Seasons & Sunlight
Why de we have season on Earth?
Because of Earth’s tilt (23.5°) and orbit around the Sun, which changes sunlight angle and day length.
What phase of moon comes after a new moon?
Waxing crescent
What is a solar eclipse?
When the Moon passes between Earth and Sun, casting a shadow on Earth.
How long does it take Earth to rotate once?
24 hours
Draw Earth's tilt for Northern Hemisphere summer.
Tilt North Pole toward Sun; longer daylight; higher sunlight angle.
During summer in Bellingham, how is the North Pole tilted?
Toward the Sun
Describe why we see different Moon phases.
We see different portions of the Moon lit by the Sun as it orbits Earth.
What is a lunar eclipse?
When Earth passes between Sun and Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.
What time of day is it in the Australia right now? Extra 50 pts. if you can name the hemisphere Australia is in and one additional country experiencing the same time of day.
Night time.
50pts: Southern Hemisphere and country pt may vary.
Draw the Moon phases in order.
New → Waxing crescent → First quarter → Waxing gibbous → Full → Waning gibbous → Last quarter → Waning crescent → New
Explain why the equator doesn’t have big seasonal changes.
Sunlight hits the equator more directly year-round; day length is fairly constant.
What phase is the Moon in when it is opposite the Sun?
Full Moon
Why don’t eclipses happen every month?
Moon’s orbit is tilted; shadows usually miss Earth or Moon.
Why is it daytime on one side of Earth but nighttime on the other?
Earth’s rotation causes different parts to face or face away from the Sun.
Draw the positions of Sun, Earth, Moon for a solar eclipse.
Sun → Moon → Earth; Moon’s shadow on Earth.
If it’s June, which hemisphere experiences winter?
Southern Hemisphere
A student observes the Moon tonight as a waxing crescent. About one week later, what phase will they most likely see, and why?
A full moon (or waxing gibbous moving toward full). The Moon moves through its phases in about a month, and in one week it advances several phases as it orbits Earth.
Why can people in different locations on Earth see different amounts of a solar eclipse (total, partial, or none)?
Because the Moon’s shadow only covers a small area of Earth. People inside the darkest shadow see a total eclipse, others see partial or none depending on their location.
Explain how Earth’s tilt and rotation cause both seasons and day/night.
Tilt changes sunlight angle for seasons; rotation causes day/night.
Draw how sunlight hits Earth at the equator vs. North Pole in June.
Equator: sunlight overhead; North Pole: angled; long daylight.
How does the angle of sunlight affect temperature?
Higher angles = warmer; lower angles = cooler
Why is a new moon not visible from Earth?
The side facing Earth is not lit by the Sun.
Explain how a lunar eclipse affects what we see on Earth.
Moon darkens as Earth’s shadow passes over it.
If it is noon at the Prime Meridian, what time is it at 90° west?
6 AM (time decreases 6 hours per 90° west)
DAIRLY DOUBLE: Draw Earth’s orbit and tilt showing both seasons and day/night cycles.
Tilt and orbit show varying sunlight angle and day/night on Earth.