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
- What are 3 important facts to remember about Earth’s orbit?
- ______
- ______
- ______
- What are 2 important facts to remember about Earth’s rotation?
- ______
- ______
- What is meant by Earth’s rotation axis? ______
- Why does Earth’s rotation axis lean toward the Sun for only ½ of its orbit? ______
- 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
- _____The light energy absorbed by a surface depends on…
- _____A beam of light becomes more spread out as…
- _____Energy is carried to Earth in…
- _____Some energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface when…
- _____Energy is less concentrated near…
- _____Less energy reaches the pole because…
- _____Earth is warmest at the equator because…
- _____Earth is coldest at the poles because…
- _____Surface temperature depends on the amount of…
- _____The surface of Earth…
- _____Less energy is received in regions where…
- _____A beam of light…
- _____Earth is warm at the equator and cold at…
- the surface tilts away from it.
- carries energy.
- the beam of light reaches Earth.
- the tilt of the surface.
- the beam of light is spread out more.
- energy is concentrated there.
- Earth’s poles.
- tilt is the greatest there.
- energy absorbed by the surface.
- a beam of sunlight.
- is curved.
Activity #3
Directions Answer each question in the boxes below.
December Solstice / March Equinox / June Solstice / September Equinox- Where does the north end of Earth’s axis lean at this time of year?
- What is true about the number of daylight hours at this time of the year?
- Where does the north end of Earth’s axis lean at this time of the year?
- What is true about the number of daylight hours at this time of year?
- Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
- Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
- Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
- Which season does this day mark in the northern hemisphere?
- Why are temperatures cooler in the northern hemisphere at this time?
- What can be said about the distribution of sunlight at this time?
- Why are temperatures warmer in the northern hemisphere at this time?
- 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.
- According to the diagram to the right, explain each of the following motions.
- Nutation ______
- Precession ______
- How long does it take for each process to complete 1 cycle?
- Nutation ______
- Precession ______
- Describe what happens during the
eclipses.
- Solar ______
- Lunar ______
- What are the positions of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon during each eclipse?
- Solar ______
- Lunar ______
- What causes the tides? ______
- Describe what a spring tide is. ______
- Describe what a neap tide is. ______
- What is the position of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon during each tide?
- Spring ______
- Neap ______