The Sun & Stars
Why does the Sun look brighter than all other stars in the sky?
Because it is much closer to Earth than other stars.
What is a constellation?
A group of stars that form a pattern.
What causes a shadow to form?
When an object blocks light.
What is rotation?
Earth spinning on its axis.
How many seasons does Earth have?
Four.
Is the Sun bigger than other stars, or does it just look bigger to us? Why?
It looks bigger because it is closer to Earth.
Why don’t we see the same constellations all year long?
Because Earth moves around the Sun.
Why does your shadow move during the day?
Because the Sun appears to move across the sky. ( Earth's rotation)
What does Earth’s rotation cause?
Day and night
Do seasons happen because Earth is closer or farther from the Sun?
No.
Why do stars (other than the Sun) look like tiny dots in the sky?
They are very far away from Earth.
What movement of Earth causes us to see different constellations at different times of the year?
Revolution.
When is your shadow usually the longest—morning, noon, or evening? Why?
Morning or evening, because the Sun is low in the sky.
What is revolution?
Earth moving around the Sun.
What causes Earth’s seasons?
Earth’s tilt and revolution around the Sun.
Why do we see the Sun during the day but not other stars?
The Sun’s light is so bright it blocks out the light from other stars.
What is gravity?
A force that pulls objects toward each other.
Why is your shadow shortest around noon?
The Sun is higher in the sky.
How long does one full revolution around the Sun take?
One year.
Why is it summer in one hemisphere while it is winter in the other?
Because of Earth’s tilt.
True or False: The Sun is the only star in our universe. Explain.
The Sun is one of many stars, but it is the closest to Earth.
What are two things gravity causes on Earth?
Objects falling and planets staying in orbit.
What Earth movement causes shadows to change throughout the day?
Earth’s rotation.
Why would there be no day and night if Earth did not rotate?
One side would always face the Sun.
How does Earth’s tilt affect the amount of sunlight different places receive?
Tilt changes how direct the sunlight is.