Solar System
Define "heliocentric"
Having the Sun at the center
Which planets have at least one moon?
Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
What is a solstice, and why does it occur?
A solstice occurs twice a year (around June 21st and December 21st) when Earth’s axis is most tilted toward or away from the Sun, causing the longest day (summer solstice) or the shortest day (winter solstice) in the year
When the moon is waxing, which side is the light on?
Right
When (time of day) can solar and lunar eclipses be viewed?
Solar eclipses can only be viewed during the day, and lunar eclipses can only be viewed at night.
What causes ocean tides on Earth?
What is weathering?
Weathering is the process of rocks disintegrating over long periods of time due to weather conditions or other biological causes
Define "geocentric"
Having Earth as the center
Name the four terrestrial planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
What is an equinox, and why does it occur?
An equinox occurs twice a year (around March 21st and September 21st), when the tilt of Earth’s axis is neither toward nor away from the Sun, resulting in equal amounts of daylight and darkness for most of the Earth
When the moon is waning, which side is the light on?
Left
What causes a lunar eclipse to appear red during a total lunar eclipse?
The red color occurs because Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight, allowing red wavelengths to pass through and illuminate the Moon.
Why do spring tides occur?
When the Earth, sun, and moon line up, their gravitational power combines to make exceptionally high low tides.
What type of rock forms from lava or magma?
Igneous
What are the names of the four Galilean moons?
Io, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede
What is the mnemonic device used to remember the order of the planets?
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Noodles/Nachos
How long does each season last?
3 months
How long does it take to go from a 1st quarter moon to a full moon?
1 week
Can a total solar eclipse be seen from anywhere on Earth? Why or why not?
No, a total solar eclipse is visible only from a small area on Earth, called the path of totality, where the Moon's shadow falls.
Why do neap tides occur?
When the sun and moon are positioned at right angles to the Earth, their gravitational pulls partially cancel each other out, resulting in smaller differences between high and low tides
What is the name of the process in which liquid turns into gas?
Evaporation
Which came first - the geocentric model or the heliocentric model?
The geocentric model
Which planet gets VERY warm during the day and VERY cold at night?
Mercury
When is the vernal equinox for the Southern hemisphere, and what season ends on this date?
September 21st, winter
Which moon phases only last for one night?
new moon, 1st quarter moon, full moon, and 3rd quarter moon
Which type of eclipse (solar or lunar) is more rare, and why?
Solar eclipses are more rare because the moon's shadow is very small and can easily miss Earth
How often do most costal areas experience high and low tides?
What is the name of the element with the atomic number 1?
Hydrogen
What group is primarily responsible for the cultural pushback against the idea of a heliocentric solar system?
The Catholic church (which was basically also the government at that time)
Which planet has an incredibly thick atmosphere, causing it to stay VERY hot
Venus
Which season is Ms. Fish's favorite, and why?
Fall because of the pretty leaves and crunchy leaves
Which moon phases take place over the course of about 6 days?
The next eclipse experienced in Franklin, TN will be on March 14th. What kind of eclipse will this be?
Total lunar eclipse
How often do spring tides and neap tides occur?
About twice a month for each
What is the name of our galaxy?
Milky Way
What is the Kuiper belt, and where is it found?
The Kuiper Belt is a region beyond Neptune that contains many icy bodies and dwarf planets, including Pluto
Which planets have rings?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
Why do the Northern and Southern hemispheres experience seasons at opposite times of the year?
Since the Earth is tilted on its axis, different hemispheres receive more or less direct sunlight depending on the time of year. When one hemisphere is tilting toward theSun, the other hemisphere must be tilting away from the Sun.
Which moon phase comes just before a waning crescent?
3rd quarter moon
Why don't lunar and solar eclipses happen every month?
The moon orbits the Earth at an angle, so the shadows don't typically line up just right
Which moon phases cause spring tides?
new moon and full moon
Where did Ms. Fish go to college?
Colorado College
What is the Asteroid belt, and where is it found?
The asteroid belt is a region between Mars and Jupiter where most of the solar system's asteroids are found
Which planets are made of gas and/or ice?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
How would Earth's seasons change if we stopped revolving around the Sun?
Each hemisphere would be "stuck" in one season
Which moon phase comes just after a full moon?
Waning gibbous
What unusual phenomenon will you not see if you're not in the umbra of a solar eclipse?
You will miss true totality, when the only part of Sun visible is the silvery corona
Which moon phases cause neap tides?
1st quarter moon and 3rd quarter moon
What is the main source of energy for Earth?
The Sun
Describe the difference in composition between an asteroid and a comet.
Asteroids are made of rock and metal, while comets are made of rock and ice
Which planet is found roughly halfway between the Sun and the Kuiper belt?
Uranus
If Earth’s axis were not tilted, would we still experience seasons? Why or why not?
No, because if Earth’s axis were not tilted, the Sun’s rays would strike Earth evenly throughout the year, and we would not have variations in temperature or seasons.
What name do we give to the 2nd full moon in a calendar month?
Blue moon
What is the difference between an umbra and a penumbra?
The umbra is the darkest part of the shadow (like a good umbrella), and the penumbra is a much larger, but lighter part of the shadow (like a really, really, really, giant, awful umbrella with lots of holes)
Which moon phases cause regular tides?
Waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous, and waning crescent
What is the largest mammal in the world?
How does the size of our Sun compare to other stars in our universe?
The Sun is a very average-sized star. There are many that are much smaller, and there are many that are much larger.
This planet orbits on its side.
Uranus
When looking at a diagram of the Earth's orbit, which sections should you focus on first, and which sections are trying to trick you?
Always start with the left and right sides, since one of these will be winter and the other will be summer. The Earths at the top and bottom are so super sneaky and they're trying to trick your brain. Don't let them win!
If there is a 1st quarter moon today, how many weeks ago would we have seen a full moon?
3 weeks
What moon phase could create a solar eclipse?
New moon
Why do most costal areas experience two high tides and two low tides each day?
What is the process in which a solid changes directly to a gas without becoming a liquid?
Sublimation
Most scientists believe our solar system is how many years old?
About 4.6 billion years old
What are the THREE rules an object must follow in order to be considered a planet?
1. Clear orbit
2. Big enough to be spherical
3. Orbits the Sun
Which season is Ms. Fish's cats' favorite, and why?
Winter, for maximum snuggly naps
Why do we only ever see one side of the moon from Earth?
The moon rotates and revolves at the same rate, so the same side is always facing us
What moon phase could create a lunar eclipse?
Full moon
What is the difference between a high tide and a low tide?
High tide is when the water level is at its highest point along the shore, while low tide is when the water level is at its lowest point
What is the process by which plants release water vapor through small pores in their leaves?
transpiration