The Moon's gravity either pulls the oceans up towards it or the ground down towards it.
100
From what do all stars form?
Nebulae
100
If an ellipse has 2 cm between foci and a length of major axis of 4 cm, what is the eccentricity of this ellipse?
1/2 or 0.5
200
Where is sunlight most direct on September 21?
The Equator (Earth's great circle!)
200
Where is sunlight most direct on the June Summer Solstice?
Tropic of Cancer or 23.5˚N
200
Explain how a lunar eclipse happens.
The Earth casts a shadow on the Moon blocking out the Moon. The full moon would seems to disappear.
200
What determines whether a star will become a planetary nebula or supernova?
The mass of the star (more massive = supernova)
200
What is more circular: Earth's or Mercury's orbit?
Earth's orbit (has a smaller eccentricity so is more circular)
300
Define the word insolation
Incoming solar radiation or sunlight
300
Would a city be warmer if sunlight was more or less direct? (Direct sunlight = 90˚) WHY?
Direct sunlight because it is more concentrated
300
Draw the positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon during a solar eclipse and draw in the shadows.
(SUN) (M)>(E)
So the Moon is between the Sun and Earth; the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth.
300
Why do constellations appear to rise and set each day? Also, how many degrees do they travel per hour? (Remember they travel 360˚ in 24 hours)
Because the Earth rotates at a rate of 15˚ per hour.
300
What process creates a star's energy?
Nuclear fusion
400
Explain why the southern hemisphere has winter while the northern hemisphere has summer? There are TWO reasons.
The northern hemisphere has longer days and more direct sunlight which makes it warmer (summer).
400
In which season is New York (point D) shown in the diagram?
Winter (more night than day; most direct sun is in southern hemisphere)
400
Explain why lunar eclipses don't happen every month.
The Moon orbits the Earth at a 5˚ tilt so it does not go into the Earth's shadow often
400
What is a galaxy and how is it different from a constellation?
A galaxy is an actual group of billions of stars while constellations are a few stars grouped into man-made shapes (though many of the stars in a constellation are nowhere near each other).
400
What could cause a sudden drop in temperature and make it rain?
Cold front
500
Which city would be experiencing sunlight as shown in the diagram AND what is the month shown?
City C because the sunlight is most direct there. It is also most likely December or January since this city is in the southern hemisphere far below the equator.
500
Which diagram represents the tilt of the Earth's axis to the Sun on December 21?
Answer (4)
500
Draw what the Moon would look like from Earth AND identify the phase it is in.
( D
right half dark; 3rd Quarter Moon
500
What stages of a star's life cycle did we observe in the video clip?
Nebula (maybe); Protostar; Main Sequence Star
500
Which diagram best represents the polarity of the magnetic field preserved in the ocean-floor bedrock found on both sides of the Mid-Indian Ridge?
(1) because it shows mirrored polarity due to seafloor spreading