Chapter 20 sun earth and moon study questions.
-Explain what causes Neap tides and Spring tides.
A neap tide occurs a week after a spring tide, when the Sun, Earth, and the Moon form a right angle and the Sun's effect on tides reduces the Moon's effect. Spring tides occur during the full moon and new moon phases, when the Sun's and the Moon's gravitational effects combine and produce higher high tides and lower low tides.
Why does a solar eclipse only occur during a new moon?
A solar eclipse occurs when there is a new moon. In a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth so the Moon casts a shadow on Earth, blocking the Sun for a short while.
Why is Earth warmer at the equator and colder at the poles?
Because Earth has a curved surface, different parts of it receive different amounts of sunlight. Because of the curvature, light shining on Earth becomes more slanted and spread out as you move away from the equator. Polar areas get less energy from the Sun than areas near the equator and, therefore, are colder.
How does the tilt of Earth's rotation axis affect Earth's weather?
Earth is tilted on its axis as it moves around the Sun.When the north end is leaning toward the Sun, the south end is leaning away. So when one hemisphere has summer, the other has winter.
What causes the Sun's apparent motion across the sky?
Earth rotates on its axis—this rotation explains the observed rise and set of the Sun and other objects. The Sun's apparent path through the sky in the northern hemisphere is higher near the June solstice and lower near the December solstice.
-Why does the Moon's appearance change?
Our perspective of the Moon from Earth produces the Moon's changing appearance in the sky. • The lit part of the Moon that you can see from Earth—the Moon's phase—changes during the lunar cycle as the Moon revolves around Earth.
How does Earth move?
Revolution - around the Sun Rotation - on its axis
- How does the Moon move around the Earth?
The Moon revolves around Earth while Earth revolves around the Sun. It both takes 27.3 days. For this reason, the same side of the Moon always faces Earth.
What produces Earth's revolution around the Sun?
The gravitational pull of the Sun
What produces the phases of the Moon?
The phase of the Moon is the lit part of the Moon or a planet that can be seen from Earth. When the Moon is waning, less of the Moon's near side is lit each night. For example, the Moon wanes as it changes from last quarter phase to new moon phase.
-What is a solar eclipse and what causes it?
When the Moon's shadow appears on Earth's surface, a solar eclipse occurs.
Describe a solstice - what it is, what happens, when it occurs, how often,what it signifies
occurs in June or December; marks the start of summer or winter; is a day when Earth's rotation axis is the most toward or away from the Sun; is a day with the greatest (summer) or fewest (winter) number of daylight hours.
-Describe an equinox - what it is, what happens, when it occurs, how often, what it signifies
occurs in March or September; marks the start of spring or fall; is a day when Earth's axis does not lean toward or away from the Sun; is a day when the number of daylight and nighttime hours is nearly the same.
-How do the Moon and the Sun affect Earth's oceans?
• The gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on Earth produces tides, the rise and fall of sea level that occurs twice each day. • The positions of the Moon and the Sun in relation to Earth cause gravitational differences that produce tides.
-What is a lunar eclipse and what causes it?
• When the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, a lunar eclipse occurs.
When can a lunar eclipse occur?
• When the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, a lunar eclipse occurs. • A lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon phase. In a lunar eclipse, the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, blocking the sunlight reflected by the Moon.
How were maria produced?
• When the maria formed, lava flowed up through the Moon's crust and solidified, covering many of the Moon's craters and other features.
