Tilt-A-Whirl
Define the difference between Earth’s rotation and its revolution
Rotation is spinning on the axis (takes 24 hours/causes day and night); Revolution is orbiting the Sun (takes 365.25 days)
What are the two factors that determine the strength of gravity?
Mass (more mass = more gravity) and Distance (more distance = less gravity)
Why does the Moon appear to shine?
It reflects light from the Sun; it does not produce its own light.
What is a constellation and what were they historically used for?
A group of stars forming a pattern; used for navigation, storytelling, and tracking seasons for farming.
The waning gibbous is the point where the Moon is how many degrees behind the Sun after completing its full phase.
135 degrees
Why do we have seasons?
Seasons are caused by Earth’s 23.5° tilt on its axis as it revolves around the Sun, changing the intensity of sunlight.
Explain the difference between Mass and Weight.
Mass is the amount of matter in an object (doesn't change); Weight is the measure of the pull of gravity on that object (changes depending on where you are).
How long does it take for the Moon to orbit the Earth, and how long is a full lunar cycle?
It orbits in about 27.3 days, but a full cycle (New Moon to New Moon) is about 29.5 days.
Name the "Little Bear" constellation and its most famous star used for navigation.
Ursa Minor; its notable star is Polaris (the North Star).
Nicknamed the swan due to it’s Latin rooted name. Deneb is the brightest star. It is a part of the Summer Triangle asterism.
What is Cygnus?
Contrast a Solstice and an Equinox.
A solstice occurs when the sun is at its highest or lowest point (Summer/Winter); an equinox occurs when day and night are equal in length (Spring/Fall).
What is Inertia, and what happens to it when an object’s mass increases?
Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist a change in motion. As mass increases, inertia increases (it gets harder to stop or start the object).
Describe a Spring Tide. When does it happen and what is the alignment?
A tide with the greatest difference between high and low water. It happens during New and Full moons when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a straight line (180 degrees).
Describe the shape and prominence of Orion. What are TWO of its bright stars?
Known as "The Hunter," it features a distinct "belt" of three stars and the bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel.
If the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, what season would be occurring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Explain what happens at the Polar Extremes during the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
The North Pole experiences 24 hours of daylight ("Midnight Sun") because it is tilted directly toward the Sun.
According to Newton, what two forces keep a planet in orbit?
Gravity (pulling it inward) and Inertia (keeping it moving forward).
Contrast the Neap Tide with the Spring Tide.
A Neap tide has the least difference between high and low water. It occurs during 1st and 3rd Quarter moons when the Sun and Moon are at a 90 degree angle.
This constellation is characterized by a unique "V" shape created by its brightest stars.
What is Andromeda?
Which phase of the moon needs to occur in order for a lunar eclipse to happen?
What is full moon?
How does the Sun's angle influence the temperature of a season?
Direct sunlight (higher angle) concentrates energy in a small area, making it warmer; indirect sunlight (lower angle) spreads energy out, making it cooler.
If you traveled to a planet with double Earth's mass, what would happen to your weight? Why?
Your weight would increase because the gravitational pull is stronger on a more massive planet.
Name the 8 phases of the moon in order, starting from New Moon.
New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, Waning Crescent.
The two outer stars of this constellation point towards Polaris, the North Star.
What is Ursa Major?
In the sky, what is the difference between a "Zodiac" constellation and a "Non-Zodiac" one like Ursa Major?
Zodiac constellations lie along the ecliptic (the path the Sun appears to take across the sky), while others do not.