Download Notes on Sun-Earth-Moon (pg. 119)

Sun-Earth-Moon-Stars-Planets
Test Study Guide
STUDY:
Notes on Sun-Earth-Moon (pg. 119)
Notes on Life Cycle of Star (pg. 121)
Notes on the Planets (pg. 123)
Possible Short Answer Questions:
1. Explain how day and night occur.
Earth rotates on its axis in a twenty-four hour cycle. The part
of Earth that faces the sun is lighted and experiences day. As
Earth turns, the rotation moves the lighted area to face away
from the sun. Then the lighted side grows dark and
experiences night.
2. Describe how Earth’s tilt leads to seasonal changes.
Because Earth is tilted on its axis, the hemisphere tilted
toward the Sun receives more daylight hours and radiation
then the hemisphere tilted away from the Sun.
3. Explain why it is warmer near the equator than it is near the
poles.
Near the equator, sunlight hits earth’s surface directly. Near
the poles, however, sunlight hits Earth’s surface at an angle.
4. Why do people on Earth always see the same side of the
moon?
The moon rotates on its axis as it revolves around Earth.
These two motions take the same amount of time
5. Explain how a lunar eclipse differs from a solar eclipse.
During a lunar eclipse, Earth is directly between the Sun and
the Moon, causing the Moon to pass through Earth’s shadow.
During a solar eclipse, the Moon is directly between the Sun
and Earth, casting a shadow upon Earth.
6. How does the position of the Moon cause high tides and low
tides?
The moon’s gravity pulls on Earth. This pull creates a bulge of
water on the side of the Earth that faces the Moon. Earth’s
rotation and inertia creates a bulge of water on the opposite
side of the Earth. The two bulges create high tides and
between the two bulges are low tides.
7. Explain the difference between apparent magnitude and
absolute magnitude of stars.
Apparent magnitude is a star’s brightness as it appears from
Earth. Absolute magnitude is the star’s actual brightness.
8. What is a supernova?
A supernova is the explosion of a dying supergiant star.
9. What determines whether a star will form a black hole when
it dies?
Only stars with more than 40 times the mass of the Sun form
black holes when they die. This happens after a supernova.
10. Describe what happens to an average star and a massive
star when each runs out of fuel.
Small and medium stars become white dwarfs and eventually
black dwarfs.
A giant star can explode to form a supernova which can form
a neutron star. The most massive stars collapse and become
black holes
11. Explain the differences between the inner planets and
the outer planets.
The inner planets are small, rocky, hot, have iron cores, and
few or no moons. The outer planets are large, lightweight,
cold, made up of liquids and gases, have rings and many
moons.
12. Be able to label a diagram the phases of the moon.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
new
waxing crescent
first quarter
waxing gibbous
full
waning gibbous
third quarter
waning crescent
13. Be able to read and interpret a H-R Diagram.
Most stars belong to which group? Main Sequence
2. Which group does our Sun belong to? Main Sequence
3. Describe our Sun’s luminosity and temperature. Medium luminosity and
medium temperature
4. What two variables did Ejnar Hertzsprung and Henry Russell use to graph the
stars on the diagram? Temperature and Luminosity
5. Which star, Aldebaran or Rigel, is hotter than our Sun? Rigel
6. Which star is most likely red, Proxima Centauri or Altair? Proxima Centauri
1.
7. Which star is most likely blue, Spica or Arcturus? Spica
8. Describe Sirius B’s temperature and brightness. Very hot and dim (not bright)
9. Which star has a greater absolute magnitude, Kapteyn’s Star or Antares?
Antares
10. Name a star that is brighter than Antares. Rigel or Betelgeuse