earth science notes the earth, moon, and sun. properties of the earth rotation refers to the...
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Earth Science NotesEarth Science NotesThe Earth, Moon, and SunThe Earth, Moon, and Sun
Properties of the EarthProperties of the Earth
RotationRotation refers to the spinning of refers to the spinning of earth on its axisearth on its axis
When Earth spins on axis it When Earth spins on axis it causes causes dayday and and nightnight
Properties of the EarthProperties of the Earth
RevolutionRevolution refers to the orbiting refers to the orbiting of earth around the sunof earth around the sun
Earth’s orbit is an Earth’s orbit is an ellipseellipse
Properties of the EarthProperties of the Earth
Change in seasons are caused by Change in seasons are caused by the the tilttilt of the earths axis as it of the earths axis as it revolves around the sunrevolves around the sun– The hemisphere that is tilted The hemisphere that is tilted
towardtoward the sun received more the sun received more sunlight (has longer days)sunlight (has longer days)
The SeasonsThe Seasons
Properties of the EarthProperties of the Earth
SolsticeSolstice is the day the sun is the day the sun reaches its greatest distance reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equatornorth or south of the equator– Winter solstice and summer solstice Winter solstice and summer solstice
Properties of the EarthProperties of the Earth
EquinoxesEquinoxes occur when the sun is occur when the sun is directly above the Earth’s equator directly above the Earth’s equator – Sunlight hours are equal during this Sunlight hours are equal during this
timetime
– Fall and Spring EquinoxFall and Spring Equinox
Properties of the EarthProperties of the Earth The earth The earth bulgesbulges slightly at slightly at
the equatorthe equator– Gravity contracts earth into sphereGravity contracts earth into sphere– Rotation cause Earth’s sphere to Rotation cause Earth’s sphere to
bulgebulge– Pull of moon creates tidal bulgePull of moon creates tidal bulge
Properties of the EarthProperties of the Earth
Earth has a Earth has a magneticmagnetic polespoles Moving material inside the earth Moving material inside the earth
as well as Earth’s rotation may as well as Earth’s rotation may generate the magnetic fieldgenerate the magnetic field
The poles change over timeThe poles change over time– Recall magnetic reversals as Recall magnetic reversals as
evidence of seafloor spreadingevidence of seafloor spreading
The MoonThe MoonMoon phasesMoon phases Different forms that the moon Different forms that the moon
takes in appearancetakes in appearance
The MoonThe MoonMoon Phases - Moon Phases - depend on the depend on the
relative relative positionposition of the Earth, Moon, and of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.Sun.
New Moon Moon is between earth and the sun – no light is reflected
Waxing Crescent first thumbnail shaped portion of the moon seen
First Quarter one quarter of the moon is reflecting the sun light
Waxing Gibbous means more of the illuminated half can be seen each night
Moon PhasesMoon Phases
Moon Phases Moon Phases (cont.)(cont.)
Full Moon moon surface that faces earth reflects all light from sun
Waning Gibbous means less of the illuminated half can be seen each night
Third Quarter one quarter of the moon is reflecting the sun light
Waning Crescent last thumbnail shaped portion of the moon seen
Moon PhasesMoon Phases
The MoonThe Moon SolarSolar eclipse occurs when the eclipse occurs when the
moon moves directly between the moon moves directly between the sun and the earth.sun and the earth.
Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse
The MoonThe Moon Lunar Lunar eclipse occurs when the eclipse occurs when the
earth falls directly between the earth falls directly between the sun and the moonsun and the moon
The MoonThe Moon
Structure of the moonStructure of the moon Models for moon’s Models for moon’s
interior derived from interior derived from seismic activity (i.e. seismic activity (i.e. moonquakes)moonquakes)
The moon is made up The moon is made up of crust, upper mantle, of crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, and core.lower mantle, and core.
The MoonThe MoonOrigin of the MoonOrigin of the Moon Various theories had been Various theories had been
proposed for the formation proposed for the formation of the Moon. of the Moon.
