Science: Patterns in Space Flashcards
What is axis
An imaginary line that goes through the center of an object
What is rotation
The spinning of an object around its axis
What is a pattern
A group of objects or events that repeat in the same order
What is revolution
The movement of one object around another object
What is a shadow
A dark area or shape that is made when an objects blocks a source of light
What is a constellation
A group of stars that, when seen, make a shape or picture
What is related
Connected
How is earth’s rotation observable?
The sun moving across the sky, shows that the earth is rotating so that different parts of the planet faces the sun.
The sun casts shadows at different angles throughout the day, so that shadows change in size and shape - this also shows that the earth is rotating around the sun.
How long does it take for the earth to complete one rotation around the sun?
1 year, or 365 days
How many days does it take for the moon to revolve around earth?
29 days (approximately 1 month)
What causes seasons on earth?
The tilt of the earth’s axis and its revolution around the sun - both impact how much direct sunlight is exposed to different parts of the planet (and thus the temperature) at different times of the year
Why is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere when its winter in the Southern Hemisphere?
Earth is tilted as it revolves around the sun. When its summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the earth is tilted so that more sunlight is exposed to the North (thus the temperature is higher) and less is exposed to the South (thus temperature is lower)
Why are time zones based on Greenwich Standard Time?
Time zones are referenced to their distance from Greenwich, England, where it’s the original Prime Meridian - that location serves as the reference point
Which location is at:
1) GMT+0
2) GMT +8
3) GMT -5
1) Greenwich, England
2) Taipei
3) New York
True or false: stars that appear in a constellation are similar in distance to earth
False
Why does the moon appear in different shapes, at different times of the month?
As the moon revolves around the earth, different parts of the moon is exposed to the sun, making it more or less visible. We can only see the part of the moon that is exposed to the sun.
Why do constellations appear in different locations in the sky, at different times during the year?
As the earth orbits around the sun, its position to the stars changes. So the position of constellations in the sky also changes. Sometimes, constellations are not visible at all during certain times of the year.
How did ancient cultures use patterns from the rising and setting of the sun?
It was used to tell time, by using a sundial.
As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow cast on the sundial will move. A sundial has markers where a shadow will point to different times of the day depending on the position of the sun.
How did ancient cultures use patterns from the phases of the moon and locations of constellations in the sky?
They used these patterns to create calendars with months. With a calendar, they could plan when to plant and harvest crops.
