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EARTH / ENVORONEMENTAL MSL REVIEW

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Standard 1.1 (11—16%)

Explain the Earth’s role as a body in space.

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1.1.1

Explain the Earth’s motion through space, including precession,

nutation, the barycenter, and its path about the

galaxy.

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What is the nebular theory of solar system

formation?The gaseous clouds rotate,

gradually collapsing on each other and flattening due to

gravity. More mass creates more gravity. Over long periods of time, stars and planets are

formed.

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The earth rotates the sun in orbit.

Why is Earth considered a satellite of the Sun?

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A system of millions of stars. All the components are held

together by gravity.

What is a galaxy?

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Kepler’s First Law states that the orbits of all satellites ellipse with

the Sun at two foci.

What is Kepler’s first law of planetary motion?

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As Kepler’s second law states, the planet sweep equal areas. This means the section is thicker, causing the velocity to be higher. Look at the

picture below.

Why does the Earth travel faster when it is

nearer the Sun (at perihelion)?

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Like a rotating top, the direction of the axis slowly changes. On Earth this takes 26, 000

years.

What is precession of Earth’s motion around

the Sun?

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This is the rocking or swaying of the axis as it moves along it’s

precession.

What is nutation?

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The point between two objects where their masses balance

each other out.

What is the barycenter of two orbiting bodies?

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Explain how the Earth’s rotation and revolution about the Sun affect its shape and is related to seasons and tides.

1.1.2

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Rotate is the turning around the objects axis or center. Revolving is the

turning around a center object.

What is the difference between rotate and

revolve?

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The experience of Day and Night or light and dark.

What does Earth’s rotation cause?

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Seasons are caused by the tilt. This is the movement of face of the earth.

Check out the picture below.

What does the tilt of the Earth on it axis

result in?

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Due to tilt. Moving to where the sun gives more, or less, direct sunlight.

How do seasonal changes occur?

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Tides of the oceans.

What does the moon’s gravitational interaction with the Earth cause?

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Due to the gravity and spin force. Remember the spinning of a pizza dough.

Why is the equator circumference larger

than the circumference at the poles?

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Explain how the sun produces energy which is transferred to the Earth by

radiation.

1.1.3

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The process of burning something. Creates carbon dioxide and water.

What is combustion?

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Fusion is brining together of atom, fission is the tearing

apart.

What is the difference between nuclear fission

and fusion?

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Through fusion of hydrogen atoms, the excess is

released through light and heat.

How do stars produce radiant energy?

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Transverse waves, moving at a particular wavelength and amplitude. The wavelength

determines the classification. Use the reference below.

What are the electromagnetic

waves?

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Gamma rays and X rays are

filtered. UV Rays are semi-

filtered.

What electromagnetic waves are filtered by

the earth’s atmosphere?

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Through the waves of the electromagnetic spectrum as

heat and light.

How does energy flow from the sun to the

Earth?

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Explain how incoming solar energy makes life

possible on Earth

1.1.4

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Summer.

The tilt of Earth results in more direct sun rays during what season in

the Northern Hemisphere?

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Winter.

The tilt of Earth results in indirect sun rays during what

season in the Northern Hemisphere?

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It determines how much sun exposure there is to the specific area. The closer to the equator, the more direct sunlight

for more time of the year.

How does latitude affect climate?

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The difference amounts of heat absorbed by the land and water areas.

What is differential heating?

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The specific heat of water is relatively high compared to land elements. The water can hold more heat and it will release the heat

slowly instead of the land which takes in a lot of heat, but releases it quickly.

Why does Earth’s surface heat differently with regards to land and

water?

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Sunlight, the solar energy, is chemically reacting with carbon dioxide and water to

make the carbohydrates plants need as well as oxygen.

How is solar energy converted to chemical

energy during photosynthesis?

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The stratosphere holds the ozone layer that protects us from UV radiation.

How does the Earth’s atmosphere protect the planet from harmful UV

radiation?