Earth Science, Tarbuck Chap 21

Question 1

Kepler Laws

Answer 1

1. Planets orbit around the sun in an ellipse.
2. Planet moves faster when closer to the Sun, equal areas in equal time
3. The square of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit.

Question 2

What is a mean solar day

Answer 2

Time interval from noon on one day to noon on the next

Question 3

What is a sidereal day

Answer 3

time it takes for the Earth to make one 360 degree rotation with respect to a star appearing the same position

Question 4

What is parallax

Answer 4

the difference in the apparent position of an object against a distant background when observed from two distinct vantage points.

Question 5

What is Perihelion

Answer 5

When the earth is closest to the sun, happens in january

Question 6

What is aphelion

Answer 6

When the Earth is farthest away from the sun, happens in july

Question 7

What is the Synodic month

Answer 7

Apparent period of the Cycle of moon phases

Question 8

What is the sidereal month

Answer 8

True period of the cycle of moon phases

Question 9

Order the moon cycles

Answer 9

New, Crescent, First Quarter, Gibbous, Full, Gibbous, 3rd Quarter, Crescent, New