Download astronomy study guide

Earth Science
ASTRONOMY STUDY GUIDE
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of notebook paper and staple this sheet to your
answer sheet. A completed study guide is worth 4 extra credit points on the test. Study guides are due in
the beginning of class the day of the test.
Early Astronomy
 Compare and contrast the heliocentric and geocentric models of the Universe.
 Use the terms “rotation” and “revolution: to explain how the Moon, Earth, and Sun relate to each
other.
 What is the shape of a planets orbit called? Draw a picture of a planet, the sun and the shape of
the planets path around the sun.
 In the diagram above indicate where the planets velocity is the greatest and where it is the slowest
 Describe Kepler’s 3 laws of planetary motion (in your own words) and give examples for each.
 Do planets located further from the sun or closer to the sun have a longer orbital period around
the sun? Which of Kepler’s Laws proves this?
Earth-Sun-Moon System
 What are rotation and revolution? How do these motions of the earth define 1 day? 1 year?
 What is the synodic month and how does it differ from the sidereal month? How long is each?
o Honors – explain sidereal/synodic (solar) day
 Draw the positions of the Earth, Sun and Moon during a lunar and solar eclipse. When do eclipses
occur?
 Explain the surface features of the moon, using the vocabulary words rilles, maria, regolith,
highlands, craters, and rays.
Earth’s Tilt
 Explain what causes the seasons. Draw a diagram of the Earth and sun, with the Northern
hemisphere experiencing winter.
 Define solstice and equinox. When does each occur and what is the significance of each? Draw a
diagram.
 Define the following: precession, nutation, and barycenter.
 Draw a picture of the Earth and the moon orbiting around a barycenter. Will the barycenter be
located closer to the Earth or the moon? Why?
Moon and Tides
 Describe the three tidal patterns.
 Compare neap and spring tides.
 Draw a diagram with the Earth, Sun, and the moon in its 8 phases. Indicate in what phases the
Earth will experience a spring tide or a neap tide.
o Honors– Explain how the moon rises and sets and how this relates to the moon’s phases.
Studying the Sun
 Explain the process that fuels energy for the sun.
 Describe/diagram the structure of the sun and the four layers that make up the sun.
 Identify the vocabulary words sunspots, solar flare, solar wind, granules, and prominences.
Earth Science
Touring our Solar System
 What is the order of the planets? Give defining physical descriptions of each of the planets
(atmosphere, temperature, etc) as well as the planet “nicknames.”
 Why are the 2D models we often use in Astronomy to represent our solar system inaccurate and
misleading?
 What characterizes the Jovian planets and the terrestrial planets?
 What is the difference between asteroids, comets, and meteoroids?
Beyond our Solar System
 What is the difference between apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude? How does this relate
to a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?
 Describe the process of stellar evolution and the life of a star, using vocabulary words such as
main sequence star, red giant, supergiant, nebula, protostar, medium mass star, low mass star,
white dwarf, supernova, black hole
Universe/Galaxies
 What are the four types of galaxies and how does Hubble classify each one? Give defining
characteristics of each.
 What is the Big Bang? What evidence do we have to support the Big Bang Theory?