Download Astronomy Vocab Web ready

Earth’s Motion in Space
March 1, 2011
Essential Question: How does the position of
the Earth in the solar system affect our
conditions on Earth? (day and night/seasons)
(B. 22) Explain the cause of day and
night based on the rotation of Earth
on its axis .
 (B. 24) Describe the relationship of
the seasons to the Earth’s revolution
around the sun .

Indicators
Revolution
 Rotation
 Axis

Predict Vocabulary

The action of
turning about on an
axis.

Example: The
Earth turning on its
axis in a
counterclockwise
direction thus
creating the day
and night cycle.
Actual Definition Rotation

The action of a
celestial body going
around an orbit

Example: Earth
orbiting around the
sun on its axis in a
counterclockwise
direction thus giving
us the seasons
Actual Definition of Revolution

The real or imaginary
straight line through
the center of an
object around which
it rotates

Example: The
imaginary line
running through two
poles, around which
the Earth rotates
Actual Definition of Axis
Direct Sunlight=when the sun hits the
part of the Earth and gives its most
intense rays
 Example: North America in July
 Indirect Sunlight: when the sun hits the
part of the Earth and gives partial sun
rays!
 Example-North America in December!

Direct Sunlight/Indirect Sunlight

Why do we have day and night on Earth?

Why do we have seasons?
Pre Lab Questions

We have day and night because of the
position of the Earth and the Sun in space.
The sun is a star in space. The Earth is a
planet that is shaped like a sphere and
rotates on its axis. During the Earth’s
rotation, only half of its body can face the
sun at one time. The half that happens to be
rotated towards the sun is experiencing day
where the half that is facing away from the
sun is experiencing night.
Day and Night Answer





Position of Earth and Sun in space create
the day and night cycle
Earth rotates on an axis
Only half of the sphere shaped Earth can
face the sun at one time
The half that faces the sun experiences
day
The half that faces away from the sun
experiences night
Day and Night Response
Rubric
5 points

Answer on a sheet of paper!
What are the reasons for the
Seasons?

We have seasons on Earth because of the
position of the Earth and the Sun in space. The
sun is a star. The Earth is a sphere that is tilted
on an axis. The Earth’s axis is always tilted in
the same direction as it revolves around the sun.
Therefore, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at
different angles during the Earth’s revolution the
Sun. The axis that is facing towards the sun
receives direct sunlight (absorbs more light) and
experiences summer while the axis that is facing
away from the sun receives indirect sunlight
(scattered sun’s rays) and experiences winter.
Seasons Answer







The position of Earth and Sun in space
dictate the seasons
The sun is a star that is still and the Earth is
a sphere that is tilted on an axis
Earth’s axis is always tilted in the same
direction as it revolves around the sun
Sun’s rays hit the Earth at different angles
Axis that faces the sun has summer
Axis that faces away from the sun has winter
When the Earth’s axis is not tilted towards or
away from the sun, fall and spring occur
Seasons Response Rubric
7 Points
Why do we have day and night?
 Why do seasons occur?

Post Lab Questions

We have day and night because of the
position of the Earth and the Sun in space.
The sun is a star that is relatively still in
space. The Earth is a planet that is shaped
like a sphere and rotates on its axis. During
the Earth’s rotation, only half of its body can
face the sun at one time. The half that
happens to be rotated towards the sun is
experiencing day where the half that is
facing away from the sun is experiencing
night.
Day and Night Answer





Position of Earth and Sun in space create
the day and night cycle
Sun is still and the Earth rotates on an
axis
Only half of the sphere shaped Earth can
face the sun at one time
The half that faces the sun experiences
day
The half that faces away from the sun
experiences night
Day and Night Response
Rubric
5 points

We have seasons on Earth because of the position of
the Earth and the Sun in space. The sun is a star that
is relatively still in space. The Earth is a sphere that
is tilted on an axis. The Earth’s axis is always tilted in
the same direction as it revolves around the sun.
Therefore, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at different
angles during the Earth’s revolution the Sun. The
axis that is facing towards the sun receives direct
sunlight (absorbs more light) and experiences
summer while the axis that is facing away from the
sun receives indirect sunlight (scattered sun’s rays)
and experiences winter. When the Earth’s axis is not
tilted towards or away from the sun, direct sunlight
hits the equator creating similar conditions in both
hemispheres so Spring and Fall occur.
Seasons Answer







The position of Earth and Sun in space
dictate the seasons
The sun is a star that and the Earth is a
sphere that is tilted on an axis
Earth’s axis is always tilted in the same
direction as it revolves around the sun
Sun’s rays hit the Earth at different angles
Axis that faces the sun has summer-Direct
Sunlight (absorbs the sun’s rays)
Axis that faces away from the sun has winter
(indirect sunlight (scattered sunlight)
When the Earth’s axis is not tilted towards or
away from the sun, direct sunlight hits the
equator creating similar conditions in both
hemispheres so Spring and Fall occur.
Seasons Response Rubric
7 Points

The place where the
Earth and the sky
look like they meet.
Horizon
The apparent rising
of the sun above the
horizon, the time
when the upper most
portion of the sun’s
disc appears above
the horizon
(this is really caused by
the earth’s rotation
towards the sun)

Sunrise


the apparent
descent of the sun
below the horizon,
the time when the
upper most portion
of the sun’s disc
disappears below
the horizon
This is really the
Earth rotating away
from the sun!!
Sunset

The path followed
by an object in its
revolution around
another body.
Orbit

Sunlight that
reaches the surface
of the Earth at
angles greater than
45 degrees from
the horizon
Direct Sunlight
Sun should be in
this position!

When day and night
are of equal length
anywhere in the
world. Equinox
literally means
“equal night.”
Equinox (Vernal and Autumnal)

The moment when
the Earth’s axis is
leaning at its
maximum (23.5˚)
towards or away
from the sun; on or
about June 21 and
December 21.
Solstice (Winter and Summer)


Compass Rose:
A circle showing the
principal directions
printed on a map or
chart.
Compass Rose