Earth's Rotation and Inclination

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the mechanisms and effects of Earth's rotation and axial inclination, including temperature variation, time calculations, and planetary forces.

Dawn

The time when the sun begins to cast its light in the sky.

Noon

The point in time when the sun is overhead.

Dusk

The time of twilight when the sun is seen disappearing in the sky.

Rotation direction

The earth spins from west to east, causing the sun, moon, and stars to appear to move from east to west.

Sunrise

The experience of a part of the earth moving from darkness into the sun's rays.

Sunset

The experience of a part of the earth moving away from the sun's rays.

Coriolis Effect

The force experienced by any object moving over the surface of a rotating body that plays an important role in the movement of winds and ocean currents.

Deflection in Northern Hemisphere

Winds and ocean currents move clockwise and are deflected to the right.

Deflection in Southern Hemisphere

Winds and ocean currents move in the anticlockwise direction and are deflected to the left.

Centrifugal force

An apparent outward force directed away from the axis of rotation that has created a bulge in the middle of the earth and a flattened top at the poles.

Time difference per longitude

A difference of $4$ minutes for each degree of longitude, based on $24$ hours ($1440$ minutes) divided by $360^{\circ}$.

Short rotational period advantage

Makes the variation of temperature between day and night moderate.

Axis

The imaginary line passing through the centre of the earth on which it rotates.

Inclination to the vertical

The earth's axis makes an angle of $23\%$ with the vertical.

Inclination to the orbital plane

The earth's axis makes an angle of $66\%$ with the plane of the Earth's orbit.