U1 - Earth, Moon & Sun - Vocabulary

Question 1

the relative size or proportion of objects compared to each other, often used in models to represent larger or smaller objects at a manageable size.

Answer 1

Scale

Question 2

the amount of space between two objects - typically measured in units like kilometers (km), miles, or astronomical units (AU) in space.

Answer 2

Distance

Question 3

a force that attracts objects toward each other based on their masses. It keeps planets in orbit around stars and governs the motion of objects in space.

Answer 3

Gravity

Question 4

the amount of matter in an object, which determines its gravitational pull. Larger masses exert stronger gravitational forces.

Answer 4

Mass

Question 5

a vast system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity. Our solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy.

Answer 5

Galaxy

Question 6

periods of the year characterized by distinct weather patterns and daylight hours, resulting from Earth’s axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun.

Answer 6

Seasons

Question 7

the angle (approximately 23.5 degrees) at which Earth is tilted relative to its orbit around the Sun, affecting how sunlight is distributed on the planet’s surface.

Answer 7

Tilt

Question 8

the curved or elliptical path an object takes as it moves around another object due to gravity; such as the orbit of planets around the Sun or moons around planets.

Answer 8

Orbit

Question 9

the angular distance of a place north or south of the Earth’s equator, usually measured in degrees (°).

Answer 9

Latitude

Question 10

an imaginary line that circles the Earth horizontally at its center, dividing it into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is located equidistant from the North and South Poles and has a latitude of 0 degrees.

Answer 10

Equator

Question 11

events that occur twice a year when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marking the longest and shortest days of the year.

Answer 11

Solstices

Question 12

events that occur twice a year when day and night are approximately equal in length, occurring when the Sun is directly above the equator.

Answer 12

Equinoxes

Question 13

refers to the angle between the sun and the horizon of Earth, measured in degrees. It changes throughout the day and varies depending on your location on Earth and the time of year.

Answer 13

Sun’s Altitude

Question 14

refers to a planet’s orbit around a star or a moon’s orbit around a planet (think 1 year for Earth to go around the sun once)

Answer 14

Revolution

Question 15

describes the planet’s spin on its axis (think day and night on Earth)

Answer 15

Rotation

Question 16

the changing appearances of the moon as seen from Earth, caused by the moon’s orbit around Earth and the varying angles of sunlight hitting it.

Answer 16

Moon Phases

Question 17

when the visible part of the moon is growing larger each night.

Answer 17

Waxing

Question 18

when the visible part of the moon is shrinking.

Answer 18

Waning

Question 19

a phase of the moon where a very small part is illuminated, forming a crescent (banana) shape.

Answer 19

Crescent

Question 20

a phase of the moon where more than half of it is illuminated but it is not yet full.

Answer 20

Gibbous

Question 21

the phase of the moon where the side facing the Earth is completely dark because it’s between the Earth and the Sun.

Answer 21

New Moon

Question 22

the phase of the moon where the side facing the Earth is fully illuminated by the Sun.

Answer 22

Full Moon

Question 23

a waxing phase where the right half of the moon is illuminated and the left half is dark.

Answer 23

First Quarter

Question 24

a waning phase where the left half of the moon is illuminated and the right half is dark.

Answer 24

Third Quarter

Question 25

occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun, blocking the Sun’s light and casting a shadow on the Earth.

Answer 25

Solar Eclipse

Question 26

happens when the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon; the moon often appears reddish in color.

Answer 26

Lunar Eclipse

Question 27

the fully shaded, inner region of a shadow during an eclipse, where the sun’s light is completely blocked.

Answer 27

Umbra

Question 28

the partially shaded outer region of a shadow during an eclipse, where only part of the sun’s light is blocked.

Answer 28

Penumbra

Question 29

the process of lighting up an object allowing it to become visible; example: the sun’s light or illumination.

Answer 29

Illumination

Question 30

in a straight line

Answer 30

Linear