CHAPTER
CHAPTER
The Sun-Earth-Moon System
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
Earth’s Motion,
Earth’s Moon, and
Eclipses and Tides
CHAPTER
The Sun-Earth-Moon System
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
What natural phenomena
do the motions of Earth
and the Moon produce?
CHAPTER
Natural Phenomena Examples Summary:
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
1. Seasons: Earth’s Motion
around Sun causes seasons.
2. Moon Phases: Moon’s Motion
around Earth causes phases.
3. Eclipses and Ocean Tides:
Earth and Moon’s Motion
together causes eclipses and
ocean tides
CHAPTER
The Sun-Earth-Moon System
Earth’s Moon
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
• The gravitational pull of Earth on the Moon
makes the Moon revolve around Earth.
The Moon rotates once as it makes one complete
orbit around Earth.
• The lit part of the Moon that you can see
from Earth—the Moon’s phase—changes
during the lunar cycle as the Moon revolves
around Earth.
CHAPTER
Surface of the Moon
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
The major surface features of
the moon are maria, highlands,
and craters.
Maria: Low, flat plains
formed by ancient lunar
lava flows. (Appear dark)
The Lunar highlands are
rough, mountainous regions that
surround the maria. These are
the light-colored area.
CHAPTER
Surface of the Moon
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
Craters
• Much of the moon is covered by craters--round depressions in the surface caused
by the impact of high-speed meteoroids.
• These thousands of craters are evidence
that moon is geologically dead---due to
little erosion on the moon and no plate
motion to alter these craters.
CHAPTER
WAXING VS. WANING PHASES
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
Waxing Phases: these phases occur after a
New moon and up to a Full moon.
Waxing phases are when the amount of LIGHT
INCREASES or moon is getting larger until all
light is all Visible (a FULL MOON).
Waning Phases: these phases occur after a Full
Moon and back to the New Moon.
Waning phases are when the amount of LIGHT
DECREASES or the moon is getting shrinking until
NO light is Visible (a NEW MOON).
CHAPTER
The Sun-Earth-Moon System
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
Eclipses and Tides
• When the Moon’s shadow appears on
Earth’s surface, a solar eclipse occurs.
• When the Earth’s shadow is cast on the
moon, a lunar eclipse occurs.
***The gravitational pull of the Moon and the
Sun on Earth produces tides, the rise and
fall of sea level that occurs twice each
day.
CHAPTER
Eclipse Images
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
CHAPTER
The Sun-Earth-Moon System
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
Earth’s Motion and the Cause of the Seasons
• The gravitational pull of the
Sun on Earth causes Earth to
revolve around the Sun in a
nearly circular orbit.
CHAPTER
SEASONS and EARTH DIAGRAM
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
CHAPTER
SEASONS and EARTH DIAGRAM
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
CHAPTER
Earth’s Motion and the Cause of the Seasons
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
• Areas on Earth’s curved surface
become more tilted with respect to
the direction of sunlight the
farther you travel from the equator.
This causes sunlight to spread out
closer to the poles, making Earth
colder at the poles and warmer at
the equator.
CHAPTER
Earth’s Motion & Cause of Seasons Continued
CHAPTER WRAP-UP
• As Earth revolves around the Sun,
the tilt of Earth’s rotation axis
produces changes in how sunlight
spreads out over Earth’s surface.
These changes in the concentration of
sunlight cause the seasons.