Earth's Orbit and Tilt
How long does it take Earth to revolve around the Sun?
365.25 days
What does equinox mean? How many hours of day and night are there at the equinoxes?
"equal night" ; 12 hours day, 12 days night
If you visited Antarctica at Christmas, what season would it be there?
summer
What is our time zone?
Eastern Standard Time
Why do the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere have opposite seasons?
When the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun (summer), the southern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun (winter). And vice versa.
What is the tilt angle of the Earth's axis?
23.5 degrees
What is the shortest day of the year and why?
winter solstice. The sun spends the least amount of time in our sky. It rises and sets farther south and is lowest at the meridian.
Describe the summer solstice and winter solstice in the arctic circle. Why does this occur?
summer solstice: 24 hours daylight because North Pole is inclined toward the Sun
winter solstice: 24 hours darkness because North Pole is inclined away from the Sun.
What is Standard Time and why was it developed?
Dividing the world into 24 time zones based on longitude. This helped people determine the time when they were quickly crossing large areas (ie. train).
Describe the lag of the seasons (seasonal lag). Give an example.
The Earth warms and cools slowly. August is usually warmer than June. January/February are usually colder than December.
The Earth's axis is always pointed towards this.
Polaris
Describe the changes in where the Sun rises and sets throughout the year, starting with the vernal equinox.
vernal equinox: rises due east, sets due west
summer solstice: rises north of due east and north of due west
autumnal equinox: rises due east, sets due west
winter solstice: rises south of due east and south of due west
What is significant about the Tropic of Cancer?
Explain Daylight Saving Time and how we practice it.
Changing clocks in spring to better use daylight hours.
Spring Forward. Fall Back.
On the equinoxes, the Sun's path reaches the zenith here.
equator
When does the tropical year begin?
vernal equinox - March 21
Describe the angle of the Sun at noon through the seasons beginning with the vernal equinox.
vernal equinox: around mid-sky (48 degrees)--> moves up to the highest point (71 degrees) at summer solstice --> goes back down to mid-sky at autumnal equinox --> lowest point (25 degrees) at winter solstice
What are the latitudes for the following:
Equator:
Tropic of Cancer:
Tropic of Capricorn:
Arctic Circle:
North Pole:
Equator: 0 degrees
Tropic of Cancer: 23 degrees N
Tropic of Capricorn: 23 degrees S
Arctic Circle: 66 degrees N
North Pole: 90 degrees N
What are the time zones of the continental United States? If it is 10 pm EST, what time will the others be?
Eastern Standard Time: 10 pm
Central Standard Time: 9 pm
Mountain Standard Time: 8 pm
Pacific Standard Time: 7 pm
What zodiac constellations does the Sun pass through at: the vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice?
vernal equinox: Pisces
summer solstice: Gemini
autumnal equinox: Virgo
winter solstice: Sagittarius
Explain what causes our seasons.
As the Earth moves around the Sun, its axis is tilted. This tilt is what causes our seasons because through the year different parts of the planet are angled towards or angled away from the Sun's light.
Describe the Sun's path through our sky (rising, setting, high noon) at the autumnal equinox and then moving into October
Autumnal Equinox: rises due east, reaches about 48 degrees at meridian, sets due west. Equal day & night.
--> Begins lowering in the sky and rising/setting farther south
If you wanted to go on a tropical vacation, between which latitudes would you be going to? Why?
Tropics: 23 degrees N (Tropic of Cancer) to 23 degrees S (Tropic of Capricorn)
These are warm all year.
If it is 6 am in Pacific Standard Time, what time is it in Maryland?
9 am EST
Give two reasons that summer is the warmest season.
Longer hours of daylight and Sun is higher in the sky. This causes intense head from the Sun and longer hours to heat up.