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Study Guide Unit 2 Earth and Space
1, The sun and all of the objects influenced by the sun’s gravity are called
(a) Earth’s systems
(b) the Universe
(c) the Milky Way galaxy
(d) the Solar System
2. Sunscreen is used to protect skin from exposure to the Sun by blocking what kind of light?
(a) gamma rays
(b) x-rays
(c) visible light
(d) ultraviolet light
3. Which of the following choices best explains why grass on a distant hillside appears green?
(a) grass reflects all colors except green
(b) grass absorbs only green light
(c) grass reflects green light and absorbs all other colors
(d) grass transmits green light into other colors
(4) What position of the moon (M) will create the greater tidal range?
(a) A and B
(b) A and C
(c) B and D
(d) B and C
(5) The sun has a large mass and will have a _____________ gravitational pull, causing a planet’s velocity
to ____________ when it is approaching perihelion.
(a) low…,
increase…
(b) high…, increase…
(c) low…,
decrease…
(d) high…, decrease…
(6) Which of the ellipses shown below has the highest eccentricity?
(7) Which ellipse most closely matches the shape of Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
(8) The northern hemisphere has 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness on
(a) its fall equinox
(b) its spring equinox
(c) its winter solstice
(d) both (a) and (b)
(9) Refer to the diagram below. The Earth is tilted 23.4 degrees on its axis. As the Earth revolves around the
sun during each year, the direction that the Earth is tilted does not change. At which point is it summer in the
northern hemisphere?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
W
X
Y
Z
Matching – In problems (10)-(14), match the terms related to Earth’s orbit with their definitions or
descriptions. Terms may be used more than once.
(a) ellipse
(c) aphelion
(b) perihelion
(d) Kepler’s Laws
(10) The point along Earth’s orbit when it is farthest from the Sun and traveling the slowest
(11) A regular oval consisting of points having a constant combined distance to two foci
(12) Scientific ideas that describe the exact movement of planets orbiting the Sun
(13) The shape of Earth’s orbit according to Kepler’s First Law
(14) The point along Earth’s orbit when it is closest to the Sun and traveling the fastest
True-False
(15) Summer in the northern hemisphere always occurs when Earth is at perihelion.
(a) true
(b) false
Multiple choice – Select the best answer .
(16) According to Kepler’s Second Law
(a) planets move at a constant velocity as they orbit the Sun
(b) planets move equal distances along their orbits in equal amounts of time
(c) planets sweep out equal areas within their orbital ellipse in equal amounts of time
(d) planets sweep our larger areas within their orbital ellipse when farther from the Sun
Guided Fill-in-the-Blank – Select the words or phrases that best complete each sentence.
Nutation is a regular pattern of variations in (17) __________________ of Earth’s axis; it takes (18)
_____________________ for the obliquity of Earth’s axis to change from its minimum (22.1°), to its
maximum (24.5°) and back to its minimum(22.1°). The greater the tilt, the (19) ____________________ the
variation between the seasons; and the lesser the tilt, the (20) ___________________ the poles.
(17)
(a) amount of tilt
(b) direction of tilt
(18)
(a) 41,000 years
(b) 410,000 years
(19)
(20)
(a) lesser
(a) warmer
(b) greater
(b) colder
The precession cycle is a regular pattern of variations in (21) __________________ of Earth’s orbit; it takes
(22) _____________________ for the identity of the North Star to change from Polaris, to Vega and back to
Polaris. Earth’s seasons tend to be (23) _________________ when they occur at aphelion than when they
occur at perihelion.
(21)
(22)
(23)
(a) amount of tilt
(a) 22,000 years
(a) warmer/hotter
(b) direction of tilt
(b) 220 years
(b) cooler/colder
(24) The diagram below shows three different methods of heat transfer.
(a) identify which letter in the diagram represents each of the following
(i) Radiation
(ii) Conduction
(iii) Convection
(b) explain how thermal energy is transferred for each of these three processes
(25) Arrange the seven portions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order from the shortest wavelength to the
longest wavelength. Indicate which end of the spectrum has the highest energy.
(26) The eccentricity of Earth’s orbit is currently 0.017 and decreasing. State the effect that this is having on
.
Earth’s temperature. Explain why decreasing Earth’s orbital eccentricity has this effect.
