NAME ____________________________________________

FORM_____________________________________________

TEACHER__________________________________________

Sun and seasonsActivity1 Look at the diagram below and fill in the missing words from the list provided.

angle  directly  higher  lower  23.5°  northern  revolvesrotates  six  southern  summer  winter

The Earth ______________ around the Sun and, as it does so, it _____________ on its axis. The Earth’s axis is not

vertical, but tilted _________ from vertical. This means that, in position A, the ____________ hemisphere is a little

closer to the Sun than the _______________ hemisphere. Also, at position A, the Sun’s rays hit the southern

hemisphere more ______________, while in the northern hemisphere the rays strike at more of an _____________.

This means that we see the Sun ______________ in the sky from the southern hemisphere and ______________ in

the sky from the northern hemisphere. At this time, the southern hemisphere is having ___________ and the northern

hemisphere is having winter. ___________ months later, exactly the reverse happens, and the southern hemisphere

experiences _____________.

2 Finish these sentences.

a Our day is 24 hours long because that is the time it takes the Earth to:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

b A year has 365 days because that is the number of whole days it takes the Earth to:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

A

c We need to have leap years because:_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3 Study the diagram below. Look at Ireland and Australia.

a Which country is in daylight? _______________

b Which country is in darkness? _______________

c Which country is having winter? _______________

d Which country will have the longest period of daylight? _______________

e How much daylight will people within the Arctic Circle experience?

f How much daylight will people within the Antarctic Circle experience?

4 Use this diagram to illustrate the reason that, in any season, regions closer to the poles experience cooler temperatures than regions close to the Equator.

Day and Night

1. How long does it take the Earth to complete one rotation on its axis?……………………..

2. Which part of Australia is first to greet the morning sun?………………………………….

3. Which part of Australia is the last to see the sun go down?………………………………..

The Seasons

4. How long does it take the Earth to complete one revolution (ie: one complete orbit of the sun)?

……………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Name the four seasons of the year?………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

6. Why is it hotter in summer than in winter?………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. There are two times during the year when day and night are of equal length everywhere on Earth. What is the name given to these

two times?……………………………………

8. What is the name given to the longest and shortest day of the year?……………………..

The Lunar Cycle

9. How long does it take the Moon to revolve around the Earth?…………………………..

10. Why don’t we always see a “full” Moon?………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. How long does it take the Moon to rotate once on its axis (hint: the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth)?

……………………………………………………………

Eclipses

12. Draw the position of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon during:

a) a lunar eclipse

b) a solar eclipse

13. Why can the smaller moon appear to block out the Sun’s rays and cause a solar eclipse?

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

14. Why don’t solar and lunar eclipses form once a month?…………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tides

The gravitational pull of the Moon (and to a lesser extent the Sun) causes the tides on Earth?

15. Draw and label the Earth, Moon, and the location of the high and the low tide.

16. Draw the location of the Earth, Moon and Sun for a “King” tide.

17. Explain why tides are not exactly 12 hours apart__________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Directions:

Color the North Hemisphere blue and the Southern Hemisphere red. Label the equator, north pole, south pole and the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.

 

Earth in Space Vocabulary WorksheetWrite the letter of the correct match next to each problem.1.   Asteroid a.  An object that orbits another

2. 

Axis

b.  The changes in shape the moon goes through in a month as seen

from Earth

3.   Comet c.  The Sun and all the bodies that orbit it

4.   Moon Phase d.  One whole spin of an object on its axis

5.   Revolution e.  The imaginary line around which Earth rotates, or spins

6.   Rotation f.  A frozen mass of ice and dust that orbits the Sun

7.   Satellite g.  One full orbit of an object around another object

8. 

Solar System

h.  A rocky mass orbiting the sun that can be several hundred

kilometers wide

9.   Space Probe i.  A spacecraft that gathers data without a crew

Day and Night! 

Directions:

The appearance of day and night is the result of Earth's rotation on its axis. Use the words from the word bank to the label parts of Earth.

 

Day, Night, Equator, Sun, North Pole, South Pole

 

Moon and tidesActivity1 There was a full moon on 15 October. The last quarter was on 22 October. The new moon was on 30 October. On 2

November the first quarter was showing. What will the Moon look like on 13 November? (Circle the correct alternative.)

A

B

C

2 You know that the two main reasons for tides are:

• the pull of the Moon on the Earth’s watery surface

• the pull of the Sun on the Earth.

You also know the period in which the Moon revolves around the Earth.

a Use diagrams to explain how tides occur.

b Why are there usually two low and two high tides every day?

c Explain why the tides are not exactly 12 hours apart.

d Explain why we get spring tides and neap tides.

3 Explain why the appearance of the Moon changes each month. The following diagram might help you.

b label the following:

i new moon

ii full moon

iii first quarter

iv last quarter.

4 a Explain why we do not see an eclipse of the Moon every month.

b Draw a diagram showing the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon when we experience a lunar eclipse.

