Earth's Motions
What is the spinning of Earth on its axis called?
Rotation
Does the Moon make its own light?
No. It reflects sunlight
Which object is between the Sun and Earth during a solar eclipse?
The Moon
How many seasons occur during a typical year in temperate regions?
Four
What is another term for energy from sunlight?
Solar radiation
Approximately how long does one complete rotation of Earth take?
24 hours
What fraction of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun at any given time, excluding eclipses?
One-half
During a lunar eclipse, which object is between the Sun and Moon?
The Earth
Which season usually has the longest daylight hours in New Jersey?
Summer
Which region generally receives more direct sunlight: the equator or the poles?
The equator
What causes day and night on Earth?
Earth's rotation
Which phase occurs when the side of the Moon facing Earth appears completely illuminated?
Full moon
Which Moon phase is necessary for a solar eclipse?
New moon
What is the main reason Earth experiences seasons?
Earth's tilted axis as it orbits the Sun
Why is indirect sunlight generally less intense than direct sunlight?
The same amount of incoming energy is spread across a larger surface area
What is Earth's movement around the Sun called?
Revolution, or orbiting the Sun
Why does the Moon appear to change shape throughout the month?
As the Moon orbits Earth, we see different portions of its sunlit half
Which Moon phase is necessary for a lunar eclipse?
Full moon
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, what season is it there?
Summer
Why can we see different stars in the nighttime sky during different seasons?
As Earth travels around the Sun, the nighttime side faces different directions in space
Why does the Sun appear to move across the sky from east to west each day?
Earth rotates from west to east, making the Sun appear to move in the opposite direction
Explain the difference between a waxing and a waning Moon.
Waxing means the illuminated portion visible from Earth is increasing; waning means it is decreasing
Why don't solar and lunar eclipses happen every month?
The Moon's orbit is tilted relative to Earth's orbit, so the three bodies usually do not align precisely
Why do the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience opposite seasons?
When one hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, the other is tilted away, resulting in different sunlight angles and daylight lengths
How can some places near the poles experience 24 hours of daylight or darkness?
Earth's axial tilt causes polar regions to remain facing toward or away from the Sun throughout an entire rotation during parts of the year