(27) The tilt of Earth’s axis is currently 23.4° and decreasing. State the effect that this is having on the
temperature at the poles and on the strength of Earth’s seasons. Explain why decreasing the tilt of Earth’s
axis has this effect.
(28) The northern hemisphere currently has summer when Earth is at aphelion and winter when Earth is at
perihelion. State the effect that this is having on the temperature of Earth’s seasons. In 14,000 A.D. the
northern hemisphere will have summer at perihelion and winter at aphelion. State the effect that this will
have on the temperature of Earth’s seasons. Explain why these effects occur.
(29) Compare (what’s the same) and contrast (what’s different) neap tides and spring tides.
30. According to Kepler's first law, the orbit of every planet is
a. an ellipse with the sun at one of two foci
b. an eclipse with the sun at one of two foci
c. a circle with the sun at its center
d. a circle with the earth in the center
31. According to Kepler's second law,
a. a planet's speed is greater farther from the sun
b. a planets speed is slower near the sun
c. a planets speed is greater closer to the sun
d. a planets speed has nothing to do with Kepler
32. According to Keplers third law the square of the orbital period of a planet (P2)
a. directly proportional to the square of the semimajor axis (a)
b. directly proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis (a)
c. indirectly proportional to the square of the semimajor axis
d. indirectly proportional to the cube of the the semimajor axis
33. List Earth's hierarchy in space starting with Earth and working up to the universe.
34. Our universe is ____________________years old.
35. What is an effect of lower levels of solar radiation striking Earth?
a. increased incidences of skin cancer
b. decreased rates of photosynthesis
c. increased phytoplankton activity
d. decrease carbon dioxide levels
36. How does the tilt of Earth's axis affect the seasons?
a. by changing the amount of direct solar energy reaching the surface of Earth
b. by influencing the rate of chemical reactions occurring in the atmosphere
c. by deflecting the harmful rays of radiation emitted by the sun
d . by changing the speed of rotation of Earth
37. Which natural phenomenon occurs as a result of Earth rotating on its axis?
a. movement of tectonic plates
b. deep ocean currents
c. seasonal changes
d. day and night
38. Which describes the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
a. nuclear fission is the process that produces the radiant energy of stars, and nuclear fusion splits heavier
nucleus into smaller nuclei
b. nuclear fission splits heavier nucleus into smaller nuclei and nuclear fusion is the process that produces
the radiant energy of stars
c. Nuclear fission produces the energy in the core of Earth and nuclear fusion produces energy in nuclear
power plants
d. nuclear fission produces energy in nuclear power plants, and nuclear fusion produces the enrgy in the core
of Earth
39. How does heat from the sun get to Earth?
a. by radiation, using electromagnetic waves to transfer the heat
b. by convection using liquids and gases to transfer the heat
c. by conduction, using solids to transfer the heat
d. by absorption, using primary waves to transfer heat
40. Why do green plants require solar energy?
a. to produce their own food
b. to absorb nitrogen into their roots
c. to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
d. to decompose the dead or decaying remains of animals
41. Which statement describes the motion of Earth around the sun?
a. the speed of Earth is constant regardless of the its distance from the sun
b. the speed of earth is constant because the distance remains the same between earth and the sun
c. speed increases the farther earth is from the sun and decreases the closer it is to the sun
d. speed increases the closer Earth is to the sun and decreases the further it is from the sun.
42. If it is summer in the northern hemisphere, which statement is true?
a. earth has changed the tilt of its axis by 20 degrees due to its revolution
b. it is winter in the southern hemisphere due to the tilt of Earth's axis
c. it is summer in the sourthern hemisphere due to the tilt of Earth's axis
ci. Earth has reached its closest point to the sun due to its revolution.
43. . The seasons are caused by _________________________and ______________________________.
Earth's revolution around the sun
Earth's rotation
the tilt of earth's axis
the changing distance between the earth and the sun
44. on the day of the southern hemisphere's summer solstice, the northern hemisphere
a. has its summer solstice
b. has its winter solstice
c. has its fall equinox
d. has its spring equinox
1) The best way to describe Earth's hierarchy in space is
A. Earth, solar system, galaxy, supercluster, universe
B. Earth, solar system, nebula, supercluster, universe
C. Earth, solar system, galaxy, local group, supercluster, universe
D. Earth, solar system, galaxy, nebula, local cluster, multiverse
2) What do astronomers infer from the motion of the distant galaxies?
