Solar System Basics
What is the name of the star that is closest to Earth?
The Sun
Name one inner planet.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Name the four seasons experienced in many places on Earth.
Spring, Summer, Fall (Autumn), Winter.
What causes day and night?
Day and night are caused by Earth rotating on its axis so different parts face toward or away from the sun.
What predictable path does Earth follow as it moves around the sun?
An orbit (or revolution) around the sun.
Name one major component of the solar system.
Planet, moon, asteroid, comet
Name one outer planet.
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What is one main reason Earth has seasons (hint: tilt or distance)?
Because Earth’s axis is tilted at or about 23 degrees relative to its orbit, changing the sun’s angle and daylight length.
How long does one rotation take?
24 hours
How long does it take Earth to complete one orbit around the sun? Answer in approximate number of days.
365 Days
What do all planets do around the Sun?
Orbit
How are inner planets different from outer planets?
Inner = rocky/small; Outer = gaseous/large
During which season in the Northern Hemisphere is Earth tilted most toward the sun?
Summer (in the Northern Hemisphere), e.g., June solstice when tilted toward the sun.
If Earth did not rotate, what would happen to day and night? Give one effect.
If Earth did not rotate, one side would be in constant day and the other in constant night; this would change temperatures and life patterns.
What causes the apparent movement of the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset?
Because Earth rotates on its axis, making the sun appear to move across the sky
What is a moon?
A natural object that orbits a planet
Which planet is the largest?
Jupiter
Which season has the longest days and the most sunlight?
Summer is the season that has the longest days and most direct sunlight.
An imaginary line Earth spins/rotates on.
an Axis
What is the imaginary line that goes around the middle of Earth that divides it into Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
The equator
Explain one reason the sun is important for life on Earth.
provides light and heat, helps plants make food (photosynthesis), keeps climate suitable, etc.
Which planet is closest to the Sun?
Mercury
What season do animals grow thicker fur and prepare for cold weather?
Fall/Winter
On what imaginary line does Earth rotate, and what are the two points called where this line meets Earth’s surface?
The axis; the North Pole and South Pole.
What kind of climate do places near the equator usually have?
Warm and tropical all year round