Download Name: Unit D Chapter 3: Cycles in the Solar System Study Guide

Name:_______________________________
Unit D Chapter 3: Cycles in the Solar System Study Guide
Vocabulary: You are responsible for knowing all of the vocabulary words from this chapter. These
include:
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
Planetary system
Asteroid
Meteoroid
Comet
Astronomical unit
6.) Rotation
7.) Axis
8.) Revolution
9.) Orbit
10.) Ellipse
11.) Season
12.) Axial tilt
13.) Phases
14.) First quarter
15.) Third quarter
Lesson 1: (Pages D78-D83)
1.) Draw a picture of Ptolemy’s model of the universe. What is this model called and why?
2.) Draw a picture of Copernicus’ model of the universe. What is this model called and why?
3.) Which astronomer thought the planetary orbits were elliptical? _______________________
4.) How did Galileo prove that Copernicus’ theory was correct?
5.) What is the solar system made up of?
6.) What is between Mars and Jupiter? __________________________
7.) When is it appropriate to use astronomical units?
8.) When is it appropriate to use light-years?
Lesson 2 (Pages D84-D91)
1.) Why do the lengths of days on the planets differ?
2.) Why do the lengths of years on the planets differ?
3.) Explain the role inertia and gravitational force has in a planet’s orbit around the sun.
4.) What is precession?
Lesson 3 (Pages D92-D99)
1.) Why does Earth have seasons?
2.) When is the Northern Hemisphere tilted towards the sun?
3.) Why is it warmer in the summer than in the winter?
4.) When does the Northern Hemisphere receive the most direct sunlight? When does it receive the most
indirect sunlight?
5.) What planets do not have seasons? Why?
*Study your “Seasons on Earth Diagram.” Know the first day of each season and how the Northern
Hemisphere is tilted during each season.
Lesson 4 (Pages D100-D105)
1.) What causes the phases of the moon?
2.) What are waxing phases?
3.) What are waning phases?
4.) What planets with phases can we see from Earth?
5.) Why are phases difficult to see on planets such as Jupiter and Mars?
*Study your “Moon Phases Chart.” Know the order and shape of the phases of the moon.