Vocabulary
What is rotation?
What is revolution
Rotation is the spinning of a body on it's axis
Revolution is the motion of a body around a point in space
What causes Earth's seasons to occur?
The tilt of the Earth on its axis, 23.5 degrees.
What are the two main motions of earth and what is the shape of Earth's orbit?
Rotation and revolution
Earth's orbit is an elliptical.
Earth's natural satellite is...
the moon!
What are the two types of eclipses?
solar and lunar eclipses
What is waning?
What is waxing?
Waning is decreasing
Waxing is increasing
True or false: The Southern hemisphere has the same seasons as the North
False, they are opposite.
How long does one rotation of Earth take?
How long does one revolution of Earth take?
One rotation is 24 hours
One revolution is 1 year
29 days
What is the difference between a penumbra and an umbra?
Umbra- the innermost dark spot on an object where the light is completely blocked on a body.
Penumbra- only a portion of the light is blocked
What is precession?
What is a satellite?
The rotation of Earth's axis known as the "wobble"
Satellite is an orbiting body
What is an equinox?
Equinox is when the sun is directly above the equator
How long does one precession rotation take?
26,000 years
What is the difference between perigee and apogee?
Perigee is when the moon is closest to the Earth
Apogee is when the moon is farthest from the Earth
What is the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse?
a solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and earth, casting a shadow on earth
a lunar eclipse is when the earth passes between the moon and sun, casting a shadow on the moon.
What is the plane of the ecliptic?
What is an elliptical?
Plane of the ecliptic is the imaginary plane of Earth’s orbit and the sun
Elliptical is oval shaped
What is a solstice?
Solstice is when the sun's path is farthest North or South of the equator
What is the difference between aphelion and perihelion?
Perihelion is when the Earth is closest to the sun, and aphelion is when the Earth is farthest from the sun.
Why does the same side of the moon always appear to face Earth?
The moon is phase locked. It has the same rotation and revolution period, causing the same side of the moon to face Earth.
How often does a solar eclipse happen and what phase must the moon be in?
A solar eclipse happens every 18 months, but only in the same area every 350-400 years. It can only happen during new moon.
What is eclipse?
What is a lunar phase?
Eclipse occurs any time something passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light
Lunar phases are a result of the motion of the moon and the sunlight that is reflected from its surface
How does daylight change between equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice?
During fall and spring equinox the days and nights are equal length.
During summer solstice days are longer while during winter days are shorter
Describe the motions of the Earth in detail.
Earth is rotating on it's axis as it revolves around the sun. The axis is slowly rotating, causing a wobble (precession).
What is the difference between a crescent and gibbous moon?
Crescent moon shows less than half of the moon as being lit.
Gibbous moon is when more then half of moon is lit.
How often does a lunar eclipse happen and what phase must the moon be in?
A lunar eclipse can happen between 0-3 times a year. The moon must be in the full moon phase.