Patterns
January-June: The sun's path get's higher from the horizon
July-December: The sun's path gets lower to the horizon
What does solar mean?
Relating to the Sun.
Where is the Moon during the New Moon phase? What does it look like?
The Moon is between the Sun and the Earth during the New Moon phase. It is completely dark because the Sun is shining on the half of the Moon we cannot see from our perspective on Earth.
Which way does the Earth rotate on its axis?
Counterclockwise.
What does scatter mean in a scientific context?
Light particles spread out throughout the air in all different directions.
What pattern does the Earth do daily on its axis?
Makes a complete rotation on its axis daily- facing the Sun in the daytime, and facing the Moon during the nighttime.
Between summer and winter, the Sun's elevation angle changes in the sky. How?
In the summer, the Sun's angle is higher in the sky. In the winter, the Sun's angle in the sky is lower.
The higher the angle, the more daylight hours we see. The lower the angle, the less daylight hours we see.
Where is the Moon during the Full Moon phase? Why is completely illuminated in the sky?
The Moon is above and behind the Earth during the Full Moon phase. The moon has a tilted orbit, allowing the Sun to illuminate it even behind the Earth.
How often does the Earth orbit around the Sun?
Once annually. Or, every 365 days on a tilted axis.
What does reflect mean in a scientific context?
Bonus Points: Give an example of light reflecting.
When light particles bounce off of a surface.
Example: The Moon reflects the Sun's light at night.
What kind of pattern do the lunar phases go through?
Starting at the New Moon phase, the Moon begins to shows more and more light until it is full.
Once its Full, the Moon then gets darker and darker until it is back in the New Moon phase.
Why do all the planets, asteroids and comets in our solar system orbit around the Sun?
The gravitational force of the Sun allows the planets, asteroids and comets to orbit around it.
Why do we see the shape of the Moon change throughout the month?
The Moon changes shape, from our Earth perspective, based on where it is in its orbit and the amount of sunlight shining on it from its position.
The Moon does not change shape, but the amount of light on the moon makes it appear like it changes shape from Earth.
How do we know Earth's axis points slightly North?
While all the other stars move in the night sky, Polaris (The North Star) does not move. This means the axis is consistently pointing at Polaris as we rotate and orbit around the Sun.
What does transmit mean in a scientific context?
Bonus Point: Give an example of light transmitting.
Light particles pass through a material without bouncing back.
Example: Light from outside transmits through a window, going straight through into a room.
The full cycle of the lunar phases last around 30 days and so does a month.
WHY do we experience Solar Eclipses and WHEN do they occur?
We experience Solar Eclipses for a brief moment when the Sun, Moon and Earth align perfectly in their orbit. Their alignment causes a shadow to be casted onto Earth.
When the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, in the NEW MOON phase, we have a chance to experience a solar eclipse. But, only if the alignment is PERFECT.
What does a gibbous phase of the Moon look like?
A sliver of darkness on an almost fully illuminated moon.
How does the Earth experience a shadow cast onto it during a Total Solar Eclipse?
Two ways:
The Earth is in the umbra shadow of a Solar Eclipse when it is in the path of totality. The Moon will completely cover the Sun for a brief moment.
The Earth is in the penumbra shadow of a Solar Eclipse when it is just outside the path of totality. The Moon will partially cover the Sun.
What does refract mean in a scientific context?
Bonus Points: Give an example of light refracting.
When light bends as it passes from one material to another.
Example: Sunlight refracting and reflecting off water surfaces creates a "glittering" effect
What temperature/daylight hour pattern does Equinox and Solstice explain? When do they occur?
Equinox- when daylight hours and nighttime hours are even, 12 hours of daylight and moonlight. This happens in the Spring and Fall, when we are transitioning to more extreme weather patterns.
Solstice- when we have the most or least amount of daylight hours. This happens in the Summer and Winter, when we experience more extreme weather.
Why does the Southern Hemisphere experience the opposite temperature, seasonal and daylight patterns of the Northern Hemisphere?
While the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun on its axis, experiencing summer, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun on the same axis, experiencing winter.
The tilt of the axis is constantly pointing towards or away from the Sun, making each hemisphere experience the opposite season.
What does a crescent phase of the Moon look like?
A sliver of light on an almost fully dark moon.
How does Earth experience seasons and temperature changes throughout the year?
Earth orbit's the Sun on a tilted axis throughout the year explaining the seasons. The tilted axis either points towards the Sun, when we experience summer. Or the tilted axis points away from the Sun, when we experience winter.
What are four ways that the Sun interacts with light?
By reflecting, refracting, transmitting, or scattering light.