Name: ____________________________
Earth’s Movements and the Change of the Seasons
Directions: Fill in the blanks as best you can, Good Luck!
23.5
December 21st
Sun
365.25 days
Tilt
90
Summer Solstice
Aphelion
Equal
90 (second time)
Winter Solstice
Autumnal
24 hours
Revolves
Perihelion
Changes
June 21st
Vernal
Equator
24
Pacific
Rotates
Precession
The earth__rotates______________ on its axis which is tilted by __23.5_________ degrees. A full
rotation takes ___24 hours__________________. The tilt of the axis slowly wobbles overtime in a
circular pattern. This phenomenon is known as ____procession________________.
The earth ___revolves_____________around the sun. ____Aphelion____________is the point at
which the earth is furthest from the sun (Our Summer), and __Perihelion______________is the point
at which the earth is closest to the sun (Our Winter). A complete revolution takes
___365.25_____________.
The ___tilt_____________of the earth is responsible for the seasons. When the sun’s rays hit the
Earth at a____90____________ degree angle on the Tropic of Cancer, it is the
____summer____________ ____solstice__________ (The date is: ____June 21____________).
When the sun’s rays hit the Earth at a____90____________ degree angle on the Tropic of Capricorn,
it is the _____winter___________ _______solstice__________ (The date is: ___Dec
21_____________).
The ______autumnal__________equinox (September 22, 23) and the
____vernal____________equinox (March 21, 22) occur when the sun hits the
____equator____________at a 90 degree angle. This causes _______equal_________ hours of
night and day. There are ______24__________time zones on the Earth. 12 noon occurs when the
______sun__________is directly overhead each time zone.
The international date line is located in the ____pacific____________Ocean. When you cross the line
the day_____changes___________.