Vocabulary
Earth's rotation
Earth's Orbit
Stars
Random
100
What is gravity?
Gravity is a force that pulls things towards the center of earth.
100
The drawing shows the sun at a certain time of day. What is a probable time in this picture?
1:00pm (or a time in the range of 12-3pm)
100
How long does it take earth to complete one revolution around the sun?
Approximately 365 days. It takes one year for the earth to orbit around the sun.
100
The _______ is the only star in our solar system.
SUN
100
Based on our knowledge of earth, which direction is "up"?
"Up" is the direction AWAY from earth and towards the sky.
200
A _________ is a huge object in space that gives off heat and light.
STAR
200
How long does it take for earth to complete one rotation?
It takes 24 hours to complete one rotation, causing a day-and-night cycle.
200
Based on this picture, why can’t we see Pegasus in our night sky in spring?
Pegasus is located on the opposite side of the sun from where Earth is located during springtime.
200
What factor affects how bright a star appears when observed from Earth?
DISTANCE
The further away a star is from earth, the dimmer it appears. The closer a star is to earth, the brighter it appears.
200
Based on our knowledge of earth, which direction is "down"?
"Down" is the direction TOWARDS Earth.
300
The sun, the planets that orbit the sun,
and other objects that orbit the sun make up our ________________.
SOLAR SYSTEM
300
Why can we see the sun during the daytime and not the nighttime?
We face the sun in daytime, and we face away from the sun at nighttime.
300
Throughout the year, we see ____________ stars. But every year on the same date, we see the __________ stars.
different, same
300
Why can we not see stars during the day?
Due to the sun's brightness in the sky, it is too bright to see other stars during the day.
300
You learned that Earth’s rotation is responsible for many changes we see in the sky each day. Which of the following movements seen is not caused by Earth’s rotation?
a. sun
b. clouds
c. stars
d. shadows
CLOUDS
400
A scientist who studies stars, planets, and other objects in the universe is called a(n) ______________.
ASTRONOMER
400
How much of earth will experience daylight at any given time?
Approximately half of the earth
400
Explain why the constellations we see in the night sky changed. Keep in mind that we are viewing the sky at the same time each night.
Due to the earth orbiting around the sun, we can only see certain stars during specific seasons in the year. In other seasons, our view of certain stars is blocked by the sun.
400
Why does the sun appear larger and brighter than other stars in our sky even though it is actually smaller and dimmer?
The sun appears larger and brighter than the stars shown because it is closer to Earth.
400
Which image correctly shows a model of Earth and the direction of the force of gravity?
500
A ____________ is an arrangement of stars as seen from Earth. They often form an imaginary picture or design in the sky.
CONSTELLATION
500
What causes the apparent movement of stars across the sky in one night?
Earth’s rotation (spinning on its axis) causes the stars to appear to move across the sky.
500
If the moon and other planets also don’t make their own light, why do they appear bright in the night sky?
The moon and other planets appear bright in the sky because they reflect sunlight.
500
Why does the star Betelgeuse, a star bigger and brighter than other stars, appear to be the dullest when you look at a picture of it from Earth?
Betelgeuse looks like a dim star because it is farthest from Earth.
500
Mason throws his baseball straight up into the air on a day that is not windy. How will gravity affect the movement of the baseball?
Gravity will pull the baseball down towards the center of the planet.