Earth in Space Review Cards

Put terms in order from smallest to largest Sun, Universe, Galaxy, Earth, Solar System

Earth, Sun, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe

What is the shape of the Earth’s path around the sun?

Oval (not a perfect circle)

What is the name of the Earth’s path around the sun?

Ellipse

What causes day and night?

Rotation of the Earth

How does the sun’s height in the sky affect the seasons in each hemisphere?

Sun is lowest in the sky in winter (northern)

Sun is highest in the sky during summer

How does the sun’s height in the sky affect the season in each hemisphere?

Shadows are longer in winter when sun is lower in sky.

Shadows are shorter in summer when sun is higher.

_______ is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun

Gravity

During the December solstice, the Southern Hemisphere experiences ______________

Summer solstice

What season is occurring in the Northern hemisphere?

What causes the sun to appear to set each evening?

Earth’s rotation on its axis

What is the main cause of tides on Earth?

The Moon's gravity and a little bit affected by tides

What two forces hold Earth and oter planets in its orbit?

Gravity and Inertia

What are Spring tides?

Spring tides are when the Sun, Moon and Earth line up and that makes higher high tides and lower low tides (so big differences in tides)

What are Neap tides?

Neap tides are less moderate tides - so not really high and not really low.

What causes the tides?

The gravitational forces exerted on the earth by the moon, and to a lesser extent, the sun

What are the solstices and Equinoxes?

Winter solstice- sun is at its lowest in the sky and it is the shortest day: Around December 21.

Summer Solstice- Sun is at it highest in the ski and it is the longest day of the year: Around June 21.

Equinoxes are around Sept 21 and March 21: it is when the Day and Night are equal times, 12 hours each.

What season is the Earth closest to the sun?

Winter

Why do we have seasons?

The Earth's axis of spin lies at an angle (23.5 degrees) to the plane on which it orbits the Sun.  Also this tilt leads to the sun being more or less directly hitting the Earth causing warmer or colder times, longer and shorter days, and different placement of rising and setting of the sun

Why is the sun lower in the sky in winter?

Because the northern hemisphere is tilted away in the winter it makes the sun only rise a small amount.

Why is the winter colder than the summer?

It is colder since the sun is lower in the sky, out less hours, and less direct light is hitting Earth due to the tilt.