FInal Exam Earth and Space

Describe the difference between

rotation and revolution and list the effects of

each.

Rotation is the spinning of Earth on its axis. The revolution is the Earth revolving around the

How long does it take Earth to rotate?

1 day

Explain how the Sun appears to rise

and set on Earth.

earth rotates from W to E. Sun rises in east and sets in the west

list and explain evidence of Earth’s

rotation.

the daily cycle of day and night, the apparent westward movement of stars across the sky, and the Coriolis effect which influences weather patterns and ocean currents

define revolution.

the movement of a celestial body around a point, usually another object

define revolution.

the movement of a celestial body around a point, usually another object

How long does it take Earth to

revolve?

1 year

List and explain evidence of Earth’s

revolution.

the annual cycle of constellations, the seasons, and the changing positions of stars throughout the year

Define orbit

regular, repeating path that one object in space takes around another one

Define perihelion

the point along the orbit where the orbiting body is closest to the Sun

define aphelion

the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is furthest from the sun.

What is the period for a successful moon?

about 27.3 days

Define Month

a period of 28 days or four weeks.

define calender

any system for dividing time over extended periods, such as days, months, or years, and arranging such divisions in a definite order.

Define Time Zone

an area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic, purpose, or use, or subject to particular restrictions.

define the International Date Line.

Why is the date line needed?

The International Date Line (IDL) is the line extending between the South and North Poles that is the boundary between one calendar day and the next.

Define Daylight Saving Time.

time as adjusted to achieve longer evening daylight in summer by setting the clocks an hour ahead of the standard time.

What is the cause of the Seasons on

Earth?

the Earth's axial tilt of 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane

Explain the date and how the Winter

Solstice takes place on Earth.

December 21st or 22nd

explain the date and how the Summer

Solstice takes place on Earth.

The summer solstice occurs at the moment the earth's tilt toward the sun is at a maximum

Define Equinox.

the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of approximately equal length (about September 22 and March 20).

Explain the Fall and Spring equinox.

What is the approximate date for each?

The Spring Equinox occurs around March 20th or 21st, marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The Fall Equinox occurs around September 22nd or 23rd

define astronomy

the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole.

Define heliocentric

having or representing the sun as the center, as in the accepted astronomical model of the solar system.

define geocentric

having or representing the earth as the center, as in former astronomical systems.

apparent magnitude

is a measure of the brightness of a star, astronomical object or other celestial objects like artificial satellites.

define absolute

magnitude

, absolute magnitude is a measure of the luminosity of a celestial object

define astronomical unit.

The astronomical unit is a unit of length defined to be exactly equal to 149597870700 m. Historically, the astronomical unit was conceived as the average Earth-Sun distance

Explain the contributions of the

following scientists: Copernicus

the development of a heliocentric model of the solar system

explain the contributions of Brahe

exceptionally accurate astronomical observations

exxplain the contributions o f Kepler

formulation of the three Laws of Planetary Motion

explain the contributions of galileo

Confirmation of Heliocentrism:

Explain the contributions of newton

Laws of motion

Compare and contrast telescopes and

spectroscopes.

Telescopes collect and focus light to create images of distant objects, while spectroscopes analyze the light received by a telescope to reveal the composition and properties of the objects

Distinguish between refracting and

reflecting telescopes.

Refracting telescopes use lenses to bend and focus light, while reflecting telescopes use mirrors to reflect light and form images

Which units are most and least helpful

for distances in the Solar system? Explain

your reasoning.

astronomical units (AU) are the most helpful, while light-years are the least helpful

distinguish among types of

electromagnetic radiation. Which form of light

has the highest and lowest frequencies?

Electromagnetic radiation is classified by its frequency (and corresponding wavelength) into different types, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. The highest frequency form of light is gamma rays, while the lowest frequency form is radio waves. 

What is the speed of light?

299 792 458

distinguish between wavelength and

frequency, and know the radiation associated

with the high and low ends of the spectrum.

Wavelength refers to the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave, while frequency refers to the number of wave cycles passing a fixed point per second

What are Kepler’s 3 Laws of Planetary

Motion? Be specific when explaining each.

1) Planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths with the Sun at one focus, 2) a line joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time, and 3) the square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its orbit's semi-major axis

Explain Hubble’s Law.

the universe is expanding, and the farther a galaxy is from us, the faster it moves away

list and describe the types of galaxies.

spiral, elliptical, and irregular

compare and contrast the Big Bang

The Big Bang proposes an initial explosion from a hot, dense state, leading to the expansion and cooling of the universe, while the Steady State Theory suggests a continuous creation of matter to maintain a constant density as the universe expands. 

List the layers of the atmosphere.

What happens to the temp. in each layer,

as altitude increases.

In the stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude. In the mesosphere, temperature decreases with altitude. In the thermosphere, temperature increases with altitude

explain the transfer of thermal energy

in the Atmosphere.

conduction, convection, and radiation

what are the four reasons why

absorption and radiation of energy by land

and water do not occur at the same rate?

specific heat capacity, the ability of water to penetrate deeper, the mobility of water, and evaporation

Give an illustration of the water cycle.

evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. 

list and describe the different types of

precipitation.

rain, snow, sleet, hail, and drizzle,

Define Air pressure.

pressure within the atmosphere of Earth.

What type of pressure is associated

with

a. rising air

b. sinking air

rising air is low pressure sinking air is high pressue

Cumulus

Puffy, white clouds with flat bases, often described as cotton balls. Fair weather cumulus are scattered and low, while taller cumulus can develop into thunderstorms. 

Stratus

Smooth, flat, and layered clouds, sometimes appearing as overcast skies. They can bring steady rain

Stratocumulus

Patchy, gray or white clouds that can have a "honeycomb" appearance

Altocumulus

Patchy, puffy clouds with spaces between them. 

Nimbostratus

Dark, gray, featureless clouds associated with steady rain. 

Altostratus:

Gray or blue-gray, mid-level clouds made of ice crystals and water droplets. 

Cirrus

Delicate, feathery clouds made of ice crystals. They often indicate fair weather. 

• Cirrocumulus: High-level, puffy, and patchy clouds. 

• Cirrostratus: Thin, sheet-like clouds that can create halos around the sun or moon. 

• Cirrocumulus: High-level, puffy, and patchy clouds. 

• Cirrostratus: Thin, sheet-like clouds that can create halos around the sun or moon. 

Humidity

a quantity representing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or in a gas.

Relative humidity

is a measure of the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount the air can hold at a specific temperature.

Dew point

the temperature at which the air becomes saturated with water vapor, causing condensation and the formation of dew or frost

Define weather.

the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.

Define front

a boundary line between two different air masses with distinct temperature and humidity characteristics

four types of fronts

cold, warm, stationary, and occluded

5. What types of clouds are associated

with thunderstorms?

cumulonimbus cloud

describe the three ways air can be

forced to rise to form clouds and precipitation.

convection, frontal lifting, and orographic lifting

The Foucault pendulum

provided evidence that the earth was rotating by using a pendulum

coriollis effect

evidence of Earth's rotation can be seen in the movement of ocean surface currents and wind belt . Northern hemisphere deflects to the right southern hemisphere to the left