Download The Earth, Moon, and Sun: Rotation and Revolution and more Lecture notes Physics in PDF only on Docsity!
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Motion of the Earth, Moon & Sun
The Earth, Sun, and Moon are constantly rotating. The Earth and Moon are
also revolving.
Rotation
When the Earth, Sun, and Moon spin on their own axes, they are performing a
motion called rotation. It takes one day, or 24 hours, for the Earth to make
one complete rotation on its axis.
Rotation of the Earth on its axis
The rotation of the Earth is responsible for the
change between night and day. When one part of the
Earth is rotated toward the Sun, it is daytime there.
When the same part of Earth is rotated away from
the Sun, it is nighttime there.
The Sun and Moon appear to rise in the East and set in
the West each day. At midday, the Sun appears to be
almost directly overhead. But this apparent motion
of the Sun and Moon is a result of the rotation of
the Earth on its axis. The video shows how the Earth's rotation results in the
change from day to night and back again.
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The Sun also rotates on its axis. The Moon rotates on its axis as well. But we
only ever see one side of the Moon, because it rotates at the same speed that it
revolves around the Earth.
Revolution
When the Earth revolves, it moves in an orbit around the Sun. The orbit is
elliptical, which means that it is similar to an oval in shape.
Revolution of the Earth-Moon system around the Sun
The revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of Earth's axis are
responsible for the changing seasons. It takes the Earth one year, or 365 1/
days, to make one complete revolution around the Sun. The video talks more
about the Earth's seasons.
The Moon orbits, or revolves around, the Earth, and it also revolves around
the Sun as part of the Earth-Moon system.
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If the Earth, Moon, and Sun were viewed from a point out in space, the phases of
the Moon would look different from how they appear from the surface of the
Earth. The picture below shows how the Earth, Moon, and Sun are placed during
each of the main Moon phases. Notice that the side of the Moon that is facing
the Sun is always bright because it is receiving light, and the side of the Moon
that faces away from the Sun is always dark because it does not receive any of
the Sun's light.
Phases of the Moon
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Between new Moon and full Moon, the Moon is waxing; it appears to grow
larger. Between full Moon and new Moon, the Moon is waning; it appears to
grow smaller.
Earth's Day/Night Cycle
The Earth's cycle of day and night is caused by the Earth's rotation.
The Earth's rotation on its axis as it revolves around the Sun is what causes the
change from day to night every 24 hours. The model below shows the relation
of the Sun to the Earth.
If you were living at point A, it would be daytime because point A is located on
the bright side of the Earth.
If you were living at point B you would be seeing a sunrise. Point B is
experiencing sunrise because it is on the boundary of the light and dark sides of
the Earth and the Earth is rotating in such a way that point B will be on the
bright side of the Earth next.
If you were living at point C, it would be nighttime, because point C is located
on the dark side of the Earth.
The Earth's Tilt
The tilt of the Earth's axis, combined with the Earth's orbit around the Sun,
results in the changes in seasons throughout the year, as well as an increase in
daylight hours during the summer.
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Earth, Sun & Moon
Question 1.
Select the choice that best completes the following sentence:
When an object spins on its axis, it _______.
A. vibrates
B. rotates
C. explodes
D. revolves
Question 2.
The ________ and ________ Hemispheres of the Earth experience opposite seasons.
A. Eastern, Western
B. Western, Northern
C. Northern, Southern
D. Southern, Eastern
Question 3.
Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between the Earth
and the Sun?
A. The Sun and Earth both orbit the Moon.
B. The Earth orbits the Sun.
C. The Sun orbits the Earth.
D. The Moon orbits the Sun and the Earth orbits the Moon.
Question 4.
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Imagine you are viewing the Moon from Earth. Based on the diagram above,
which of the following phases would you see?
A. third quarter
B. full moon
C. first quarter
D. new moon
Question 5.
Which of the following causes the change from day to night?
A. the rotation of the Earth
B. the revolution of the Earth around the Sun
C. the rotation of the Sun
D. the revolution of the Moon around the Earth
Question 6.
