Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 (Week 2) Flashcards
In what way does the Earth Rotate?
Earth rotates around its axis once a day towards the east (right hand rule)
What is latitude
measures distance north or south of the equator
What is longitude
measures diistance east or west of an arbitrarily chosen reference point.
what is the celestial sphere
Celestial poles and equators are projections of the Earth’s poles and equator in the sky. The north celestial pole is directly above the earth’s north pole. The south celestial pole is directly above Earth’s south pole
What is the ecliptic
the ecliptic is the Sun’s apparent annual path around the celestial sphere
Stars in constellations
Stars are all at different distances, so a side view of the constellation would look very different
What are constellations
Constellations come to be from cultures throughout history that have identified shapes and told stories about the stars. Such as Roman Constellations, Chinese Constellations, Ojibwe Constellations. orientations and positions of the constellations change over the course of the year.
What affects how constellations are seen?
Earth’s position relative to the sun determines which constellations are visible at night.
What causes Seasonal variations? Draw a picture with the Vernal equinox, Summer solstice, Autumnal Equinox, and Winter Solstice.
Seasonal variations are caused by the Earth’s rotation axis (North and South poles) is tilted relative to its orbital axis around the sun.
What happens in the June Solstice
Noon sun hits the ground at a steep angle in the Northern hemisphere and a shallow angle in the southern hemisphere
What happens in the December Solstice
Noon sun hits the ground at a shallow angle in the northern hemisphere, noon sun hits the ground at a steep angle in the southern hemisphere.
Why doesn’t distance matter?
The variation of Eath-Sun distance is small (only 3%). The Earth is closest during the northern winter and farthest during the northern summer.
How does the moon orbit around the earth?
same right-hand rule
What are the phases of the moon and what causes them
The moon has phases due to the illumination by the sun The moon has two categories of phases the first is waxing and waning. The waxing part consists of the waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous. The waning phase has the waning gibbous, the last quarter and the waning crescent.
What causes Eclipses?
Earth and the moon both cast shadows, when either passes through the other’s shadow we see an eclipse.
How does a total lunar eclipse occur?
this happens when the moon passes entirely through the umbra
How does a partial Eclipse occur?
A partial eclipse occurs wen the moon is partially in the umbra and the penumbra
why does the moon look red
The red light from the sun is refracted through the earth’s atmosphere whilst the blue light is scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere. The red light which is refracted passes through the atmosphere and falls onto the moon.
What is the scientific method?
make observations - ask a question - suggest a hypothesis - make a prediction - perform a test (test can support the hypothesis or go against hypothesis - if not then revise hypothesis and go again)
What is Deductive reasoning
“top-down” approach: start with theory - then make a hypothesis, then make observations to confirm or refuse the hypothesis. (scientific method is an example)
What is Inductive reasoning
“bottom-up” approach: start with general observations, search for patterns, and use these patterns to develop a cohesive model or theory.
What are some hallmarks of a scientific theory
- based on natural causes
- simplicity
- falsifiability, make predictions that can be tested and falsified.
What is the difference between astrology and astronomy
Astronomy is the study of the universe and its contents outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. Astrology is the study of how those positions, motions, and properties affect people and events on earth.
What are the three types of solar eclipses?
A solar eclipse happens when the moon comes between the earth and the sun. This causes the shadow of the moon falls on earth. However, it is only a small portion.
1. total -
2. partial
3. annular
Why don’t we see an eclipse every month?
well the moon’s orbit is tilted by 5 degrees relative to the earth this places the moon outside of the shadow of the earth for most full moons and it also moves the earth out of the moon’s shadow.
You are visiting Sydney, Australia. You measure the altitude of the South Celestial Pole, which is 32 degrees. What is your latitude and which way (clockwise or counter-clockwise) would the sky appear to turn around the south celestial pole?
32
Where on Earth does one have to be in order to see all the stars over the entire year?
At the earths equator
What phase is the moon in if it rises at sunset and sets during sunrise?
Full moon
timings and phases of the moon
look at image