Fission TheoryFission Theory – moon – moon somehow separated from somehow separated from the earth the earth – Location – pacific basinLocation – pacific basin– Evidence – moon is made of Evidence – moon is made of
materials similar to Earth’s materials similar to Earth’s mantlemantle
– Problem – cast off of moon Problem – cast off of moon would be do to rapid spinning would be do to rapid spinning of Earth – no fossil evidence of of Earth – no fossil evidence of thisthis
The MoonThe Moon
Origin of the MoonOrigin of the Moon Capture Theory: Moon was formed
somewhere else in the solar system, and was later captured by the gravitational field of the Earth
The MoonThe Moon
Origin of the MoonOrigin of the Moon• The Condensation
Theory: the Moon and the Earth condensed individually from the nebula that formed the solar system. • Problem – if the Moon
formed near Earth it should have nearly the same composition. Specifically, it should possess a significant iron core, and it does not.
The MoonThe MoonOrigin of the MoonOrigin of the Moon The Giant Impactor TheoryThe Giant Impactor Theory: : proposes that a small proposes that a small
planet the size of Mars struck the Earth just after the formation planet the size of Mars struck the Earth just after the formation of the solar system, ejecting large volumes of heated material of the solar system, ejecting large volumes of heated material from the outer layers of both objects. A disk of orbiting material from the outer layers of both objects. A disk of orbiting material was formed, and this matter eventually stuck together to form was formed, and this matter eventually stuck together to form the Moon in orbit around the Earth.the Moon in orbit around the Earth.
–This theory can This theory can explain why the explain why the Moon is made Moon is made mostly of rock and mostly of rock and how the rock was how the rock was excessively excessively heated. heated. Furthermore, we Furthermore, we see evidence in see evidence in many places in the many places in the solar system that solar system that such collisions such collisions were common late were common late in the formative in the formative stages of the solar stages of the solar system. system.
Giant Impactor TheoryGiant Impactor Theory
Trips to the MoonTrips to the Moon
Click the link to learn more about these missionsClick the link to learn more about these missions
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmoon/apollo_landings.htmlhttp://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmoon/apollo_landings.html
The Sun The Sun Structure of the SunStructure of the Sun
The SunThe Sun
Structure of the SunStructure of the Sun Corona – largest layer of the sun’s atmosphere, extends
millions of km out into space
Chromosphere – transition zone between the photosphere and the coronaPhotosphere – lowest layer of the sun’s atmosphere, where light is given off, 6000 K.
The SunThe Sun
Convention layer – heat energy rises – heat energy rises and falls in this layer as gases rise, cool, and falls in this layer as gases rise, cool, and then falland then fall
Radiation zoneRadiation zone – – energy from the energy from the suns core is suns core is transferred to the transferred to the conduction zoneconduction zoneCore Core – source of – source of suns energy, where suns energy, where nuclear fusion nuclear fusion takes placetakes place
The SunThe Sun
Surface Features of Surface Features of SunSun
SunspotsSunspots – spots on – spots on the sun that are the sun that are darker because they darker because they are coolerare cooler
The SunThe Sun
Surface Features of Surface Features of SunSun
ProminencesProminences – – arching columns of arching columns of gasgas– Maybe caused by Sun’s Maybe caused by Sun’s
magnetic fieldmagnetic field
The SunThe SunAuroras Auroras Created as a result of electrically charged Created as a result of electrically charged
particles from the sun’s corona hitting the earth’s particles from the sun’s corona hitting the earth’s atmosphere and ionizing gases there.atmosphere and ionizing gases there.
The SunThe Sun
The sun is an average star. It The sun is an average star. It emits average heat and light emits average heat and light energyenergy
Summary Summary
How does rotation and revolution How does rotation and revolution differ? What are the effects of each?differ? What are the effects of each?
Explain why we have seasons.Explain why we have seasons. What are the phases of the moon?What are the phases of the moon? What is the difference between solar What is the difference between solar
and lunar eclipses?and lunar eclipses? Explain different theories regarding Explain different theories regarding
the origin of the moon.the origin of the moon. Describe the Sun’s structures and its Describe the Sun’s structures and its
features.features.