Earth in Space Flashcards
What is the actual length of a year?
365 1/4 days
What would happen if the speed of Earth’s rotation increased?
Days would be shorter
On what date is the Sun directly over the Tropic of Cancer? Over the Tropic of Capricorn?
Tropic of Cancer (north)- June 21st, Tropic of Capricorn (south)- December 21st
Describe the revolution and rotation of Earth. Include effects, length of time, and how it relates to the Sun.
Revolution is orbiting around the Sun. It takes one year. It causes the seasons to change. Rotation causes night and day and takes 24 hours. Earth rotates from east to west.
How are the seasons different in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
They are opposites. When Northern Hemisphere has summer, Southern Hemisphere has winter.
Give the latitude lines for each climate zone: tropical, temperate, and polar.
Tropical-23.5
Temperate-66.5
Polar-90
In the Northern Hemisphere, what is the longest day of the year? (month and date)
June 21 (summer solstice)
What causes the seasons?
tilt of the Earth (23 ½ degrees or 23.5)
Which part of the Earth receives the most direct rays from the Sun? Least direct?
Tropics receive most direct rays. Areas near the poles receive least direct rays.
Describe the location of the sun on June 21 and December 21.
Tropic of Cancer (north)- June 21st, Tropic of Capricorn (south)- December 21st
Use a diagram of Earth and the Sun to identify seasons.
Label summer and winter solstice
Describe the climates of polar, temperate, and tropical zones.
Polar zones receive sunlight at very low angles, and have very cold winters. Temperates zones have moderate temperatures with distinct seasons. Tropical regions receive direct sunlight year round and are always warm.
What is the location of the Sun during an equinox?
Directly over the equator (equal amounts of daylight and darkness)
Describe the solstices at the poles.
During the summer solstice, it has 24 hours of sunlight. During the winter, 24 hours of darkness.
If Earth is closer to the sun in January, why is it colder than July?
Earth is tilted away from the Sun.
