worksheet 5.3
describe two reasons why earths climate is "just right" for life
- not too hot or too cold - Atmosphere allows the heat to be trapped in the earth so we have warmth
How long is one rotation of the Earth?
Another way to measure a day is to count the amount of time it takes for a planet to completely spin around and make one full rotation. This is called a sidereal day. On Earth, a sidereal day is almost exactly 23 hours and 56 minutes.
Why does Earth have seasons?
As the earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves about the sun in an elliptical orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete. The earth's spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons.
How long is one revolution of the Earth around the Sun?
Earth revolves around the sun in 365 days, 5 hours, 59 minutes and 16 seconds. The time a planet takes to revolve around the sun is called a year.
What are the three ways that heat energy moves through the atmosphere?
Energy travels through space. Heat energy is transferred in three ways, radiation, conduction, and convection.
Earth's surface does not get too hot or too cold compared to Mercury's surface. What are the differences between the two planets that makes this possible?
Mercury is significantly smaller and less massive than Earth, though it has a similar density. Mercury'scomposition is also much more metallic than that of Earth, and its 3:2 orbital resonance results in a single day being twice as long as a year.
Some of Earth's heat is lost to space. Why is this important for Earth?
The absorption of infrared radiation trying to escape from the Earth back to space is particularly important to the global energy balance. Energy absorption by the atmosphere stores more energy near its surface than it would if there was no atmosphere.
what is the source of most of earths heat energy
The heat source for our planet is the sun. Energy from the sun is transferred through space and through the earth's atmosphere to the earth's surface. Since the sun warms the earth's surface and atmosphere, some of it is or becomes heat energy.
Define the term revolution.
The motion of the earth moving around the sun.
Define the term rotation.
The movement or path of the earth or a heavenly body turning on its axis. one complete turn of such a body.
How many degrees is the Earth's axis tilted?
Today, the Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees.
How does water help keep Earth from getting too cold or hot?
Water warms up more slowly than air but can hold more heat, water needs 4 times as much energy to raise its temperature by 1ºC as the same mass of air does, so the ocean plays an important part in taking up energy from the Sun and stopping the Earth from getting too hot.
