Week 9 Vocabulary: Earth’s Rotation

Flashcards covering vocabulary related to Earth’s rotation, including definitions of key terms associated with the concepts of rotation, motion, and the celestial cycle.

Rotate

To spin in place.

Apparent Motion

When objects appear as if they are moving due to our own motion.

Axis

An imaginary line around which objects rotate; connects the North and South Poles on Earth.

Day & Night Cycle

The 24-hour period of light and dark experienced by Earth as it rotates.

Sunrise

When the sun appears to rise above the east horizon, marking daytime.

Sunset

When the sun appears to sink below the west horizon, marking nighttime.

Equator

An imaginary line around the middle of the Earth that divides our planet into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

Waxing

When the bright, lit side of the moon is getting larger.

Waning

When the bright, lit side of the moon is getting smaller.

Revolve

To move in a circular path around another object.