50 Questions
the divisions of the year into spring, summer, autumn and winter
seasons
an imaginary line around the Earth
equator
half of the Earth, divided by the Equator
hemisphere
incoming solar radiation (heat and light)
lnsolation
two dates, 22 December and 21 June, when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky directly overhead one of the tropics, giving all places on Earth their longest or shortest day or night of the year depending on ' whether they are in the northern or southern hemisphere
solstice
two dates, 21 March and 22 September, when the Sun's t oys fall directly on the equator. All places on the earth experience equal night and day - 12 hours each
equinox:
a measurement of how for away a place is from the equator
latitude
spread out or scattered
dispersed
halfway between the equator: and the Poles
mid-latitude
a process whereby plants use the Sun's energy, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce energycontaining food
photosynthesis
a network of interactions among and bet ween organisms in their environment
ecosystem
dead plants and animals ore decomposed by organisms called decomposers
decomposers
a natural source of limited supply
non-renewable resources
an object in space that orbits a bigger object
natural satellite
a person who travels in space
astronaut
to circle; the curved course followed by a heavenly body
orbit
the large high tides, with lower low tides in beween, are produced twice each month when the Sun and Moon are in line so that their gravitational pull is combined
spring tides
the small-range tides that occur when the Sun's gravitational pull and the Moon's gravitational · pull are not reinforcing each other
neap tides
satellites designed by . space scientists and engineers for travel in space
space probe
when an object, which is moving around a central point, appears to be moved away from the centre by another force
centrifugal force
the point at which two objects, which started with different temperatures, .reach an equal temperature
thermal equilibrium
the transfer of heat energy between solid objects that are in direct physical contact with each other
conduction
a material that does not conduct heat well
insulator
the transfer of heat energy through the mov81Tlent of particles in liquids and gases
convection
a flow . of particles from one place to another
current
when a gas changes to a liquid as it cools
condenses
the transfer of heat energy by waves, without contact or movement of particles
radiation
heat energy that can be transferred by radiation
radiant heat
a process that does not need energy to make it happen
passive
using energy
actively
a method of passive heat · exchange based on natural convection currents
thermosiphon effect
a space in where there are no particles
vacuum
a material that absorbs heat from a heat source, and then releases it slowly
thermal mass
a machine that has blades, which are turned by a force like high · pressure steam
turbine
gases like carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour that trap heat in the atmosphere and reflect it back causing an increase In temperatures on the Earth
greenhouse gases
a type of sedimentary rock in which oil and natural gas can often be . found
shale
a process used to remove oil and natural gas from layers of rock by pumping water under pressure into it and then blasting the rock blasting the
fracking
the splitting of the nucleus of an atom
nuclear fission
electricity that is made using moving water to turn turbines
hydro-electricity
specialised panels that are adapted to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity
photovoltaic cells
fuels that come from an organic source such as algae
biofuels
energy that is stored in a system
potential energy
energy which causes a change or movement
kinetic energy
the standard unit Of measurement Of energy
joule
organisms like plants that are able to convert energy from the Sun into chemical energy
producers
animals that eat plants and other animals
consumers
a law that states that energy in a system is never lost but simply converted to a different form
law of conservation of energy
a network of . different sources of energy that interact with one another
energy system
the passing of energy from one part of a system to another
energy transfer
when energy changes from one form to another, for example . . potential energy · to kinetic energy or vice versa
energy transformation
Test your knowledge on the divisions of the year into spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the two solstices, and the two equinoxes. Learn about the varying lengths of day and night experienced by different parts of the Earth during these phenomena.
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