Earth's Tilt & Orbit
What is the degree of Earth’s axial tilt?
What is 23.5 degrees?
The invisible line that splits the earth in half, northern and southern hemisphere. Also regions that receive the most direct sunlight all year long.
Who was the scientist famous for studying gravity after (supposedly) being hit on the head by an apple?
Who is Isaac Newton?
Planets don’t move in a straight line through space because this force from the Sun pulls them toward it
What is Gravity?
Many believe that Earth's seasons are caused by its distance from the Sun, but they are actually caused by this.
What is the tilt of the Earth?
What would happen to seasons if Earth had no tilt?
There would be no seasons.
Why do the poles experience extreme seasons with long daylight and long darkness periods?
Because of the Earth's tilt, the Sun remains above or below the horizon for extended periods.
What force pulls everything toward the center of the Earth, keeping air, water, and even us from floating into space?
Astronauts in orbit experience this sensation because they are moving at the same speed as their spacecraft.
What is weightlessness?
Many people think gravity only exists on Earth, but in reality, it exists everywhere in the universe because all objects with mass have this.
What is a gravitational pull?
Why is summer in the Northern Hemisphere when Earth is farthest from the Sun?
The direct sunlight from the sun, making the areas tilted towards the sun warmer.
How does indirect sunlight affect temperature?
Indirect sunlight spreads over a larger area, reducing the intensity of heat and making temperatures cooler.
Why do objects like a hammer and a feather fall at different speeds on Earth but the same speed on the Moon?
The strength of gravity depends on these two factors.
What are mass and distance.
A common myth is that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones, but in reality, they fall at the same rate unless this force interferes.
What is air resistance?
It doesn't change. Trick question. :)
What causes the “midnight sun” in places like Alaska and Norway?
The tilt of Earth’s axis, which keeps the Sun above the horizon for 24 hours during summer months
What are the two factors that affect the strength of gravitational pull between two objects?
The mass of the objects and the distance between them
A person weighs less on the Moon than on Earth because the Moon has less of this
What is mass?
Some believe astronauts in space are floating because there is no gravity, but they are actually experiencing this.
What is weightlessness?
When does the Northern Hemisphere experience its longest day, and why?
What is June 21, the summer solstice? The north pole is tilted most directly towards the Sun.
Why do places near the equator stay warm year-round while places near the poles experience extreme seasonal changes?
The equator receives direct sunlight all year, while the poles get indirect sunlight that varies significantly due to Earth's tilt
Why don’t penguins in Antarctica fall off the Earth if gravity is supposed to pull things “down”?
Gravity pulls objects toward the center of the Earth, not in a single "downward" direction
A person would weigh more on Jupiter. True or false? Why?
True - the mass of jupiter is larger than Earth's (even though it is a gas giant...)
Some people think there is no gravity on the Moon, but the Moon does have gravity—just this fraction of Earth’s gravity.