Seasons  Directions:

The diagram below shows the Earth's position as it orbits the Sun at four positions. Label the approximate date and season for the Southern Hemisphere at each stage. The word bank below may assist you.

 

Spring, March 21,winter, June 21, Summer, December 22, Autumn, September 22

 

   

Bank On It! WorksheetPlanet Earth

Earth's      which      which      variations      to      ago,      with      this      extinctions.      during      Sun.      precession.      nearly      relationships      million      combination      change      which     

rare      axis         

 

Scientists have long studied how ____________ in Earth's orbit relate to ice ages, cycles of glacier building and retreat, and even mass ____________ New research has uncovered some surprising ____________ among all these things. About 23 ____________ years ____________ a huge ice sheet spread over Antarctica, temporarily reversing a general trend of global warming, decreasing ice volume and ushering in a generally calm climatic period. The new study suggests ____________ period corresponded with a ____________ ____________ of events in the pattern of ____________ trek around the ____________ The idea that cyclical variations in Earth's orbit can cause major climate changes was first proposed by astrophysicist Milutin Milankovitch. The main variables are eccentricity, obliquity and ____________ Eccentricity refers to the changing shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun, ____________ varies from ____________ circular to elliptical over a cycle of about 100,000 years. Obliquity refers ____________ the angle at ____________ Earth's ____________ is tilted ____________ respect to the plane of its orbit, varying between 22.1 degrees and 24.5 degrees over a 41,000-year cycle. Precession is the gradual ____________ in the direction Earth's axis is pointing, a 21,000-year cycle ____________ ____________ the axis carves out an imaginary cone shape.

rosswor

Across

2 This occurs when the shadow of the Earth is cast over the Moon. (5, 7) 5 The darkest part of a shadow. (5) 6 An imaginary line around which the Earth spins. (4) 9 The side of the Moon that is always facing Earth. (4, 4)10 A natural satellite of the Earth and partially responsible for the tides. (4)12 An imaginary line around the Earth that divides it into the northern and southern hemispheres. (7)13 When the Moon appears to be getting smaller it is said to be _______. (6)Down

1 This term describes the Moon when more than half the illuminated side can be seen from Earth. (7) 3 When we see all of the illuminated half of the Moon we have a _________. (4, 4) 4 This can be seen within the Arctic Circle in the middle of the northern summer. (8, 3) 7 The name given to the phase of the Moon when the illuminated half of the Moon is facing away from Earth. (3, 4) 8 The lighter part of a shadow. (8)11 This term describes the Moon when it appears to be getting larger. (6)

How The Earth Moves – Days and Years

Once people thought that the Earth was flat. Today we know it is approximately spherical – round like a ball. This ball is about 12,800km in diameter, and is made up of rock at the surface and iron in its core (the middle).

Each day we see the sun rise in the east and set in the west. Does this mean the sun moves around the Earth. For thousands of years people thought so. We now know that it is the Earth that moves around the sun.

The Earth travels through space around the sun. We say it revolves around the sun. The path that the Earth follows is called its orbit. The orbit isn’t perfectly round, but is in the shape of an ellipse, or oval.The time taken for the Earth to complete one full revolution of the sun is one year, or 3651/4 days. The Earth moves at 30km/s to accomplish this.So, we know what a year is, but what is a day? How did we decide what a day was?

The Earth spins on its axis as it revolves around the sun. A day is how long it takes for the Earth to rotate – that is spin – on its axis once. This takes 24 hours. The Earth rotates from west to east, and this makes the sun (as well as he moon, planets and stars) all seem to move the other way – from east to west.It is because the Earth rotates on its axis that we get night and day. As the Earth rotates, only one half of it faces the sun at any one time. While this half is in sunlight, the other half is in darkness. This is shown in the adjacent picture.Also shown is the axis of the Earth – an imaginary line that runs from pole to pole. This axis is tilted at 231/2 degrees, and is the reason for our seasons on Earth.

Questions1. Match each of these terms with the definition below

Axis orbit revolution rotation

a) The path followed by an object in space as it revolves around another object.

b) Movement of one body around another body.

c) The spinning of a body on its axis.

d) Imaginary line about which an object in space spins.

2. a) How many hours does it take the Earth to rotate once on its axis?

b) How many days does it take the Earth to revolve once around the sun?

c) How many times does the Earth rotate on its axis in a year?

d) Why is half the Earth in darkness at any one time?

e) At what angle is the axis of the Earth titled?

3. Two penguins are standing on the South Pole. One walks northwards, and the other turns and walks in the

opposite direction. What direction is this? Explain?

4. The Earth rotates on its axis 3651/4 times in a year. This means there are 3651/4 days in a year. Instead of

having a quarter of a day each year (which we cannot do) how do we fit this quarter of a day into our

calender?

The Seasons

We divide the year in four seasons – summer, autumn, winter and spring. Summer is much warmer than winter, and the days are longer. Why?Seasons are caused by a combination of the tilt of the Earth’s axis (231/2°) and the Earth’s revolution around the sun. The particular season depends on whether the Earth’s axis is tilted towards or away from the sun.

