Unit 2: The Earth's movements around the Sun: pg. 142 - 145 Flashcards
What is an orbit?
An orbit is a path in which a planet moves around the Sun; the path in which a moon moves around a planet in the solar system.
What is an axis?
An axis is a imaginary line through the centre of an object around which the object rotates (spins).
What is a day?
A day is the time it takes for a planet to rotate around its own axis.
By how much is the Earth’s axis tilted?
23,5 degrees.
What is the equator?
The Equator is an imaginary line around the Earth halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole.
What does the equator divide the Earth into?
The Southern and Northern Hemispheres.
What are the 4 seasons?
Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring.
Why do we experience different seasons?
The reason is, is because of the way the Earth moves in space as it journeys around the Sun in a year.
How does the tilt of the Earth’s axis determine the seasons that we have?
With the Earth’s axis being tilted, the Southern Hemisphere can be tilted more towards or more away from the Sun. This determines our seasons.
How does summer in the Southern Hemisphere occur?
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere occurs when it is tilted towards the Sun, therefore the Southern Hemisphere receives more sunlight, making it hotter.
How does autumn in the Southern Hemisphere occur?
Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere occurs when it is tilted slightly further away from the Sun, therefore it doesn’t receive as much sunlight as it would in Summer, making it cold, but not as cold as Winter.
How does winter in the Southern Hemisphere occur?
Winter in the Southern Hemisphere occurs when it is tilted away from the Sun, therefore it receives much less sunlight, making it colder.
How does spring in the Southern Hemisphere occur?
Spring in the Southern Hemisphere occurs when it is tilted more towards the Sun, therefore it receives more sunlight, making it hot, but not as hot as it is in Summer.
