Earth, Moon, and Sun Study Guide - Chandler Unified School District

Earth, Moon, and Sun Study Guide

Pages 36-37: Objective 3: Explain the seasons in the Northern and Southern hemispheres in terms of the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Earth's revolution around the sun.

1. What is the cause of Earth's seasons? The seasons are caused by changes in the amount of solar energy a place receives throughout the year.

2. The amount of solar energy Earth receives depends on what two things: (1) Angle of impact (of the Sun's energy) and (2) the tilted axis (which way it's pointing)

3. Explain how the angle of impact of the Sun's light upon the surface of the Earth affects the temperature of Earth's surface. (What happens if the angle is steep? Direct?) If sunlight hits Earth at a direct angle, the energy is concentrated in a smaller area, so the temperature is warmer. If the angle is steeper, the energy is spread out over a larger area so the temperature is cooler.

4. How is Earth's axis pointed relative to the sun during our winter? It's pointed away from the sun How does this affect the angle of impact and amount of sunlight received at that time? The Northern Hemisphere gets less direct sunlight (it hits at a steeper angle) and has shorter days (it gets less sunlight)

5. How is Earth's axis pointed relative to the sun during our summer? It's pointed toward the sun How does this affect the angle of impact and amount of sunlight received at that time? The Northern Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight (it hits at a more direct angle) and has shorter days (it gets less sunlight)

6. Add the following items to the diagram:

-Label the diagram with the seasons that occur

in Northern Hemisphere;

Summer

-Draw in arrows that show the direction of

revolution around the sun;

-Add the equator to each "Earth";

Position 1

-Draw and label the Tropic of Cancer.

-Draw and label the Tropic of Capricorn.

Position 4

Spring

X Winter

Tropic of X Cancer

X Tropic of Capricorn

Position 3

X

Position 2

Fall

Pages 38-39: Objective 4. Explain the phases of the Moon in terms of the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon.

7. How much of the moon's surface is always lit by the sun? Half is always lit.

8. Why does the Moon's shape that we see seem to change? The "shape" that we see depends on how much of the sunlit part of the moon is facing Earth. (The amount of the lit part that we can see changes as the moon revolves around the Earth.)

9. Why do we always see the same side of the moon? (HINT: Look at the revolution/rotation periods.) Because the moon's rate of rotation and revolution are the same (29.5 days), the moon always keeps the same side towards the Earth.

10. What is causing the darkness of a "New Moon"? A new moon is caused when the lit half of the moon is on the far side, facing away from Earth.

11. Write the phase of the moon someone on Earth would see when the moon is at each position:

A. Full Moon B. 3rd Quarter C. Waning Crescent D. New Moon E. 1st Quarter F. Waxing Gibbous

E F

A

D

B

C

Pages 40-41: Objective 5. Explain the interrelationship between the Earth's tides and the Moon. Objective 6. Construct a model for the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon as they relate to corresponding eclipses.

12. Explain the role that gravity plays in Earth's tides. (Tell why there are two high tides and two low tides at any time on Earth.) Gravity pulls the water on Earth towards the Moon, causing a high tide on the side towards the moon. The Earth also gets pulled towards the moon, leaving some water behind, which causes a second high tide on the side away from the Moon.

13. What is a "spring tide"? It is when the moon, sun, and Earth are in a straight line; it is the highest possible high tide

14. What is a "neap tide"? It's when the moon, sun, and Earth form a right angle; it is the lowest possible high tide.

15. Add the letter "S" to the diagram to show the position(s) of the moon during a spring tide.

Add the letter "N" the diagram to show the position(s) of the moon during a neap tide.

N

S

S

N

16. How is a solar eclipse different from a lunar eclipse? Any reasonable answer. May include: lunar eclipses are visible over a large area, but solar eclipses can only be seen from a small path on Earth's surface; Solar eclipses are where the moon covers the sun, blocking its light, and lunar eclipses are when the moon moves into Earth's shadow.

17. Add the letter "S" to the diagram to show the position of the moon during a solar eclipse.

Add the letter "L" to the diagram to show the position of the moon during a lunar eclipse.

S

L

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