4 Seasons: 1.1 Notes

AstronomyAstronomy

study of the stars, moon, planets and other objects in space

Earth’s rotationEarth’s rotation

spinning motion

globe, basketball on your finger

spinning top

Earth’s revolutionEarth’s revolution

movement of one object around another

orbit

365.4 days for Earth to revolve around the sun

one reason we experience seasons

causes a year on Earth

other examples of revolution:

Reason for the Reason for the SeasonsSeasons

Earth tilted 23.5 degrees as it revolves around the sun

Amount of sunlight on different parts of the Earth

Direct and indirect light from the Sun

SolsticeSolstice

Sol = sun

2 days a year when the sun is directly overhead at noon 23.5 degrees

December 21st and June 21st

beginning of winter and summer

EquinoxEquinox

Equ = Equal

Equal Day/Night

beginning of spring and fall

March 21st and September 21st

What does Earth’s What does Earth’s rotation cause?rotation cause?

Day and Night

24 hours

What does Earth’s What does Earth’s revolution cause?revolution cause?

one year

365.4 days

A student who has little knowledge of seasons A student who has little knowledge of seasons states that seasons are caused by being close or states that seasons are caused by being close or far from the sun. Is this true? Why or why not?far from the sun. Is this true? Why or why not?

Earth is in a circle around the sun - an ellipse is a flattened circle

We are technically closest to the Sun in orbit in January

Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth, which causes different amounts of sunlight on different parts of the Earth- northern and southern hemisphere

Days are longer in the summer and shorter in the winter