Earth's Phenomena
Solar System
Stars
Misconceptions
SURPRISE!
100
Name the different phases of the Moon, starting from the new moon
New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First quarter, Waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, 3rd quarter, waning crescent
100
Name the four gas giants.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
100
What is the relationship between the Big Dipper and the Polaris?
Big Dipper has two pointer stars that make a straight line towards Polaris
100

Sunspots are considered cold...but....

They are really hot areas but they are darker because they are relatively cooler than the areas around them.
100
What is the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun?
Ellipse
200
Explain why we have different seasons
Earth's rotation is on a tilt, meaning that in the summer, Northern hemisphere is closer to the Sun and in the winter, it is farther away.
200

Which of the four terrestrial planets would we consider to be most like Earth.

Mars

200
In the final stages of a star's life , what are the three things it can become?
neutron star, white dwarf, black hole
200
State the three evidences we have to prove that the Earth is not round.
Disappearing Ships, Changing Sky, Earth's Curved Shadow
200
What is the difference between revolution and rotation?
Revolution - an object orbiting another along a path Rotation - an object spinning around an axis that goes through itself
300
Explain the difference between a lunar and a solar eclipse
Lunar - the earth is between the sun and the moon, causing the moon to be in the Earth's shadow Solar - the moon is between the earth and the sun, causing the shadow of the moon to fall on the Earth
300
Even though Venus is further than Mercury from the Sun, why is it hotter?
Venus has an atmosphere, allowing it to trap heat.
300
Describe the Sun using the following words: sunspots, photosphere, and solar winds (be sure to define those words too)
The Sun is a star made of gas. The surface of the sun is called the photosphere. Darker spots that have a strong magnetic field on the photosphere are called sunspots. These spots are cooler than the rest of the photosphere. When there are complex sunspots, they can ejecte streams of charged particles called solar winds, which hit the Earth and can cause damage to electrical power networks.
300
Is a shooting star a star? What is it?
Meteor
300
What is the difference between a meteor, meteorite, and a meteroid?
meteor - meteoroid that burns up after colliding with Earth's atmosphere meteoroid - piece of rock moving through space meteorite - meteoroid large enough to pass through Earth and lands on ground without burning up.
400
Explain how tides on Earth are affected by the Moon.
The difference in the force of gravity on the sides of the Earth causes a tidal force.
400
Explain why Pluto is no longer a planet. What is it called now?
Its orbit is inconsistent and intersects with the orbit of Neptune. Now called a dwarf planet
400

What is the main sequence?

The central band of stars in the H-R diagram that makes up 90% of the stars that we see on Earth

400

People say that you can see the whole moon from Earth. Is that true? Explain.

No. Dark side of the moon we never see because it is constantly rotating as it is revolving around the Earth

400

What is a constellation?

A group of stars that seem to form a pattern in the night sky.

500

Name the four terrestrial planets.

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

500
Explain the difference between a comet and an asteroid
Comet - made of rocky material, ice & gas, originate from Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud Asteroid - small objects that range in size, asteroid belt between Mars & Jupiter
500

A star is defined as?

A celestial body made up of hot gases, mainly Hydrogen and some Helium

500

Some people think that all stars look the same because they're the same distance from the Earth. Is that true? Why or why not?

Stars are different light years away.  Their brightness in the night sky helps to give a sense of how far they are but their composition also plays a role.

500

What is a light year?

The distance that light travels in a year.

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