Earth and the Sun
It takes Earth this many days to orbit around the Sun
365.24 days
The main cause of seasonal changes is...
The tilt in Earth's axis
Name of the first phase of the Moon
New Moon
What is a shadow?
The light an object blocks that another object emits or reflects
What is a Solar and Lunar eclipse?
Solar: When the moon's shadow appears on Earth's surface. Lunar: When the moon moves into Earth's shadow.
A rotation and rotation axis is...
Rotation: A spinning motion
Rotation Axis: The line where an object rotates on
The Earth is colder in the poles than near the equator. Why?
This is because the light from the Sun's beams have to spread out to reach over Earth's tilted surface so there is more light in the equator and less in the poles.
The Moon emits its own light: True or False
False: The Moon gets its light from the Sun. Since the moon's surface is white, it reflects the light. Only 12% of the light. Still the brightest object
Some objects don't create a shadow in the solar system: True or False
Every single object in the solar system creates a shadow, blocking the sun's path of light
Define a total and partial eclipse
Total eclipse: Total eclipses are only visible within the Planet's Umbra. During a solar eclipse, the Moon appears to cover the sun. It's so dark that the stars are visible. Partial eclipse: The planet passes through the other planet's Penumbra and Umbra but is never fully covered.
Earth is actually farthest away from the Sun during the summer equinox during this holiday, and is closest during the first month of the year on this day.
Closest: January 3
Farthest: July 4
It takes the Moon this amount of time to travel around the Sun
27.3 days
DOUBLE JEOPARDY: If you could look at the darkest and lightest parts from behind an object's shadow, how much of the light source could you see from each location?
Standing in the Umbra, you would see none of the light because the object would block the entire view. Standing in the penumbra, you would see a little bit of the light.
What phases does the Moon have to be in for a Solar and Lunar Eclipse.
Solar: New moon. Lunar: Full Moon
What is apparent motion?
When Earth rotates from west to east and the Sun appears to move east to west
Define Solstices and Equinoxes
Solstice: A day when Earth's rotation axis is closest to the Sun. Equinox: A day when Earth's rotation axis is leaning along Earth's orbit, neither toward or away from the Sun
Name all the phases of the moon (in order)
New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, Waning Crescent
What is a Penumbra and Umbra?
Penumbra: Lighter part of the shadow (outer ring). Umbra: Central, dark part of shadow (inner ring).
What color is the moon during a total Lunar Eclipse?
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed
In the northern hemisphere, the farthest day from the Sun is actually the warmest. Explain.
Due to the tilt of Earth's axis, more of the Earth's surface is facing the Sun.
List and describe the Solstices and Equinoxes (include how long they are and any other facts)
December Solstice: December 21-22: North end of Earth faces away from the Sun. Days are short and and nights are long (for Northern Hemisphere, opposite for Southern). Winter starts. March Equinox: March 20-21: Axis leans on Earths orbit. Equal night and day. Spring begins. June Solstice: June 20-21: North end of axis is towards the Sun. Nights are shortest, Days longest. Summer begins. September Equinox: September 22-23: Earth's rotation axis leans along Earth's orbit. Equal night and day. Autumn starts
What is the difference between a Waning and Waxing Phase? Bonus: How much later does the Moon rise everyday?
Waning: Less of the Moons near side is lit up every night. Waxing: More of the Moon's near side is lit up every night. Bonus: 50 minutes
Give examples of when a Penumbra and Umbra would be created
Light shined onto a ball, a person's shadow, on a soccer field (Riley will explain), etc.
Why don't Lunar and Solar Eclipses occur more often?
Due to the tilt of the moon's orbit, so the moon is very rarely aligned with the Sun and the Moon.