposed that the Sun was at the center of the Solar System? How did Galileo confirm it?
Copernicus; he confirmed it by looking at the phases of Venus.
200
What is a galaxy? What is the name of our galaxy?
A group of millions or billions of stars held together by their own gravity; our galaxy is the Milky Way galaxy.
200
What is a solstice? What is an equinox?
Solstice: sunlight is at a maximum in one hemisphere and a minimum in another. Equinox: sunlight occurs equally on both hemispheres.
300
What causes night and day?
Our rotation around our axis causes this to happen.
300
How does the Sun produce energy?
Hydrogen + hydrogen=helium, called nuclear fusion.
300
What causes the phases of the Moon?
½ the Moon always is receiving sunlight, so the phases depend on the Moon’s orbit around Earth and how much of the reflected sunlight is facing Earth.
300
What does AU stand for and what does it measure?
Astronomical unit; the distance from the Earth to the Sun.
300
What are the two types of eclipses? Describe them.
Lunar: Moon becomes dark and passes through Earth’s shadow. Solar: Sun “darkens” and Moon passes between Earth and Sun.
400
What is revolution? What is rotation?
Revolution - This is one object moving around another; Rotation - this other term is one object moving around itself, which takes 24 hours for Earth.
400
What is a heliocentric system?
A system where the planets, including Earth, revolve around the Sun.
400
What causes tides and when are they highest?
The Moon’s gravity; they are highest during a spring tide when the Sun, Moon and Earth are nearly in a line.
400
What are names of the eight planets in order, starting with the planet closest to the Sun? Which planets are terrestrial and which planets are gas giants?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune M,V,E,M - Terrestrial J,S,U,N - Gas giants
400
What is an umbra? A penumbra?
Umbra=darkest part of the shadow in an eclipse; penumbra=spreading cone of lighter shadow.
500
DAILY DOUBLE - In June, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere? Is that an equinox or solstice?
Winter, solstice.
500
Heat from the Sun transfers what type of energy? How do we see this energy?
Radiation; we see it as waves (ultraviolet, x-ray, visible light).
500
What causes the Moon to stay in orbit around the Earth (2 things)?
Gravity and inertia.
500
What is gravity? What is inertia?
Gravity is the force that objects exert on each other because of their masses. Inertia is the resistance of an object to a change in speed or direction of its motion.
500
DAILY DOUBLE - What are the 8 Moon phases in order, starting with New Moon?
New Moon, waxing crescent, 1st quarter, waxing gibbous, full Moon, waning gibbous, 3rd quarter, waning crescent.
M
e
n
u