U1 Earth-Sun-Moon System

Question 1

Foucault’s Pendulum

Answer 1

a large pendulum that knocks down sticks every hour due to the Earth’s rotation

Question 2

What is the primary cause of seasonal changes on Earth?

Answer 2

tilt of the Earth’s axis

Question 3

How much is Earth’s axis tilted?

Answer 3

23.5 degrees

Question 4

What causes the clockwise direction of flow of the ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere?

Answer 4

Coriolis effect

Question 5

What is the name of the star in the Northern Hemisphere that appears to stay in the same location as the Earth rotates at night?

Answer 5

Polaris

Question 6

solar time

Answer 6

calculation of elapsed time (how much time has passed) using the apparent movement of the Sun

Question 7

constellation

Answer 7

a group of stars’ location and arrangement relative to other stars

Question 8

Which motion causes observers on Earth to see different constellations at different times of the year?

Answer 8

Earth revolves around the Sun

Question 9

Which motion causes the stars to appear to move across the night sky?

Answer 9

Earth’s rotation

Question 10

spring tide

Answer 10

2 times during the year when we experience the greatest variance (change) between high and low tides; this occurs due to the Sun, Earth, and Moon being in alignment (you will see either a full or a new moon)

Question 11

neap tide

Answer 11

2 times during the year when we experience the least variance (change) between high and low tides; this occurs due to the Sun, Earth, and Moon being forming a 90 degree angle (you will see only half the moon)

Question 12

What season will the Northern Hemisphere be experiencing when the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun?

Answer 12

summer

Question 13

insolation

Answer 13

the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface

Question 14

angle of incidence

Answer 14

the angle at which the Sun’s ray hits the Earth’s surface AS MEASURED FROM A LINE PERPENDICULAR TO THE SURFACE

Question 15

How many hours of sunlight does the equator get throughout the year?

Answer 15

12 hours; since the equator does change much throughout Earth’s revolution even though the Earth is tilted

Question 16

What is the relationship between latitude and duration of insolation in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer?

Answer 16

As the latitude increase, the duration of insolation (hours of sunlight) increases.

Question 17

When it is 11am in Boston, what time is it in San Diego?

Answer 17

8am

Question 18

What causes a lunar eclipse?

Answer 18

the moon’s orbital plane places the moon in a position where the Earth’s shadow falls on the moon (moon is blocked from the Sun)

Question 19

What causes a solar eclipse?

Answer 19

the moon’s orbital plane places the moon in a position where the moon’s shadow falls on the Earth (Sun is blocked from the Earth)

Question 20

What affects something’s ability to absorb insolation?

Answer 20

1. color (black absorbs more and white less)
2. texture (rough absorbs more insolation while smooth reflects it)

Question 21

How much time passes from a high tide to the next high tide?

Answer 21

about 12 hours

Question 22

How much time passes from a high tide to a low tide?

Answer 22

about 6 hours

Question 23

During which season in the Northern Hemisphere is the Earth at its aphelion?

Answer 23

summer

Question 24

How many degrees does the Earth rotate in 1 hour?

Answer 24

15 degrees (360 degrees/24 hours)

Question 25

What time of the day is your shadow the shortest?

Answer 25

when the Sun is directly over head because the sun is at a higher angle

Question 26

What time of the year is your shadow the shortest?

Answer 26

summer because the sun is higher in the sky

Question 27

The angle in which you see Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere is the same as your ________________.

Answer 27

latitude; ex: in NYC we see Polaris at about 41 degrees in the sky from the horizon because our latitude is about 41 degrees N

Question 28

During the spring and fall equinox, how many hours of daylight will there be?

Answer 28

12 hours; equinox means equal number of day/night hours (happens in March and September)

Question 29

Tides are both ___________ and ____________.

Answer 29

cyclic and predictable