All About Earth
What is the reason for the seasons experienced on Earth?
The Earth's tilt and its revolution around the Sun.
Name 3 differences between the inner and outer planets.
Size, density, distance from Sun, temperatures, composition, number of moons, rate of rotation, rate of revolution, rings
Name all the 8 moon phases in order, starting and ending with a new moon.
New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third/last quarter, waning crescent, new moon
What is the International Space Station?
A long-term orbiting platform where scientists from all over the world can work in space.
The motion of objects within galaxies are governed by...
Gravity
How often does Earth make a rotation? How often does Earth make a revolution?
24 hour rotation, 365.25 day revolution
How is Earth different from other planets in the solar system?
A. Earth has no natural satellites.
B. Earth’s atmosphere is composed of gases.
C. Water is found in all three states on Earth.
D. Volcanoes release liquid rock onto Earth’s surface.
c. Water is found in all three states on Earth.
About how many days is a complete lunar cycle?
28 days
What is the most likely reason for NASA launching a new satellite?
A. taking close pictures of Neptune
B. taking samples of rocks on Earth
C. studying the atmosphere of Earth
D. collecting gas samples from Neptune
C. studying the atmosphere of Earth
How do we get auroras or the Northern lights?
Solar flares are produced along the sun’s outer layer. These flares are attracted to Earth’s magnetic poles and can be seen as auroras.
Why is Earth the only planet that can sustain human life? What are the three requirements?
Liquid water, breathable atmosphere, and suitable amount of sunshine
Our solar system has a heliocentric structure. What does that mean?
The sun is at the center, and everything else revolves around it.
What is the position of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a lunar eclipse? Which moon phase does a lunar eclipse occur in only?
Sun, Earth, Moon (the Earth casts a shadow over the moon) and the moon is a full blood moon.
What was the primary goal of the Apollo program?
To conduct scientific exploration of the moon.
What is the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid?
A meteoroid is a small chuck of space rock, a meteor is when the small rock falls into a planet's atmosphere and burns up (shooting star), and a meteorite is when the rock makes it through the atmosphere and collides with a surface.
Why is Earth's atmosphere so important to life on Earth besides having breathable oxygen?
It blocks harmful radiation from the sun.
Venus is often referred to as a “sister planet” to Earth because they share some similarities. Why is Earth able to sustain life but Venus is not?
A. Earth is a larger planet.
B. Earth is a smaller planet.
C. Earth has liquid water on the surface.
D. Earth has a much warmer atmosphere.
C. Earth has liquid water on the surface.
During which moon phases does the moon appear to shrink?
Waning phases
Jean and Tyrell are planning a mission to study the surface of an outer planet. Which machine would they most likely choose for this mission?
A. a rover
B. a space probe
C. a crewed spacecraft
D. a rocketship
B. a space probe
Ms. Williams swings a tennis ball on a string above her head. She tells the class that the demonstration shows how a planet, like Earth, remains in orbit around the Sun.
Which statement BEST describes what would happen first if the string broke while swinging the ball during the demonstration?
A. The ball would fly toward the teacher.
B. The ball would immediately fall to the ground.
C. The ball would continue orbiting on the same path.
D. The ball would fly away from the teacher.
D. The ball would fly away from the teacher.
Which season does the Northern Hemisphere experience when Earth is fully tilted away from the Sun?
Winter
Earth’s atmosphere supports life. Which statement best explains why the atmosphere on Mars cannot similarly support life?
A. The atmosphere on Mars is too thin.
B. The atmosphere on Mars is too thick.
C. The atmosphere on Mars blocks out the sun.
D. The atmosphere on Mars contains only oxygen.
A. The atmosphere on Mars is too thin.
What does the Sun and Moon have to do with Earth's ocean tides? What is the difference between a spring tide and neap tide?
The Moon and Sun's gravitational pull causes high and low tides on Earth's waters. The Moon and Sun work together in a spring tide, causing higher and lower tides during a new moon and full moon, whereas during a neap tide which occurs during a quarter moon, the Sun and Moon work against each other and produce weaker high and low tides.
What might the Hubble Telescope be used to observe?
A. the depths of Earth’s oceans
B. the shapes of Earth’s forests
C. the size of planets in our galaxy
D. the composition of the moon’s core
C. the size of planets in our galaxy
What does Kepler's first law of planetary motion state?
The orbits of the planets around the sun are elliptical, with the Sun at the center.