In the adjacent figure the northern hemisphere (ie: half of the Earth) is tilted away from the sun. This means the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. The torch beams represent sunlight. Torch beam A hits the Earth square on, and shines over a small area. Torch beam 2 hits at an angle and is spread over a larger area of the Earth. The more direct sunlight (as in the case of A) warms the Earth more. Therefore, where beam A hits the Earth would be summer, and where beam B hits would be winter. The seasons in the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. If the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun (summer), then the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun (winter).

Both diagrams give the seasons as they are for the southern hemisphere.

Questions1. List the months of each season in the southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere in a table in your

books. Set it out like the table below.

Season Southern Hemisphere Northern HemisphereSummerAutumn (Fall)WinterSpring

Dec - Feb

2. Complete the following sentences in your books.

a) We have seasons because the Earth’s axis is ________.

b) In summer, the ________ are longer than the __________.

c) The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of ________.

d) When it is spring in the southern hemisphere, it is ________ in the northern hemisphere.

e) The Earth revolves ______ around the sun when viewed from the northern hemisphere.

f) In December in the southern hemisphere, the south pole tilts _____ the sun.

g) In winter, the _________ are longer than the _______.

h) In _________ and ____________, the days and nights are each about 12 hours long (ie: equal).

3. Where is the land of the midnight sun? Why is it called this?

Questions 4,5 and 6 refer to the adjacent diagram.

4. Which of the locations A, B, C, D, and E are:

a) in daylight?

b) experiencing summer?

5. In the adjacent diagram, in which of the locations that are in

daylight will the sun set first?

6. Which locations will experience the longest day and shortest

day?

The Moon

Questions

Use a trip to the moon to answer these questions.

1. In what year did Neil Armstrong land on the moon?

2. Calculate how far it is from the Earth to the moon.

3. How do scientists think the craters on the moon were formed?

4. Why is it that the far side of the moon was unknown until 1959?

5. What are the main features of the moon’s surface?

6. Suggest why footprints of astronauts who walked on the moon in 1969 are still there today?

7. Why would the writer of the storey think they could jump 6 times higher on the moon than on Earth?

8. Why don’t the stars twinkle when seen from space or from the moon?

Earth-Moon

Phases of the MoonThe moon is visible from the Earth only because it reflects light from the moon. As the moon orbits the Earth it rotates in such a way that the same side of the moon always faces the Earth. When the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the Earth, you see a full moon. The entire side of the moon facing the Earth is lit up by the sun. When the moon is between the sun and the Earth, it’s near side is facing away from the sun and in complete darkness. You are unable to see the moon. When the moon and the sun Sometimes you can see only part of the moon’s near surface.The different shapes of the moon that you see from Earth are called phases. The diagram below shows the moon’s 291/2 day orbit of Earth as seen from above Antarctica.

Did You KnowThe ancient Romans thought the moon was a goddess. Named Luna, she drove across the sky at night in a chariot. When the moon did not appear, Luna had driven her chariot to Earth to visit her mortal lover, a shepherd named Endymion.

The word lunatic arises from an old superstition that sleeping in the moonlight could cause insanity.

Diana, the ancient Roman goddess of the hunt, used a crescent moon for a bow and moonbeams for arrows.

The word ‘month’ comes from the Old English word mona, meaning moon. In early calenders a month was the length of time between full moons. This period is called a lunar month. The modern calender was not worked out until the sixteenth century by Pope Gregory XIII. The Islamic, Hebrew, and Chinese calenders are still based on the lunar month.

A ‘blue moon’ is the second full moon in a calender month (modern defn.). It is a rare event as there are 291/2 days between full moons.

Questions

1. How are we able to see the moon even though it does not give off its own light?

2. Why can’t you see much of the moon during a new moon?

3. On the diagram below.

a) In each of the positions A, B, C, and D shade those

parts of the moon on which light from the sun does not

shine.

b) What is the phase of the moon in each position?

Eclipses

The moon always casts a cone shaped shadow into space. Once a month the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. This is the new moon phase. Normally the moons shadow misses the Earth. Sometimes, however, the shadow touches the Earth. When this happen the light from the sun is blocked. This is called an eclipse of the sun, or a solar eclipse. They do not happed very often, and when they do they can be seen only over a narrow strip of the Earth.

The Earth itself casts a shadow into space. At the full moon position the Earth’s shadow sometimes falls across the moon’s orbit causing a lunar eclipse. As the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow it grows darker. The Earth’s shadow is so wide that it sometimes takes the moon severalhours to move through it. It is safe to watch a lunar eclipse.

Questions

1. Explain the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse.

2. If you were on the near side of the moon, what would you observe when people on Earth were having:

a) a lunar eclipse

a solar eclipse.

Warning: You should never look directly at the sun – even during an eclipse. It can damage your eyes.