Tectonic Plates
Name all three tectonic boundaries
Convergent, divergent, transform
What is the primary force responsible for the Earth-Moon-Sun system's gravitational interactions?
Gravity is the fundamental force that governs the gravitational interactions between the Earth, Moon, and Sun in the Earth-Moon-Sun system.
How many days are in an Earth year? How many hours in an Earth day?
365 days in a year
24 hours in a day
How do tectonic plate boundaries contribute to earthquakes and volcanic activity?
Tectonic plate boundaries are often associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity. Earthquakes occur due to the movement of plates, and volcanic activity results from the release of magma at convergent and divergent plate boundaries.
What role does the Sun play in the Earth-Moon-Sun system? Provide two roles.
The Sun is the primary source of energy in the Earth-Moon-Sun system, providing light and heat. It also exerts gravitational forces that influence the orbits and movements of both the Earth and the Moon.
What's the difference between revolution and rotation?
Revolution - the same as orbit
Rotation - the planet moves around its axis
What is subduction, and which type of plate boundary is associated with it?
Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another. This occurs at convergent plate boundaries.
What is a solar eclipse, and when does it occur in the Earth-Moon-Sun system?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking all or part of the Sun's light. This phenomenon happens during the new moon phase.
Provide a definition of equinox and solstice.
Equinox - sunlight shines equally on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Solstice - the area of sunlight is at a maximum in one hemisphere and a minimum in the other hemisphere.
How do divergent plate boundaries contribute to the formation of landforms?
Divergent plate boundaries lead to the creation of landforms such as mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys. As tectonic plates move apart, magma rises from the mantle, solidifying at the surface and forming new crust. Over time, this process builds underwater mountain ranges and rift valleys on continents.
Why is the New Moon not visible from Earth?
The New Moon is not visible because the illuminated side faces away from Earth, and the side facing Earth is in shadow.
How does the tilt of Earth's axis affect how the sun's rays strike Earth?
Whichever hemisphere (the Northern or Southern Hemisphere) is tilted toward the sun receives more direct rays of sunlight
What types of landforms are associated with convergent plate boundaries?
Convergent plate boundaries give rise to various landforms, including mountain ranges (formed by the collision of two continental plates), deep-sea trenches (resulting from the subduction of an oceanic plate beneath another plate), and volcanic arcs (formed by the subduction of an oceanic plate beneath a continental plate).
How does the Waxing Gibbous Moon differ from the Waxing Crescent Moon?
The Waxing Gibbous Moon is more than half illuminated but not fully, whereas the Waxing Crescent Moon is less than half illuminated.
How do the tilt of Earth's axis and Earth's movements around the sun cause seasons?
The tilt of Earth's axis, combined with its orbit around the Sun, causes seasonal variations as different hemispheres receive varying amounts of sunlight during different times of the year. When a hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, it experiences summer with longer days and more direct sunlight, while the opposite hemisphere, tilted away, undergoes winter with shorter days and less direct sunlight