ALL SCIENCE UNITS

Rotation

When an object spins on its own axis

Revolution

When one object travels around another

What is the Coriolis Effect?

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

What star is earth's axis aligned with?

Polaris (the north star)

What is latitude?

Distance north or south of the equator

What is longitude?

Distance east or west of the prime meridian

what is apparent motion

the illusion that something is moving when it is not

What is a constellation?

a group of stars that form a pattern that has been given a name

what is polaris?

North Star

what is the shape of the earth?

oblate spheroid

Earth rotates from

west to east (right to left)

what is the rate of rotation for the earth

15 degrees per hour

Fairport's latitude is 43 degrees North, what is the altitude of Polaris?

43 degrees

From the north pole, the altitude of polaris is 90 degrees. What is the latitude of the north pole?

90 degrees

if it is 5 pm in Greenwich, England what time is it in fairport?

12pm

if it is 12:00 noon in Fairport, what time is it in California?

9 am

how many degrees tilted is earth's axis?

23.5

Parallelism

earth's axis is always parallel to itself in orbit

what is proof that the earth revolves?

only certain constellations are visible during the year.

what causes the seasons? (1)

The tilt of the Earth's axis

what causes the seasons? (2)

parallelism of earth's axis in orbit

what causes the seasons? (3)

revolution of the earth around the sun

is the north pole toward or away from the sun during summer?

toward

is the north pole toward or away from the sun during winter?

away

Is the earth closer to the sun in the summer or winter?

winter

in which way does the earth revolve

counterclockwise (west to east/to the right)

Which way does the earth rotate?

counter clockwise (west to east/to the right)

When is the winter solstice?

December 21

where is direct sunlight on the winter solstice?

23.5 degrees south, the tropic of capricorn.

When is the summer solstice?

June 21

where is direct sunlight on the summer solstice?

23.5 degrees north, tropic of cancer

on an equinox, where does the sun hit directly?

the equator, 0 degrees.

What is the vernal equinox?

First day of spring, March 21st

What is the autumnal equinox?

first day of fall, september 23rd

what two factors determine the apparent path of the sun?

Date and location on earth

what is the direction of sunrise in summer?

north of east

what is the direction of sunset in summer

north of west

what is the height of arc at noon in summer

about 71 degrees

what is the direction of sunrise in spring and fall?

due east

what is the direction of sunset in spring and fall?

due west

what is the height of arc at noon in spring and fall?

about 47.5 degrees

what is the direction of sunrise in winter?

south of east

what is the direction of sunset in winter?

south of west

what is the height of arc at noon in winter?

about 24 degrees

what is the highest point of an arc called?

zenith

what is a direct ray of sunlight?

ray from the sun forming a 90 degree angle to the ground

what is an indirect ray of sunlight?

ray from the sun forming an angle less than 90 degrees

the higher the latitude, the (higher/lower) the altitude of the sun

lower

When are shadows longest?

sunrise or sunset

When are shadows the shortest?

solar noon

how many hours of daylight are there on june 21st?

16

how many hours of daylight are there on december 21st?

8

how many hours of daylight are there on march 21st and september 23rd?

12

how many degrees of change are there in 6 months (2 season changes)?

47

how many degrees of change are there in 3 months (1 season change)

23.5

Perihelion

closest point to the sun (winter)

Aphelion

farthest from the sun (summer)

what is the location of direct sunlight on the summer solstice

23.5 degrees N; Tropic of Cancer

what is the location of direct sunlight on the winter solstice

23.5 degrees south; Tropic of Capricorn

what is the location of direct sunlight on the vernal equinox

0 degrees; equator

what is the location of direct sunlight on the autumnal equinox

0 degrees; equator

altitude at solar noon on the summer solstice

71 degrees

altitude at solar noon on the winter solstice

24 degrees

altitude at solar noon on the vernal equinox

47.5 degrees

altitude at solar noon on the autumnal equinox

47.5 degrees

The moon is earth's only ...

natural satellite

The moon takes ... days to revolve around earth

27.3

The moon is made of ...

iron and nickel

It takes this many days for the moon to complete a full cycle of phases.

29.5

True or false, we always see the same side of the moon?

true

What causes moon phases?

the sunlight reflecting off the moon

what causes a new moon?

when the moon is between the earth and the sun and the moon receives no sunlight

Waxing means

growing

Waning means

shrinking

"half moon" is visible in the ... and ... moons

1st and 3rd quarter

how many days does each phase of the moon last?

3-4

2 phase changes equals how many weeks?

1

3 phase changes equals about how many weeks

1.5

what phases of the moon occur during neap tides

1st and 3rd quarter

what phases of the moon occur during spring tides

new and full moon

how long in between high tides to high tides?

12 hours 25 minutes

how long in between high tides and low tides?

6 hours 12 minutes 30 seconds

How many tides are there in a day?

2 high tides and 2 low tides a total of 4

Tides are caused by

the gravitational pull of the moon and sun

true or false: tides are unpredictable

false. they are predictable and cyclical

What is meterology?

the study of weather and the atmosphere

What is weather?

The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place.

what are the 6 components of weather

Temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind, precipitation, and moisture

What is temperature?

average movement of molecules of a substance

What measures temperature?

thermometer

what is the main source of energy for the earth?

the sun

temperature is measured in...

celsius, kelvin, and fahrenheit

what are the processes in which energy heats things?

radiation, conduction, and convection

What is air pressure?

the weight of air pushing down on Earth

what is air pressure also called?

barometric pressure

what is used to measure air pressure

barometer and barograph

what is air pressure measured in?

millibars or inches of mercury

true or false: high air pressure is dryer than low air pressure

true

true or false: high air pressure has cloudy skies

false

true or false: low air pressure results in humid air

true