Science: Chapter 14 The Sun, Earth, and Moon System
How long does it take the Moon to make a rotation?
27.3 days
How do scientists propose the formation of the Moon.
A Mars-sized object collided with Earth and threw debris into orbit. Gravity pulled the debris together to form the Moon.
When can a lunar eclipse happen?
A lunar eclipse can happen during a full moon.
When can a solar eclipse happen?
A solar eclipse can only happen during anew moon.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when a small part of Earth is in the Moon's shadow. The Moon appears to completely or partially cover the Sun.
What is Earth's axis?
An imaginary line that runs through Earth from its North Pole to its South Pole
What created the Moon's craters?
Asteroids and comets
Has the Moon's surface changed much since its formation? Explain.
Because the Moon has no liquid water flowing over its surface and no atmosphere, its surface has changed very little since its formation.
Why do observers on Earth always see the same side of the Moon?
Because the Moon revolves and rotates in the same amount of time, the same sied of the Moon always faces Earth.
What happens during a lunar eclipse?
During a lunar eclipse, Earth's shadow completely or partially covers the Moon.
What effect does a neap tide have?
During a neap tide, high tides are lower and low tides are higher.
What effect does a spring tide have?
During a spring tide, high tides are higher and low tides are lower.
When might the Earth be tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun.
During spring or fall
When is the Moon's far side also its dark side?
During the full moon phase the entire near side is illuminated, so the entire far side is dark.
How is Earth compared to other objects in our solar system?
Earth is a small, rocky, inner planet. It has one natural satellite, the Moon. The Earth differs from the outer planets in its size, what it is made up of, and the number of moons. Earth is the only planet in our solar system that we are aware of that supports life as we know it.
Why does the Sun appear to rise in the east and set in the west?
Earth rotates in a counterclockwise motion.
How do the motions of the Earth and the Moon affect Earth?
Earth's motion causes day and night. Earth's revolution is related to the seasons. Interactions among the Sun, Earth, and Moon cause both tides and eclipses.
Compare and contrast equinox and solstice.
Equinox and solstice are both related to the angle of the sun's rays hitting Earth's surface. Both mark the beginning of a season on Earth. They are different because a solstice marks the start of summer and winter. An equinox marks the start of spring or fall.
What happens to the tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun?
It does not change.
How many degrees is Earth tilted on its axis?
It is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees.
Why might it be summer in the northern hemisphere?
It would be summer in the northern hemisphere because that part of Earth is tilted toward the Sun and receives more light.
When is Earth closest to the Sun?
January
During which months will a solstice occur?
June and December
In what months will an equinox occur?
March and September
When do neap tides occur?
Neap tides happen during the first quarter and last quarter moon phases.
What are Moon phases?
Phases are the different amounts of the Moon's lit surface that are visible from Earth as it revolves around Earth.
How are rotation and revolution alike?
Rotation and revolution are alike because they both involve the movement of objects in space.
How are rotation and revolution different?
Rotation is the spin of an object on its axis. Revolution is the movement of one object around another.
What causes seasons?
Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis with respect to the Sun.
When do spring tides occur?
Spring tides happen during a full moon phase and during a new moon phase.
Where is the Earth in the universe and how is it related to the other objects in the universe?
The Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is the only known planet with life. It is in a galaxy known as the Milky Way.
The Sun is one of billions of stars that make up what galaxy?
The Milky Way galaxy
Describe the Moon.
The Moon is about 1/4 the size of Earth. It is a dry and airless area, very rocky with mountains and craters.
What is the most influential factor on the tides?
The Moon is the most influential factor on the tides because it is closer to Earth than the Sun.
What is the relationship among the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun?
The Moon orbits the Earth. The Earth orbits the Sun.
Describe the movements of the Moon in relation to Earth.
The Moon rotates about its axis and revolves around Earth.
When does the Moon appear smaller?
The Moon wanes, or becomes smaller, as it goes from full moon to new moon.
When does the Moon appear to get larger?
The Moon waxes, or becomes larger, as it goes from a new moon phase to full moon phase.
What holds Earth and all of the other objects in the solar system in their orbits?
The gravitational pull of the sun
How do the Earth and the other objects in the solar system move?
The objects in the solar system, including Earth, rotate around the Sun.
What types of observations did people long ago make of the night sky?
They saw how the Moon, Sun, and other objects in the night sky changed positions.
What causes tides?
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth.
What are tides?
Tides are the daily rising and falling of water levels in oceans and other bodies of water.
Compare waxing and waning
Waxing and waning both describe the change in the portion of the lit surface of the Moon that can be seen from Earth.
Contrast waxing and waning
Waxing is when the amount of the Moon's lit surface that is visible from Earth increases. Waning is when the amount of the Moon's lit surface that is visible from Earth decreases.
When are high tides higher than usual?
When the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon are aligned in space the high tides are usually higher than usual. This usually happens during spring tides which occur during the full moon and the new moon phases.
How long does it take Earth to rotate once?
about 24 hours
equinox
beginning of spring and fall; days on which hours of sunlight equal hours of darkness
solstice
beginning of summer or winter; days on which the hours of daylight are longest or shortest
tide
daily rushing and falling level of the ocean and other large bodies of water
A solar _____________ can only occur during a new moon, when a small part of the Earth is in the shadow of the moon.
eclipse
How many planets are in our solar system?
eight
What occurs on the first day of spring and fall?
equinoxes
The surface of the Moon is covered with craters, mountains and __________ plains from volvanoes from long ago.
lava
How does earth move on its axis?
like a top
lava
molten volcanic material
eclipse
movement of one solar system object into the shadow of another object
How long does a solstice last?
one day
How long does an equinox last?
one day
revolution
orbit of one object around another object
One year around the Sun is the amount of time it takes Earth to make a full what around the Sun?
revolution
The ___________ of the Earth causes day and night.
rotation
The longest day of the year is a ______.
solstice
rotation
spin of an object around its axis
What seasons are started with an equinox?
spring and fall
Which seasons begin when there are equal hours of daylight and darkness?
spring and fall
Which seasons start with a solstice?
summer and winter
What does the Moon orbit?
the Earth
What are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun that affect the Earth?
tides
How many times a year will a solstice occur?
two
How many times a year will a the Earth experience an equinox?
two times a year
The Milky Way is one of billions of galaxies that make up what?
universe
waxing
visible portion of the Moon becomes larger
waning
visible portion of the Moon becomes smaller
At the conclusion of a full moon, the Moon is __________ and less of the Moon is visible on Earth each night.
waning
Following a new moon, the Moon is ______, and more of the Moon is visible each night.
waxing