Natural Calendars
What natural phenomenon do people use to create calendars?
The position of the Sun and the Moon in the sky.
What causes a shadow to form?
An object blocking light
What is the Moon primarily made of?
Rock and dust
What is a solar eclipse?
When the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun.
What causes tides?
The gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on Earth.
Name one way ancient cultures tracked time using natural events.
By observing the cycles of the Moon.
How does the position of the Sun affect shadow length?
Shadows are longer in the morning and evening when the sun is lower in the sky.
What are the phases of the Moon?
How often do eclipses occur?
At least a few times a year.
What is a high tide?
When the water level is at its highest.
What is a solar calendar based on?
The Earth's orbit around the Sun.
What is the term for the darkest part of a shadow?
The umbra
How long does it take for the Moon to orbit the Earth?
About 27.3 days
What is the term for the area of total shadow during an eclipse?
The umbra
What is the term for the path a planet takes around the Sun?
Orbit
How does the changing of seasons relate to Earth's position?
Seasons change as the Earth orbits the Sun and its tilt.
How doe shadows change throughout the day?
They move and change length as the Sun moves across the sky.
What is a lunar eclipse?
When the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.
Why are eclipses not visible everywhere on Earth?
The shadow cast by the Moon or Earth only covers a small area.
How many high and low tides usually occur each day?
Usually two high and two low tides
What is the significance of the equinox in natural calendars?
It marks the day when day and night are of equal length.
Why do we experience different shadow lengths in different seasons?
Due to the Sun's angle changing with the seasons.
Why does the Moon appear to change shape?
Due to the different angles of sunlight as it orbits Earth.
What can studying eclipses tell us about the universe?
They help us learn about the Sun’s atmosphere and other celestial phenomena.
Why do tides vary in height?
Due to the positions of the Moon and Sun relative to Earth.