Physical Geography of Earth
Orbit – the path one body makes as it circles around another
Revolution – circular motion
Axis – an imaginary line through Earth between the poles, around which Earth turns
Rotation – a complete turn
Weather – the condition of the air and sky from day to day
Precipitation – water that falls to the ground as rain, sleet, hail, or snow
Temperature – how hot or cold the air is
Climate – the average weather over many years
Climate and Weather Section Assessment
1a. What is climate?
Climate is the average weather over many years.
1b. How is climate different from weather?
Weather is what people experience from day to day. Climate is the average weather over
many years.
1c. Are hurricanes an example of climate or of weather?
Hurricanes are an example of weather.
2a. What kind of climate occurs in most places near the equator?
A hot climate occurs in most places near the equator.
2b. Why are climates near the poles different from climates near the equator?
The polar regions receive indirect sunlight, so their climate is colder. Places near the
equator receive direct sunlight, so their climate is hotter.
3a. How do bodies of water affect temperature?
In summer, bodies of water heat up more slowly, and wind blowing over the water cools
the nearby land. In winter, bodies of water stay warmer than the land, so places near
bodies of water are warmer
3b. A city in the interior of a continent has very cold winters. How would you expect winter
temperatures to differ in a coastal city at the same latitude as the interior city?
The temperatures in the interior city would be colder.