R vs. R
Seasons, Solstices, Equinoxes
Lunar Phases
Eclipses
Tides
100
How does the Earth orbit around the sun? (Hint: What force makes this process happen?)
The Earth's revolution occurs because of GRAVITY.
100
What can be said about the relationship between the seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres?
The southern and northern hemispheres experience OPPOSITE seasons. (Ex: When it is winter in the northern hemisphere, it is summer in the southern hemisphere.)
100
How many days does it take to complete a full lunar cycle?
A full lunar cycle is 29.5 days.
We often round this to "one month" as we discuss lunar phases.
100
What type of eclipse can be viewed at night and viewed without protective eyewear?
A LUNAR eclipse is seen at night, and you can look at it with your bare eyes. (No eclipses glasses needed!)
100
How many HIGH tides would occur in the span of a day (24 hours)?
There are 2 high tides in a day. (There are also 2 low tides in a day!)
200
Which process explains why we experience a day/night cycle?
The Earth's rotation on its axis explains why we experience the day/night cycle.
200
What is known as "the LONGEST day of the year"?
The summer solstice
200
When we look at the moon and observe that the right portion of the moon is visible or "lit up", what term can we use to describe this lunar phase?
We would say this lunar phase is "WAXING". Waxing means "growing", and the light always appears on the right.
200
What type of eclipse is shown in the image below?
This is an example of a LUNAR eclipse. In a solar eclipse, the order is "Sun -- Moon -- Earth"
200
What causes tides?
The gravitational pull of the moon causes tides. At any time, two locations on Earth are experiencing a high tide, and two are experiencing a low tide.
300
Fill in the blank! The Earth is tilted ______ degrees on its axis.
23.5
300
During what months would there be an equinox?
There is an equinox (equal amounts of daylight & darkness) in March & September.
Solstices occur in June & December
300
What lunar phase comes AFTER a third quarter moon?
Waning Gibbous
300
What type of eclipse might you see during a new moon?
A SOLAR eclipse might happen during a new moon. Lunar eclipses can only happen during a full moon.
300
Study the image below. What type of tide would you observe in this example?
NEAP TIDE.
In a spring tide, the sun, earth, and moon are all in a straight line. In a neap tide, the sun/earth/moon form a ninety degree angle.
400
Compare the length of time it takes the Earth to revolve and rotate. Be specific; use numbers!
It takes the Earth one year (365 days) to complete a revolution and one day (24 hours) to complete a rotation.
400
What causes the seasons to happen?
We experience seasons because of the Earth's revolution around the sun AND its tilt on its axis.
400
What lunar phase would come BEFORE this phase?
The lunar phase pictured is a waxing crescent. The phase that would come before it is a new moon.
400
Look at the image below. The letter "P" represents the lighter shadow that is produced during an eclipse. What is the name for this lighter, larger shadow?
The lighter, larger shadow is called the PENUMBRA.
400
Look at the image below. Which type of tide would happen during this lunar phase?
This is a third quarter moon, so you would experience a NEAP tide. Neap tides occur during 1st & 3rd quarter moons, and spring tides occur during new & full moons.
500
Friend #1 says the moon revolves but doesn't rotate. Friend #2 says the moon revolves and rotates at the same speed. Friend #3 says the moon's rotation happens faster than its revolution, just like the Earth. Who is right and WHY?
Friend #2 is correct. The moon revolves and rotates at the same speed. Every 27.3 days, the moon revolves around the Earth and rotates on its axis.
500
Look at the diagram below. What season would the NORTHERN hemisphere experience at letter D?
It is SPRING in the Northern Hemisphere.
When the northern hemisphere is tilted TOWARD the sun, it is summer (A). When it is tilted AWAY from the sun, it is winter (C). After winter, it is spring.
500
Why do we see different lunar phases?
The moon does NOT actually change size or shape, and it does NOT glow. It simply reflects light from the sun. We see different lunar phases based on how much of the sunlit side of the moon is facing Earth.
500
If you are standing in the UMBRA and observing an eclipse for over two hours, what type of eclipse are you viewing? (Hint: Be specific! Solar/lunar and partial/total)
This is a TOTAL LUNAR eclipse.
If you are in the umbra, you will see a TOTAL eclipse. Because we know solar eclipses last only minutes, and this one lasts for over two hours, it must be a lunar eclipse.
500
Fill in the blank! During a SPRING tide, there would be the ________ difference between the high and low tides.
GREATEST.
During a neap tide, there's the least difference between the high and low tides.