Earth Science
Mr. Ertl
Name __________
Date ___________
RSI Seasons Worksheet
Directions: Click on the windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen and then click
on all programs. Scroll down until you see a Riverside Scientific folder and click on that,
and then click on RSI Seasons. Double click on the icon and open up the RSI Seasons
program. Once the program is open the first thing you must do is click on the “Select
Latitudes” button near the top center. Check the left “use this latitude” box and then
make sure the latitude is at 43° (this is the latitude of Syracuse). Now click ok to set your
latitude at 43° and you should now be back to the original screen. Now all you are going to
do is follow the step by step instructions below and answer the questions for each section.
Section 1 – Instructions
1. Click on the surface temperature button on the left hand side.
2. Click on the “start” button and watch the Earth make one complete revolution around
the sun. Analyze the graph as this is happening.
3. Answer the questions below.
Section 1 – Questions
1.
According to the graph when does the greatest average temperature occur in
Syracuse?
__________________________________________________________________
2.
According to the graph when does the lowest average temperature occur in
Syracuse?___________________________________________________________
3.
Now go up to the “change the tilt” button at the top and change the tilt of the Earth
to 0°. Go back and start the Earth’s revolution over. Make sure the box above the graph
that says “show previous results for…” is checked. How does the average temperature of
the Earth with 0 tilt now compare with the previous tilt of 23.5°?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4.
What do you think would be the case if we increased the tilt to 45°?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Try it.
Section 2 – Instructions
1.
Make sure the tilt is back to 23.5°
2.
Click on the daily solar energy button on the left hand side.
3.
Click on the “start” button and watch the Earth make one complete revolution around
the sun. Analyze the graph as this is happening.
4.
Answer the questions below.
Section 2 – Questions
1.
According to the graph when does Syracuse receive the most daily solar energy?
______________________________________________________________
2.
According to the graph when does Syracuse receive the least daily solar energy?
______________________________________________________________
3.
During what time of the year is the North Pole receiving no daily solar energy? (you
may change the latitude briefly to 90° to visualize this if you wish)
_______________________________________________________________
4.
Go back up to the select latitudes button and click on it. Check the other box so
that two latitudes will show up. Keep the left hand box the same (43°), make the second
box 26° (Boca Raton remember!!). Now go back and play the revolution again. Analyze the
graph for daily solar energy. Throughout the year how does the daily solar energy, or
intensity of the insolation, of the two latitudes compare?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Section 3 – Instructions
1.
Make sue that both latitudes are still checked.
2.
Make sure the tilt is at 23.5°.
3.
Now click of the “hours of Daylight” button on the left side and then click on start.
4.
Watch the revolution of the Earth around the sun once and analyze the graph.
Section 3 – Questions
1.
What is the greatest number of daylight hours in Syracuse in any given day?
____________________________________________________________________
______
2.
What is the greatest number of daylight hours in Boca Raton in any given day?
____________________________________________________________________
______
3.
How do the answers to #1 and #2 compare?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________
4.
What location has a smaller variation in duration of daylight hours throughout the
year?
____________________________________________________________________
______
5.
Explain how the variation in duration of daylight hours changes as one travels north
in the northern hemisphere on June 21st?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________
Section 4 – Instructions
1.
Keep everything the same and click on the “Noon Sun Elevation” button on the left
side.
2.
Press start and watch the Earth make a revolution and analyze the graph.
Section 4 – Questions
1.
How does the noon sun elevation of Syracuse compare with the noon sun
elevation of Boca Raton throughout the year?
_________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_____
2.
What is the highest noon sun elevation in Syracuse according to the graph?
________
3.
What is the highest noon sun elevation in Boca Raton according to the graph?
________
4.
What is the lowest noon sun elevation in Syracuse according to the graph?
________
5.
What is the Lowest noon sun elevation in Boaca Raton according to the graph?
________
6.
Is the sun ever directly overhead (90°) in Syracuse? ________
Hottest and Coldest Times of the Year – Assignment Answer Sheet
1a. _________________________________________________________________
1b. _________________________________________________________________
2. _____________
3. _____________
4. _____________
5. _____________
6a. ____________
6b. ____________
6c. ____________
6d. ____________
7a.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
7b.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
9. ________________________
10. _______________________
11.
____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
12a. _______________
12b.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
13. ______________________ and ___________________
14. _________________________________________________________________
15. _________________________________________________________________