Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSE Astronomy > Topic 4 > Flashcards

Topic 4 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards GCSE Geography - AQA flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards
1
Q

What is a synodic day?

A

The time taken for the sun to arrive in the same position in the sky as the day before

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How long is a synodic day?

A

24 hours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why is the synodic day not true

A

NOT TRUE- the Earth rotates while orbiting the SUn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a sidereal day

A

The time taken for a relatively distant star to arrive at the same position in the sky

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How long is a sidereal day

A

23 hours and 56 minutes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why is there a 4 minute difference between the sidereal and synodic day?

A

THe four minute difference is caused by the Earth orbiting the SUn at the same time is rotates about its own axis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is apparent solar time

A

time dictated by the position of the sun in the sky

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is mean solar time

A

time on our watches that humans invented to compensate for innacuracies of AST

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why can AST be inaccurate

A

-elliptical orbit of Earth around Sun
-axial tilt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why does the equation of time vary

A

because Earth’s axial tilt and elliptical orbit of Earth around Sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the equation of time

A

EOT = AST - MST

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Produce a plan for the shadow stick experiment

A

-Use a thin stick like a dowel and lace perpendicular to floor somewhere sunny
-put card below
-every 5 minutes from 11:00-14:00 draw the shadow and label length and time shown on watch
-plot graph of length against time
-Use observations to find when the shortest shadow was cast
-This is our AST noon
-Use EOT to find longitude of observer
-4 min difference = 1 degree longittude

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What doe a positive difference in the equation of time mean?

A

East of meridian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does a negative difference in the equation of time mean?

A

West of meridian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a sundial used for

A

Used to tell time based off a shadow of the gnomon (large protrusion in the middle) created by the sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

True or false
Angle of gnomon should equal latitude of the sundial

A

True

17
Q

What should the latitude of the sundial equal

A

Angle of gnomon

18
Q

WHat are 2 disadvantages of using a sundial

A

-Doesn’t operate when there’s no sunlight
-Inaccurate to a certain degree due to the equation of time

19
Q

What other planets show phases?`

A

Venus and Mercury

20
Q

How long is the sidereal month

A

27.3 days

21
Q

What is the sidereal month

A

TIme taken for the moon to fully orbit the Earth

22
Q

What is the synodic month

A

Period between a full moon and the next

23
Q

How long is a synodic month

A

29.5 days

24
Q

WHat type of rotation does the Moon have

A

synchronous rotation

25
Q

Why can we only see one side of the moon?

A

The moon has a synchronous rotation which means it keeps the same face towards Earth

26
Q

What is summer solstice

A

The day with the most daylight.
THis is because the path of the sun in the sky is highest, so the Sun is over the horizon for the longest

27
Q

When is summer solstice

A

21st June

28
Q

What is winter solstice

A

Day with the least sunlight, the path of the Sun in the sky is lowest as the Sun is over the horizon for the shortest time

29
Q

When is winter solstice

A

21st December

30
Q

What is vernal equinox

A

day & night are equal length, the equinoxes get earlier every year due to precession

31
Q

What is autumnal equinox

A

day & night are equal length, the equinoxes get earlier every year due to precession

32
Q

Where is latitude measured from>

A

Equator

33
Q

Where is longitude measured from

A

Prime meridian

34
Q

Describe how to find longitude using the LUNAR method

A

-longitude can be found by calculating the distance between the moon & a distant star
-THe moon moves 13 degrees in the sky over 24 hours
this means that a person would find the altitude of a star and use an octant to find the angle between the moon & the star
-They would then use an almanac(Set of recorded data) to work out their longitude

35
Q

Why is the lunar method of working out longitude inaccurate

A

-Outdated data
-Unclear skies
-Being at sea

36
Q

Describe how to find longitude using the HOROLOGICAL method

A

Marine Chronometer

37
Q

Who invented the Marine chronometer

A

John Harrison

38
Q

Who was John Harrison

A

Clock maker in the 18th century who noticed the movement of a ship at sea affects a clock’s pendulum
-he invented the marine chronometer which allowed people to find their time & longitude at sea

GCSE Astronomy (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions