Earth In Space Quiz (Lesson 1-8)

What does it mean for an object to REVOLVE/ ORBIT? What phenomenon can be explained as a result of Earth's revolution?

An object revolves when it moves around (orbits) another object. For example, the Earth revolves around the sun. The moon revolves around the Earth. Eclipses are caused by the moon's revolution around Earth and the Earth-Moon system's revolution around the sun. Also, the seasons would not happen unless the Earth revolved around the sun.

What does it mean for an object to ROTATE? What phenomenon can be explained as a result of Earth's rotation?

An object rotates when it moves around on an axis or center point. For example, the Earth rotates on an axis. The Earth experiences day and night because of this rotation.

New moon

As you can see from space, half of the moon is still lit by the sun. However, because the sun is behind the moon, we do not see that side. We only see the side that is not reflecting the sun's light.

TRUE or FALSE? From the perspective of the sun, the moon is always lit halfway.

FALSE, from the perspective of the sun, the moon is always fully illuminated.

TRUE or FALSE? The side of Earth facing the sun is experiencing summer. If this statement is false, correct the statement to make it true.

FALSE, the side of Earth facing the sun is experiencing daytime. OR the hemisphere tilted towards the sun is experiencing summer.

How long does it take Earth to revolve around the sun? How long does it take Earth to rotate on its axis?

It takes Earth 365 days to revolve around the sun. It takes Earth 24 hours to rotate on its axis.

The planet Mercury is not tilted. Would you expect Mercury to experience seasons? Why or why not?

Mercury would not experience seasonal changes. Neither hemisphere would be tilted towards or away from the sun at any point in time.

Explain the link between tilt and seasons. Use the terms direct sunlight and indirect sunlight in your response.

Seasons are caused by a planet's tilt. The tilt causes one hemisphere to experience more direct sunlight than the other. The direct sunlight causes an increase in temperature and longer days where the sun is high in the sky. When a hemisphere is receiving indirect sunlight due to its tilt, the days are short, the sun is low in the sky. Thus resulting in cooler temperatures.

Solar Eclipse

Sometimes when the moon orbits Earth, it moves directly between the sun and Earth. When this happens, the moon blocks the light of the sun from reaching Earth and casts a shadow on the Earth.

TRUE or FALSE? From the perspective of Earth, the amount of the moon is lit changes.

TRUE

TRUE or FALSE? From the perspective of space, the moon is always lit halfway.

TRUE

Is the northern hemisphere closer or farther away from the sun in December? Based on this information, is distance from the sun a way to explain seasons?

The Earth is actually the closest to the sun in January! It is winter in January in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, the distance from the sun does not explain the seasons. The tilt does.

A planet takes longer than Earth to orbit the sun but has a similar tilt to Earth. Would you expect this planet to have longer or shorter seasons than seasons on Earth? Explain.

This planet will experience the same four seasons as Earth due to its tilt but because one revolution (year) is longer, each season will be longer.

Lunar Eclipse

When the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth, the Earth casts a shadow on the moon that makes the moon appear dark!