Flash Cards: Earth, Moon, and the Sun
Earth, Moon, and the Sun - Flash Cards
1/20
What is the rotation of the Earth?
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Rotation is the spinning of the Earth on its own axis, taking about 24 hours to complete one full turn.
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2/20
What causes day and night?
2/20
Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation from West to East. The side facing the Sun experiences day, while the opposite side experiences night.
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3/20
Define revolution in astronomy.
3/20
Revolution is the motion of an object around another object. The Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit.
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4/20
How long does Earth take to revolve around the Sun?
4/20
The Earth takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours to complete one revolution around the Sun.
5/20
What is an axis of rotation?
5/20
An axis of rotation is an imaginary line through which an object spins. Earth's axis runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.
6/20
What are solstices?
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Solstices are the points in the year when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marking the longest and shortest days.
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What is a solar eclipse?
7/20
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, blocking sunlight from reaching Earth.
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What is a lunar eclipse?
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A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon.
9/20
What is the tilt of the Earth's axis?
9/20
The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees. This tilt causes the changing of seasons.
10/20
How does revolution cause seasons?
10/20
The tilt of the Earth's axis during its revolution around the Sun leads to varying angles of sunlight, causing seasonal changes.
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What are equinoxes?
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Equinoxes are the two times each year when day and night are of approximately equal length, occurring around March 21 and September 23.
12/20
Why do shadows change length during the day?
12/20
Shadows change length as the Sun moves across the sky due to the Earth's rotation, affecting the angle of sunlight.
13/20
Who first demonstrated Earth's rotation?
13/20
Leon Foucault demonstrated Earth's rotation in the 19th century with the Foucault pendulum.
14/20
What is the apparent motion of stars?
14/20
The apparent motion of stars is caused by the Earth's rotation, making stars seem to move across the sky from East to West.
15/20
What happens during a total solar eclipse?
15/20
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun, blocking out all sunlight in the area experiencing the eclipse.
16/20
How do the seasons differ in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
16/20
When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere (around June), it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa.
17/20
What is the significance of 21st June?
17/20
21st June is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the longest day of the year.
18/20
What causes the change in night sky throughout the year?
18/20
As the Earth revolves around the Sun, different stars and constellations become visible due to the change in Earth's position.
19/20
What is the role of the Moon in eclipses?
19/20
The Moon can block sunlight during a solar eclipse and can be shadowed by the Earth during a lunar eclipse.
20/20
How can we safely observe a solar eclipse?
20/20
To safely observe a solar eclipse, use special solar eclipse glasses or indirect viewing methods like pinhole projectors.
