Earth, Sun, and Moon

What is an axis?

An axis is an imaginary line that passes through an object's center and the north and south poles of that object.

What does orbit mean?

An orbit is the path one object takes to revolve around another object. The Earth orbits the sun.

What causes day and night?

Day and night are caused by Earth rotating on its axis once every 24 hours. As the Earth rotates, the sun appears to rise and fall in the sky each day.

Which direction does Earth revolve around the sun?

Earth revolves in a counter clockwise direction (west to east)

Which direction does Earth rotate on its axis?

Earth rotates in a counter clockwise direction (west to east). This is what creates the appearance of the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

What force keeps the planets around the sun?

Gravity

The water cycle

HEAT FROM THE SUN (solar energy) causes water on Earth (oceans, lakes, rivers, puddles, etc.) to evaporate (water vapor). The water vapor condenses (turns back into water) and forms clouds. When the clouds become too heavy, the water falls back to Earth in the form of precipitation (rain, snow, etc.) and accumulates back in oceans, snowy mountains, etc.

Why do we always see the same side of the moon?

It completes one rotation and one revolution in the same amount of time. (about 29 days or 1 month)

How often does it take the Moon to rotate on its axis and revolve around Earth?

It will take the moon approximates 29 days to both rotate on its axis and revolve around Earth. This gives us a calendar month.

What are some limitations of a model of the solar system?

Models of the solar system can only give us an idea of how the parts work together and their approximate size and relation to each other. We cannot see actual size or brightness of the planets and other objects in the solar system.

Does every part of the globe experience the seasons at the same time?

No. The seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. When it is summer in Texas (Northern Hemisphere), it is winter in Australia (Southern Hemisphere).

What is the difference between revolution and rotation?

Rotate means to spin on an axis and revolve means to orbit around another object

What causes sunspots?

Scientists are unsure, however, it is hypothesized that magnetic fields interact with the sun's outer layer and block the passage of hotter gases to that part of the sun's surface.

What are sunspots?

Sunspots are dark blotches that appear on the sun's surface. Their dark color indicates that they are not as hot as other areas of the sun so they glow less brightly.

What shape are the planets' orbits?

The planets' orbits are elliptical (similar to an oval)

Does the Sun move?

The sun rotates but it doesn't revolve

How is the sun, Earth, and moon's movements evidence of a system?

The sun, moon, and Earth move together in a predictable and regular movement that is consistent over the years.

What causes the seasons?

The tilt of the Earth along with Earth's revolution around the sun determines the seasons in each hemisphere. This also changes the amount of daylight. In the winter the Earth is tilted away from the sun, so daylight is shorter.

Why do we only see one side of the Moon?

We only see one side of the moon because the amount of time it takes the Moon to make one rotation and one revolution is the exact same.

How are weather and climate different?

Weather is a day to day condition (sunny, raining, 90 degrees, 40 degrees, etc. It is recorded each day. Climate is the general or average pattern or condition over a very long period. The climate in Dallas is mild with little precipitation.

List at least three characteristics the Sun.

• Big ball of gas • Considered a star • Generates energy needed for all life

List at least three characteristics the moon.

• Has many craters • Does not produce light • Orbits Earth

List at least three characteristics the Earth.

• Made of water and land • Has an atmosphere • Has 6 x more gravity than the moon