Earth, Moon & Sun
Astronomy
1
We are learning to: describe how objects in
the solar system are in regular and
predictable motions that explain days,
years, and seasons.
We are looking for: description of:
 Days- Earth rotates on its axis every 24
hours
 Years-Earth revolves around the sun
365.25 days
 Seasons-Earth revolves around the sun as
the Earth is tilted on its axis
Movement of the Earth

Rotation is the earth
spinning on its axis.
• Earth’s rotation causes
day and night (approx.
24 hours).

Revolution is the
movement of one
object around another
object.
• This is the movement of
the earth around the
sun.
• Earth’s revolution
determines the length
of a year(365.25 days).
3
Seasons on Earth





Earth has seasons because
its axis is tilted as it moves
around the sun.
Vernal equinox has equal
day and night (March).
Summer solstice has the
longest day and shortest
night (June).
Autumnal equinox has
equal day and night
(September).
Winter Solstice has the
shortest day and longest
night (December).
4
Seasons continued



During equinoxes, the
sun is directly over
the equator.
During the summer
solstice, the sun is
directly over the
Tropic of Cancer.
During the winter
solstice, the sun is
directly over the
Tropic of Capricorn.
5
Why do we have night and day?
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Earth’s rotation
Earth’s
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Tilt of the Earth
on its axis
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10
What causes Earth to experience
different seasons?
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It rotates on its axis
while it revolves around
the sun
It revolves on its axis
while it rotates around
the sun
It is tilted while it rotates
around the sun.
It is tilted while it
revolves around the sun.
I need help!
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A.
10
If the Earth’s Revolution was
slower, we would experience
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Longer days
Shorter days
Longer years
Shorter years
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10
Of the following, which does not
affect seasons?
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Earth is tilted
23.5 degrees
The Earth
revolves around
the sun
The Earth’s
distance from
the sun
I need help!
Ea
A.
10
During which season is the axis of
the Earth pointed towards the sun?
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Autumn
Spring
Summer
Winter
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10
10
How does the length of day compare to the
length of night during the Vernal Equinox?
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2.
Day is longer than
night.
Night is longer
than day.
The day and night
are equal in
length.
The day and night
are not equal in
length.
D
1.
10
11
Make a drawing that illustrates
the difference between a year
and a day.
We are looking for: a description of
-Phases-moon revolves around the Earth
approximately once a month
-Eclipse-are random predictable; one object
moves in front of another object in relation to
the position of the sun
-Tides-high tide occurs approximately twice a
day
Phases of the Moon



The phase of the moon
occur because of the
movement of the moon
around the earth and the
earth around the sun.
Cycle of phases is about a
month in length.
Phases of the moon include
new moon, waxing
crescent, first quarter,
waxing gibbous, full moon,
waning gibbous, last
quarter, and waning
crescent.
14
Earth’s Moon




Temperature range is
-176 oC to 100 oC.
3,476 km in diameter.
1609, Galileo Galilei
first used a telescope
to view the moon.
Features on the moon
include craters,
highlands & maria.
• Craters round pits on
the moon’s surface.
• Maria are dark, flat
areas on the moon.
15
Other Facts About Our Moon





The period of rotation is
27.3 Earth days.
The period of revolution is
27.3 Earth days.
Because the length of
rotation and revolution are
the same, we only ever
see one side of the moon.
The moon only has 1/6 the
gravity of Earth.
The moon has no
atmosphere.
16
Exploration of the Moon






Use Newton’s 3rd Law of
Motion for space travel:
for every action force,
there is an equal and
opposite reaction force.
Chinese invented rockets
in 1000 AD.
1957 the Soviet Union put
Sputnik in to space.
Yuri Gagarin was the first
man in space.
Alan Sheppard was the
first American in Space.
John Glen was the first
American to orbit Earth.
17
Man on the Moon



Mercury mission was
designed to get man in
space(1 person spaceship).
Gemini mission was
designed to send 2 men at
a time to the moon and
back.
Apollo mission was
designed to land man on
the moon. Two men went
to the surface, one man
orbited the moon.
• Six missions were
successful landing on
the moon from 196972.
18
Which phase occurs when the
moon is in between the Earth and
the sun?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Full moon
New moon
1st Quarter
moon
3rd quarter
moon
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19
Solar Eclipses




Occurs during a new moon
when the moon is between
the sun and earth.
The shadow is the umbra,
the partial shadow is the
penumbra.
Doesn’t happen every
month because the moon’s
orbit around the earth is
tilted and this prevents the
sun, earth and moon from
being in a straight line.
Do not look at a solar
eclipse without protective
eye gear.
20
Lunar Eclipse



Occurs during a full moon
phase when the earth is
between the sun and the
moon.
More common than the
solar eclipse.
Can be view without
protective eye gear.
21
When studying a solar eclipse, which is
the proper method for viewing the sun?
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Wear sunglasses
Use a refracting
telescope
Use a pinhole
camera
Use a magnifying
glass
W
A.
22
Tides




Tides are caused by the
gravitational attraction
between the moon and
earth.
High tides are 12.5 hours
apart.
Spring tide is the highest
high tide and occur at full
and new moon phases.
Neap tide is the lowest
high tide and occur at first
and last quarter moon
phases.
23
Which phase occurs when the
moon is in between the Earth and
the sun?
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Full moon
New moon
1st Quarter
moon
3rd quarter
moon
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22
What causes us to see different
phases of the moon?
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Light reflects off of the
surface of the moon.
The moon revolves
around the Earth.
We see different
perspectives of the
moon
All of the above.
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A.
Why do we only ever see one side
of the moon?
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The moon only has one
side.
The moon revolves,
but does not rotate.
The moon rotates at
the same rate at which
it revolves.
The moon rotates, but
does not revolve.
Th
A.
If the sun, moon, and Earth are perfectly aligned (as
pictured), what event will occur on Earth?
18
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Neap Tide
Solar Eclipse
Lunar Eclipse
Seasonal
Change
N
A.
When studying a solar eclipse, which would be a
proper method of viewing the sun?
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Wear sunglasses
Use a refracting
telescope
Use a magnifying
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Don’t look directly
at the sun
W
A.
FOUR BLOCK INTERVENTION
INSTRUCTIONS
1.
2.
3.
If you have not missed any
questions, start with block #2 and
then complete blocks #3 and #4.
If you have missed 2 or more, meet
with the teacher.
Everyone else starts in block #1 and
then complete blocks #2, #3, and
#4.
1.
PRACTICE
Explain how the
moon affects the
earth.
3. REVIEW
Draw a diagram
illustrating all of the
phases of the
moon.
Label all of the
phases.
2.EXTENSION
What would happen to the earth’s
tides if the moon was not
present?
Using your knowledge of moon,
write a paragraph (6-10
sentences)explaining why or why
not?
4. FRONTLOAD
What do you know
about gravity &
inertia?
Space Stations




1971-Salyut
1973-Skylab
1986-Mir
1998-International
Space Station
31
Space Shuttle





First space shuttle
launched in 1980.
Space shuttle design to
take astronauts in to the
upper Earth’s atmosphere
to orbit.
Challenger disaster killed
seven astronauts in 1986.
Columbia disaster killed
seven astronauts in 2003.
Current Fleet includes
Discover, Atlantis and
Endeavour.
32
Refracting Telescope



Telescope is made
from two convex
lenses.
First used by
Galileo.
Limited in size.
33
Reflecting Telescope



Telescope made
from a concave
mirror and a
convex lens.
First used by Isaac
Newton.
Can make a larger
telescope than a
refracting
telescope.
34
Radio Telescope



