The Sun and Shadows
What time of day do shadows appear the longest?
Morning or evening (when the Sun is low in the sky).
How long does it take Earth to rotate once on its axis?
24 hours.
What are constellations?
Patterns of stars in the night sky.
How long does it take Earth to orbit the Sun?
One year (365 1/4 days).
True or false: The moon orbits Eath while Earth orbits the Sun.
True.
Why do shadows change length throughout the day?
The angle of the Sun changes as Earth rotates.
Why do we have day and night?
Earth rotates on its axis, causing different parts to face the Sun.
Why do constellations appear to move across the sky at night?
Because Earth rotates on its axis.
Why do we have different seasons?
Because Earth’s axis is tilted as it orbits the Sun.
What is the largest object in our solar system?
The Sun.
At what time of day is your shadow the shortest?
Noon, or close to noon, when the Sun is highest in the sky.
If it's nighttime where you are, where is the Sun?
On the other side of the Earth.
Why do some constellations appear only during certain seasons?
Because Earth orbits the Sun, changing our view of the stars.
During which season does the Northern Hemisphere receive the most direct sunlight?
Summer.
How many planets are in our solar system?
8 (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).
What direction does your shadow point in the morning if the Sun rises in the east?
West.
If Earth’s rotation suddenly stopped, what would happen to our day and night cycle?
The cycle would stop, and one side would have constant daylight. The other would have constant night.
True or false: You can see the same constellation in the sky for more than one month.
True. You can see many contellations in the sky for 2-3 months at a time.
If Earth's axis were not tilted, how would our seasons be different?
There would be no seasonal changes.
In which season does the Sun have the lowest path through our day-time sky?
Winter.
How can the length and direction of shadows be used to tell time?
By tracking their position and length, similar to a sundial.
What direction does Earth rotate when viewed from the North Pole?
Counterclockwise (right to left).
People living close to the (blank) on Earth will see the widest variety of constellations throughout the year.
Equator. The closer you live to the poles (far from the equator) the fewer contellations you'll see, since Earth will block your view of many others.
If it's summer for the Nothern Hemisphere, what season is it for the Southern Hemisphere?
Winter.
Why do planets orbit the Sun instead of flying off into space?
The Sun’s gravity pulls the planets toward it, keeping them in its orbit.