P1.4.3 - The Earth Flashcards
Why are the groups of stars (constellations) that we see at night in the Summer different to the ones that we see in the winter?
Because the side of the Earth that has night is pointing at different stars at different times of the year.
Suggest a good piece of evidence that shows us that the Earth is spinning.
If you take photosgraphs of the stars they appear to move in circles.
The tilt of the Earth is the reason that we have…
seasons
Why is it hotter in Summer than in Winter?
Because the Earth is tilted towards the Sun.
The Suns rays are spread over a smaller area.
The sun moves around the Sun. What is the scientific name for this movement?
Orbit
Why do we have day and night?
The Sun only ever shines on 1 half of the Earth.
The Earth spins on its axis.
The side that the Sun is not shining on is experiencing night time.
How long does it take for the Sun to rotate on its axis once?
24 hours
What do we call groups of stars in the sky that form a pattern?
Constellations
How many days are ther ein a year?
365.25
(the quaters add up every 4 years to give 366 days - a leap year)
From which direction does the Sun rise?
In the East
The invisible line that runs between the north and south pole is called the Earth’s…
Axis
How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun once?
A year
The Earth spins around on its…
axis
Why does the Sun appear to move across the sky?
Because the Earth is spinning.
The Sun does not move!!
The Earth’s axis (and therefore the Earth) is tilted at an angle of…
23.4°
Why does the Sun not set in the North Pole during Summer?
Because the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun
In which direction does the Sun set?
In the West
When does the Sun reach its highest point in the sky?
At midday (noon - 12:00pm)
Explain why the length of the day changes during the year.
The Earth’s axis is tilted.
So the days are longer in the summer (January) than in winter (July).
State and explain the difference between your shadow length at noon in January and in July.
The Sun is higher in the sky in July
So the shadow will be shorter/smaller
Why is the average temperature of the Northern hemisphere higher in January than July?
The Sun’s radiation (light) is spread over a smaller area in the summer than in the winter.
Radiation from the Sun is more concentrated.
Why is the North Star (Polaris) useful for navigation?
Polaris shows you where north is.
Polaris doesn’t move.
Explain why the paths of stars are circles
The Earth is spinning on its axis.
The stars make a path centred on the point above the North Pole.
