The Sun, Moon, and Earth System

Question 1

An astronomical unit (AU) is defined as the distance between…

Answer 1

the Earth and the Sun

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the sun’s electromagnetic energy is not correct?
A. it forms a continuous Spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays
B. it’s longest waves appear deep red and its shortest waves appear Indigo or violet
C. the visible spectrum contains only the waves that we can see
D. about 93% of the sun’s energy output is admitted has electromagnetic energy

Answer 2

B. it’s longest waves appear deep red and its shortest waves appear Indigo or violet

Question 3

The sun is mostly composed of…

Answer 3

Hydrogen

Question 4

Astronomers believe that sunspots form when…

Answer 4

pairs of local magnetic disturbances appear on the sun’s surface

Question 5

Severe solar storms that can disrupt telecommunications on Earth are called…

Answer 5

Solar Flares

Question 6

Most of the radiated energy from the Sun travels in the form of high-energy…

Answer 6

Electromagnetic waves

Question 7

What is a continuation of the sun’s atmosphere?

Answer 7

Solar Wind

Question 8

A… ? …is a glowing sheet of colored lights above the Earth’s north and south pole.

Answer 8

Aurora

Question 9

A depression on the surface of the Moon usually surrounded by circular walls is a…

Answer 9

Crater

Question 10

Materials blasted out of a crater during a meteorite impact is a…

Answer 10

Ejecta

Question 11

The visible surface of the Sun is called the…

Answer 11

Photosphere

Question 12

The region within the sun where energy travels primarily has electromagnetic waves is the…

Answer 12

Radiative Zone

Question 13

The outer region of the sun’s atmosphere is called the…

Answer 13

Corona

Question 14

A large dark area on the surface of the Moon is called a…

Answer 14

Mare

Question 15

The entire range of electromagnetic waves released by the sun is called the…

Answer 15

Solar Spectrum

Question 16

Hot plasma rises to the surface, cools, and descends into the sense interior again in the sun’s…

Answer 16

Convective Zone

Question 17

Streams of plasma that rise up into in descend from the sun’s Corona often forming loops are called…

Answer 17

Prominces

Question 18

Know the phases of the moon.

Answer 18

Moon

Question 19

Explain the terms nearside, Far Side, light side, and dark side as they relate to the Moon.

Answer 19

The near side and the Far Side of the Moon are relative to the Earth. The near side is the side that constantly faces the Earth. The Far Side is the side that is always facing away from the earth. The light side and dark side are relative to the Sun. The light side is facing (lit up by) the Sun. The dark side is facing away from the Sun and therefore in a shadow.

Question 20

Why do we have leap years?

Answer 20

A calendar year is made up of 365 days, but it takes slightly longer (365.2425 days) for the sun to travel completely around the ecliptic. Every 4 years we add a day (February 29th) to make the difference. Leap Centuries addresses the difference between the 365.25 days and the 365.2425 days, but students shouldn’t be expected to include this information.
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