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The Sun-Earth-Moon System Flashcards
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The Sun-Earth-Moon System Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What causes seasons to change?

The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons to change.

The first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere is indicated by the _________.

September Equinox

The Earth takes 365.25 days to do what?

Revolve around the Sun

Where is Earth's northern axis pointing on the first day of winter?

<p>Away from the sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is Earth colder at the poles than at the equator?

<p>Earth is colder at the poles than at the equator because the light at the poles is more spread out than light at the equator.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What causes days and nights on Earth?

<p>Earth's rotation causes days and nights on Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an equator?

<p>An imaginary line that divides Earth into its northern and southern hemispheres.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an equinox?

<p>Day when Earth's axis is not leaning toward or away from the Sun.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an orbit?

<p>Path an object follows as it moves around another object.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is revolution?

<p>Motion of an object around another object.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is rotation?

<p>Spinning motion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a rotation axis?

<p>Line on which an object rotates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a solstice?

<p>Day when Earth's rotation axis is the most toward or away from the Sun.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are maria?

<p>Large, dark, flat areas on the Moon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a phase?

<p>Lit part of the Moon or a planet that can be seen from Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a waning phase?

<p>Occurs when less of the Moon's near side is lit each night.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a waxing phase?

<p>Occurs when more of the Moon's near side is lit each night.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a lunar eclipse?

<p>Occurs when the Moon moves into Earth's shadow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is penumbra?

<p>Lighter, outer part of a shadow where light is partially blocked.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a solar eclipse?

<p>Occurs when the Moon's shadow appears on Earth's surface.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a tide?

<p>Daily rise and fall of sea level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is umbra?

<p>Central, darker part of a shadow where light is totally blocked.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Sun's energy reaches Earth as _______ and _______.

<p>light and thermal energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take Earth to make one revolution around the Sun?

<p>365.25 days (one year)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What force keeps the Earth revolving around the Sun?

<p>The Sun's gravity keeps the Earth revolving around the Sun.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Rotation is a _______ motion.

<p>spinning</p> Signup and view all the answers

One complete Earth rotation is called a _______ and takes _______ hours.

<p>day, 24</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earth's rotation axis is always _______ in the same direction by the same amount.

<p>tilted</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earth's rotation makes objects in the sky appear to move from _______ to _______.

<p>east, west</p> Signup and view all the answers

The energy in a beam of sunlight is spread out more at the _______ than at the _______.

<p>poles, equator</p> Signup and view all the answers

Earth rotates in a (clockwise/______) direction.

<p>counterclockwise</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the gravity between Earth and the Sun somehow stopped, what would happen to Earth?

<p>Earth would fly off into space in a straight line.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Around what does the Earth revolve?

<p>The Sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does the north end of Earth's rotation axis lean during the December Solstice?

<p>Away from the sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which season does the December Solstice mark in the Northern Hemisphere?

<p>Winter</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which season does the December Solstice mark in the Southern Hemisphere?

<p>Summer</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are the temperatures cooler in the Northern Hemisphere during the time near the December Solstice?

<p>Because the north end of Earth's rotation axis is leaning away from the Sun.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the number of daylight hours during the March Equinox?

<p>There are nearly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness everywhere on Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which season does the March Equinox mark in the Northern Hemisphere?

<p>Spring</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Seasons and Earth's Movements

  • Seasons change due to the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun.
  • The September Equinox marks the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • Earth completes one revolution around the Sun in 365.25 days, which defines a year.

Earth's Rotation

  • On the first day of winter, Earth's northern axis points away from the Sun.
  • Days and nights are caused by Earth's rotation, which takes approximately 24 hours to complete one full turn.
  • The equator is the imaginary line dividing Earth into northern and southern hemispheres.

Equinoxes and Solstices

  • An equinox occurs when Earth's axis is not tilted toward or away from the Sun, resulting in nearly equal day and night.
  • A solstice is the day when Earth's rotation axis is at its maximum tilt toward or away from the Sun, indicating the start of summer or winter.

Moon Features and Phases

  • Maria are large, dark, flat areas on the Moon's surface.
  • The phases of the Moon refer to the illuminated portion visible from Earth, with waxing phases indicating increasing visibility and waning phases indicating decreasing visibility.

Eclipses

  • A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon enters Earth's shadow, while a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon casts its shadow on Earth.
  • The penumbra is the lighter, outer part of a shadow where partial light is blocked; the umbra is the central, darker part where light is completely blocked.

Tides and Energy

  • Tides are caused by the daily rise and fall of sea level influenced by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun.
  • Sun's energy reaches Earth primarily in the form of light and thermal energy, more concentrated at the equator than at the poles.

Earth's Stability and Directionality

  • The Sun's gravity is the force that keeps Earth in orbit around it; if this force ceased, Earth would move in a straight line away from the Sun.
  • Earth rotates counterclockwise, so celestial objects appear to move from east to west in the sky.

Seasonal Variations and Daylight

  • During the December Solstice, the northern axis leans away from the Sun, marking winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Near the December Solstice, temperatures are cooler in the Northern Hemisphere due to reduced sunlight.
  • The March Equinox results in nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness worldwide; it marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Test your knowledge about the dynamics of the Sun-Earth-Moon system with these flashcards. Learn about the causes of seasons, equinoxes, and Earth's revolution around the Sun. Perfect for students looking to grasp key concepts in astronomy.

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