17 Questions
What is the primary reason for day and night on Earth?
The Earth's rotation on its axis
How does the Moon move in relation to the Earth?
The Moon orbits the Earth as a satellite
During which celestial event does the Sun rise exactly in the east and set exactly in the west?
Equinoxes
What causes the repeating pattern of seasons on Earth?
Earth's revolution around the Sun
What phenomenon causes the Sun to appear to move from East to West daily?
Earth's rotation on its axis
In which direction does the Sun rise during winter in the northern hemisphere?
South of east
What causes the Moon to appear to have a daily trip across the sky from east to west?
The Earth's rotation on its axis
During which phase of the Moon is it located on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun?
Full moon
What is the average orbital speed formula for the Moon as it orbits around the Earth?
$v = 2\pi r / T$
Why is the new moon not visible from the Earth?
It is aligned with the Sun, causing its dark side to face Earth.
What causes the Earth to experience different phases of the Moon?
The Earth's tilt on its axis
How does the Sun's gravitational force affect the Moon's orbit around the Earth?
It pulls the Moon towards it, affecting tides.
At which points of the Earth's orbit are night and day equal in both hemispheres?
Points A and E
Why do we never see the 'dark side of the Moon' from Earth?
Because the Moon's rotation period matches its orbital period.
During which event do we experience the longest day in the northern hemisphere and the shortest day in the southern hemisphere?
Summer solstice at point C
What is the average distance between the Moon and Earth?
400,000 km
What phenomenon causes the Moon's appearance to change over the course of each month?
Light from the Sun hitting different parts of the Moon
Study Notes
Phases of the Moon
- The moon appears as a complete circle during a full moon, when it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.
- A thin new crescent appears along one edge of the moon as it travels in its orbit and gradually increases in size.
- The last quarter phase occurs when the moon wanes.
Moon's Orbit
- The moon orbits the Earth in approximately a circular orbit once a month at an average distance away of about 400 000 km.
- The moon's orbital speed (v) is calculated by the formula: v = circumference of orbit / T, where T is the orbital period.
- The moon always has the same area of its surface facing towards the Earth, known as the 'near side'.
Sun, Earth, and Moon
- The sizes of the Earth, Sun, and Moon are compared: the Sun is about 110 times bigger than the Earth, and the Moon is about ¼ the size of the Earth.
- The Earth orbits the Sun in a nearly circular orbit, taking one year to complete.
- The Moon orbits the Earth as a satellite, with no atmosphere, but with a gravitational field due to its mass.
Earth's Rotation and Revolution
- The Earth's rotation on its axis causes day and night, with the Sun appearing to rise in the east and set in the west.
- The Earth takes one year to travel around the Sun, moving closer and further away with the seasons, controlled by the large gravitational attraction exerted by the Sun.
- The Earth's rotation causes the Sun to have an apparent daily journey from east to west, with exact rising and setting points at the equinoxes (around 20 March and 23 September).
Test your knowledge on the different phases of the moon and how they appear from Earth. From new moon to full moon, learn about the waxing and waning cycle of the moon in this quiz.
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