Activity #1

Directions: Complete the chart by writing each statement in the correct space.

Statements

  • Earth spins on its rotation axis in a counterclockwise direction.
  • One Earth day equals 24 hours.
  • It takes approximately one year to orbit the Sun.
  • If the gravity between Earth and the Sun somehow stopped, Earth would fly off into space in a straight line.
  • Each day the Sun appears to move from east to west across the sky.
  • Changes in the seasons are caused by changes in the amount of sunlight striking Earth.
  • Summer and winter are opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres.
  • Earth moves around the Sun.
  • Earth moves in a counterclockwise motion.

Earth’s Rotation / Earth’s Revolution / Tilt of Earth on its Axis

Directions Explain the differences between each set of terms. Then explain how the terms in each set are related.

Terms / What is the difference between the terms? / How are the terms related?
Revolution, Rotation
Orbit, Revolution
Rotation, Rotation Axis, Equator
Solstice, Equinox

Activity #2

  1. What are 3 important facts to remember about Earth’s orbit?
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______
  5. What are 2 important facts to remember about Earth’s rotation?
  6. ______
  7. ______
  8. What is meant by Earth’s rotation axis? ______
  9. Why does Earth’s rotation axis lean toward the Sun for only ½ of its orbit? ______
  10. How does Earth’s rotation axis cause seasons to change?

______

Directions On the line before each effect, write the letter of the cause that correctly completes each sentence. Some causes might be used more than once.

Effects Causes

  1. _____The light energy absorbed by a surface depends on…
  2. _____A beam of light becomes more spread out as…
  3. _____Energy is carried to Earth in…
  4. _____Some energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface when…
  5. _____Energy is less concentrated near…
  6. _____Less energy reaches the pole because…
  7. _____Earth is warmest at the equator because…
  8. _____Earth is coldest at the poles because…
  9. _____Surface temperature depends on the amount of…
  10. _____The surface of Earth…
  11. _____Less energy is received in regions where…
  12. _____A beam of light…
  13. _____Earth is warm at the equator and cold at…

  1. the surface tilts away from it.
  2. carries energy.
  3. the beam of light reaches Earth.
  4. the tilt of the surface.
  5. the beam of light is spread out more.
  6. energy is concentrated there.
  7. Earth’s poles.
  8. tilt is the greatest there.
  9. energy absorbed by the surface.
  10. a beam of sunlight.
  11. is curved.

Activity #3

Directions Answer each question in the boxes below.

December Solstice / March Equinox / June Solstice / September Equinox
  1. Where does the north end of Earth’s axis lean at this time of year?
/
  1. What is true about the number of daylight hours at this time of the year?
/
  1. Where does the north end of Earth’s axis lean at this time of the year?
/
  1. What is true about the number of daylight hours at this time of year?

  1. Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
In the southern hemisphere? /
  1. Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
In the southern hemisphere? /
  1. Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
In the southern hemisphere? /
  1. Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
In the southern hemisphere?
  1. Why are temperatures cooler in the northern hemisphere at this time?
/
  1. What can be said about the distribution of sunlight at this time?
/
  1. Why are temperatures warmer in the northern hemisphere at this time?
/
  1. What can be said about the distribution of sunlight at this time?

Activity #4

Directions Look at the diagrams then answer the questions for each.

  1. According to the diagram to the right, explain each of the following motions.
  2. Nutation ______
  3. Precession ______
  4. How long does it take for each process to complete 1 cycle?

  • Nutation ______
  • Precession ______

  1. Describe what happens during the

eclipses.

  • Solar ______
  • Lunar ______
  1. What are the positions of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon during each eclipse?
  2. Solar ______
  3. Lunar ______
  4. What causes the tides? ______
  5. Describe what a spring tide is. ______
  6. Describe what a neap tide is. ______
  7. What is the position of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon during each tide?
  8. Spring ______
  9. Neap ______