Has a large dish
that collect radio
waves.
Computers
interprets the radio
waves.
Has detected
pulsars, quasars &
black holes.
35
What keeps planets revolving
around the sun?
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s.
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B.
The sun’s
gravitational pull.
The Planet’s
mass.
The planet’s
magnetic field.
The Sun’s inertia.
Th
A.
36
One of the greatest advancements in astronomy
was the telescope. Which is the correct order
ofadvancements?
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37
An icy object that has an elongated
orbit around the sun is referred to
as a(n)….
A.
B.
C.
D.
Asteroid
Comet
Meteor
Meteorite
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38
Why does a meteoroid or asteroid create a streak
of light when entering the Earth’s atmosphere?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Light from the sun is
reflected of the surface
of each
Energy is released from
the objects
Lightning is produced
from these objects
Light is a result of
friction from the gasses
in the atmosphere
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39
Review Questions










What is the spinning on an axis called?
(rotation)
What do we call a planet’s travel around the sun?
(revolution)
What is the Egyptian’s calendar based on?
(revolution)
What is the Roman’s calendar based on?
(cycle of moon phases)
What causes the seasons?
(tilt of the earth’s axis)
40
Review Questions










What is the first day of spring called?
(Vernal Equinox)
What is the first day of summer called?
(Summer Solstice)
What is the first day of autumn called?
(Autumnal Equinox)
What is the first day of winter called?
(Winter Solstice)
During the equinox, where is the sun over?
(the equator)
41
Review Questions










During the solstice, where is the sun over?
(23.5o N or S latitude)
How long does it take for the moon to rotate?
(27.3 days)
How long does it take for the moon to orbit the
earth?
(27.3 days)
Why do we only ever see one side of the moon?
(length of rotation and revolution are the same)
What causes the change in moon phases?
(changes in relative positions of the moon, Earth
and sun)
42
Review Questions








How long does it take for a full cycle of moon phases?
(29.5 days)
Name the phases of the moon in order from the least
amount of light to the greatest amount of light.
(New, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous,
Full, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, Waning Crescent,
New)
What happens when the moon passes between the sun and
the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth?
(solar eclipse)
What happens when the Earth passes between the sun and
the moon casting a shadow on the moon?
(lunar eclipse)
43
Review Questions










What is the darkest part of an eclipse called?
(umbra)
What is the largest part of the shadow of an eclipse called?
(penumbra)
How long does it take for a another high tide to occur after
a high tide?
(12.5 hours)
What type of tide is caused when the sun, Earth and moon
are in a straight line?
(Spring Tide)
What type of tide is caused when the sun, Earth and moon
are at a right angle to each other?
(Neap Tide)
44
Review Questions










Which law of physics allows rockets to be launched into
space?
(Newton’s Third Law of Motion)
What type of satellite orbits around Earth at the same rate
that the earth rotates?
(geosynchronous)
Who invented the first rocket?
(Chinese)
What is used today to transports astronauts and supplies to
the Space Station?
(space shuttle)
How does the gravity on the moon compare to the gravity
on earth?
(1/6 gravity on moon)
45
Review Questions










How does the diameter of the moon compare to
the diameter of the earth?
(moon’s diameter is ¼ the diameter of Earth)
How does the density of the moon compare to
the density of Earth?
(the same)
Who invented the first telescope?
(Galileo)
What are the dark flat areas of the moon?
(maria)
What did Galileo think the maria was?
(oceans)
46
Review Questions










In what year did Apollo 11 land on the moon?
(1969)
What are the lighter mountainous areas on the
moon called?
(highlands)
What are the circular impressions on the moon
called?
(craters)
What causes the formation of the craters?
(meteor impacts)
How long does it take the Earth to rotate?
(24 hours)
47
Review Questions










How long does it take the Earth to revolve around the sun?
(365.25 days)
What is the path of the earth around the sun called?
(orbit)
Why is there not a lunar eclipse during every full moon and
a solar eclipse during every new moon?
(Earth, moon and sun must be in a straight line)
How was the moon formed?
(A large object struck the earth and torn a portion of the
earth away to form the moon.)
What causes the tides?
(moon’s gravity)
48