What causes temperatures in the summer to be higher than temperatures in the
winter?
A. Volcanic activity is at its peak during the summer, resulting in elevated
temperatures on Earth.
B. More of the Sun's rays directly hit a particular region on Earth during the
summer than during the winter.
C. Global warming takes place during the summer months, which raises
temperatures on Earth.
D. The Earth is closer in distance to the Sun during the summer than it is during
the winter.
Question 7.
The figure above shows the Earth at two different positions in its orbit around
the Sun.
In which position would it be summer in the Northern Hemisphere?
A. both position A and position B
B. position A
C. neither position A nor position B
D. position B
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Question 11.
Imagine you are viewing the Moon from Earth. Based on the diagram above,
which of the following phases would you see?
A. third quarter
B. full moon
C. new moon
D. first quarter
Question 12.
The Sun always shines on half of the Moon. During a new moon, the Moon looks
dark.
Where is the lit side of the Moon during a new moon?
A. The lit side faces toward the Earth.
B. The lit side faces away from the Sun.
C. The lit side faces half away from the Earth.
D. The lit side faces away from the Earth.
Question 13.
What defines one Earth year?
A. One revolution of the Earth around the Sun.
B. One full rotation of the Earth on its axis.
C. One revolution of the Earth around the Moon.
D. One revolution of all planets around the Sun.
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Question 14.
Which statement below is correct?
A. The Earth-Moon system revolves around the Sun.
B. The Earth revolves around the Sun-Moon system.
C. The Sun revolves around the Earth-Moon system.
D. The Moon revolves around the Sun, but the Earth does not.
Question 15.
Type your answer in the box. Use numerals, not words.
How long does it take for the Earth to go through one full day/night cycle?
Round to the nearest hour.
hour(s)
Question 16.
The Earth revolves, or moves in a circular pattern, around the Sun. At each of
the positions shown above, the Earth has _______.
A. a different season
B. a different tilt
C. the same temperature
D. the same time of day
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Question 19.
If you lived at point C in the diagram below, what time of day would it be?
A. daytime
B. sunset
C. sunrise
D. nighttime
Question 20.
Based on the diagram above, which statement is true?
A. The Sun revolves around the Earth, and the Earth revolves around the Moon.
B. The Earth revolves around the Moon, and the Earth revolves around the Sun.
C. The Earth revolves around the Sun, and the Moon revolves around the Earth.
D. The Moon revolves around the Sun, and the Sun revolves around the Earth.
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Answers
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. A
6. B
7. D
8. C
10. B
11. D
12. D
13. A
14. A
16. A
17. D
18. C
19. D
20. C
Explanations
When an object spins on its axis, it rotates. For example, the Earth rotates
once a day (every 24 hours), which results in the change from day to night.
The Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth experience opposite
seasons.
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In the diagram shown, point A is located on the bright side of the Earth. This
means that if you lived at point A, it would be daytime.
The Earth's axis is not at right angles to its plane of orbit around the Sun. It
is tilted 23.5° from perpendicular, as shown below.
At any given time, there is an area of Earth that "points toward" the Sun
more than other areas. As a result, this place will have higher
temperatures. Due to the Earth's tilt, which region "points toward" the Sun
constantly changes as the Earth revolves around the Sun. This constant
change results in the changes in seasons throughout the year.
- The Moon is a little different each night.
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The Moon looks a little different every day, but it looks the same again
about every four weeks.
Imagine you are on the part of Earth directly facing the Moon in this
position. The part of the Moon you are looking at is only half lit by
sunlight. Because of this, sometimes this phase is called a half moon. A better
name for this phase is first quarter because it marks the first quarter of a
complete lunar cycle.
The Sun always shines on half of the Moon. People on Earth cannot always
see the half of the Moon that is lit.
The Moon looks dark during a new moon, because the lit side faces away
from the Earth.
From Earth, the shape of the light on the Moon changes over time. This
happens because the Earth spins on its axis and the Moon changes positions
as it moves around the Earth.
One revolution of the Earth around the Sun is the definition of a year.
Specifically, it is an Earth year. An Earth year has 365 days.
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