A. The Universe is contracting
B. The Universe is expanding
C. The Universe is imploding
D. The Universe is spinning
3) All of the following are Kepler's laws except
A. Planets are orbiting the sun in a path described as an ellipse.
B. A planet moves fastest when it is closest to the sun and slowest when it is furthest from the
sun
C. The ratio of the orbital periods (squared) to the average distances from the sun (cubed) is the
same for every one of the planets
D. Any two bodies in the universe attract each other with a force that is directly proportional to
the product of their masses
4) Which of these statements is true?
A. Earth rotates around the sun and revolves on its axis.
B. The sun revolves around Earth over a 24-hour time period.
C. Earth rotates on its axis, and revolves around the sun.
D. Earth revolves around the sun and the moon.
5) In 11,000 years, the earth’s axis will point to the star Vega instead of the North Star as it does
now. The reason for this is:
A. Precession
B. Nutation
C. Barycenter
D. Elliptical orbits
6) What causes Earth’s seasons?
A. The straight alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth
B. The tilt of the Earth on its axis as it revolves around the Sun
C. Regularly timed solar flares from the sun
D. The retrograde motion of Jupiter
7) Why can it be winter for the northern hemisphere in December, but summer in the southern
hemisphere?
A. The curved surface of the Earth, along with Earth’s tilted axis, causes sunlight to be directed
at the Southern Hemisphere, producing uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.
B. Because the moon sometimes gets in the way of the sun and causes the northern hemisphere
to cool down
C. The perihelion occurs in the Winter, causing the southern hemisphere to become warmer
D. The northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun in the winter and the southern hemisphere is
tilted away from the sun, causing it to be summer in the southern hemisphere
8) How does a straight alignment between Earth, the sun, and the moon impact the tides on
Earth?
A. It produces the greatest change in high and low tides
B. It produces the least change in high and low tides
C. It produces semidiurnal tides.
D. It produces diurnal tides.
9) How does the sun produce energy?
A. Nuclear Fission
B. Radioactive Decay
C. Nuclear Fusion
D. Ionic Bonding
10) How does thermal energy (heat) travel from the Sun to the Earth?
A. by combustion, which involves burning the sun's fuel
B. by radiation, using electromagnetic waves (infrared, visible, and UV) to transfer the heat
through space
C. by the power of the solar wind, and Earth's magnetic field then helps pull the heat to Earth
D. by convection, using liquids and gases in the atmosphere to transfer the heat
1 Which statement describes the motion of Earth around the sun?
A The speed of Earth is constant regardless of its distance from the sun.
B The speed of Earth is constant because the distance remains the same between Earth and the sun.
C Speed increases the farther Earth is from the sun and decreases the closer it is to the sun.
D Speed increases the closer Earth is to the sun and decreases the farther it is from the sun.
2 If it is summer in the northern hemisphere, which statement is true?
A Earth has changed the tilt of its axis by 20 degrees due to its revolution.
B It is winter in the southern hemisphere due to the tilt of Earth’s axis.
C It is summer in the southern hemisphere due to the tilt of Earth’s axis.
D Earth has reached its closest point to the sun due to its revolution.
3 How does a straight alignment between Earth, the sun, and the moon impact the tides on Earth?
A It produces the greatest change in high and low tides.
B It produces the least change in high and low tides.
C It produces semidiurnal tides.
D It produces diurnal tides.
4 Which describes the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
A Nuclear fission is the process that produces the radiant energy of stars, and nuclear fusion splits a heavier
nucleus into smaller nuclei.
B Nuclear fission splits a heavier nucleus into smaller nuclei, and nuclear fusion is the process that produces
the radiant energy of stars.
C Nuclear fission produces the energy in the core of Earth, and nuclear fusion produces energy in nuclear
power plants.
D Nuclear fission produces energy in nuclear power plants, and nuclear fusion produces the energy in the
core of Earth.
5 How does heat from the sun get to Earth?
A by radiation, using electromagnetic waves to transfer the heat
B by convection, using liquids and gases to transfer the heat
C by conduction, using solids to transfer the heat
D by absorption, using primary waves to transfer the heat
6.Why do green plants require solar energy?
A to produce their own food
B to absorb nitrogen into their roots
C to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
D to decompose the dead or decaying remains of animals