What is the most common term for electromagnetic radiation? Light

How much of the electromagnetic spectrum does visible light make up? Visible light makes up a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

What is the relationship between wavelength and intensity? The shorter the wave length the more intense the radiation is.

What are the colors of the rainbow? ROYGBIV Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet

Which colors have the longest and shortest wavelengths? Red has the longest wave length and violet has the shortest.

What instrument used to extend our sense of sight? Telescopes are tools used to extend our sense of sight.

What does the word telescope mean in Latin? Tele = distance Scope = sight Telescope = distance sight

Which telescope uses lenses to bring light into focus? Refracting telescopes

What instrument uses mirrors to bring light into focus? Reflecting telescope

What is the common term for electromagnetic radiation? Light

What are the other wave lengths that telescopes can use? -Infrared -Ultraviolet -Radio -X-rays

What is the process of linking separate telescopes together so that they act as one telescope? Interferometry

What does a reflecting telescope use to bring light into focus? Mirrors

What advantage to space based telescopes have over Earth bound telescopes? The telescopes in space do not have to look through Earth’s atmosphere which can distort the images.

Which was the first country to make it into space in 1957? The Soviet Union

How many countries have landed a man on the Moon? One

Which country was the first and only country to land a man on the moon in 1969? The U.S

Who were the first men to walk on the moon in 1969? Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin

Who said “One small step for man, One giant leap for mankind” Neil Armstrong

What is the term for the amount of sun light that a surface What is the term for the amount of sun light that a surface reflects based on the color and texture? Albedo

What is amount of sun light that a reflects off of the moon? The Moons albedo is very small at 7%

Does the Moon reflect its own light? No, The moon has no natural light of its own but reflects the light given from the Sun.

What are the marks left on the moon’s surface from objects in space striking the moon called? Impact craters

How is it possible that the footprints that were left back in the 60’s, as well as craters that are thousands of years old are still there? These foot prints and craters remain visible because there is no atmosphere on the moon to weather away these marks.

Are the phases of the Moon predictable? The moons phases are predictable and can be determined years in advance.

What is a Blue moon? When two full moons occur in the same month.

What Are the light colored mountainous regions covered with craters? Highlands

What are the dark smooth plains on the lunar surface? Maria

What is the material that is blasted out during impacts and fell back to the surface? Ejecta

What are the trails of ejecta that radiate outward called? Rays

What are the meandering valley like craters on the Moon called? Rilles

Which Apollo Mission failed to land on the Moon? Apollo 13

What is the composition of the Moon? The moon is made up of minerals similar to Earth- Mostly silicates but little iron.

How old is the Moon? The age of the moon is between 3.6 and 4.6 billion years old (found using radiometric dating).

What is the layer of loose ground up rock and averages several meters in thickness called? Regolith

What are the smooth dark plains on the Moon called? Maria

How were the Maria created? After a serious bombardment of meteorites, magma flowed up to the surface (becoming lava) and created the Maria.

Describe the Moons structure. The Moon has a similar structure to that of the Earth, the upper mantle is solid while the lower mantle is partially molten.

Does the Moon experience Earth quakes? NO! The Moon experiences Moonquakes

Do we think the Moon tectonically active? No, current theory states that the Moon is not tectonically active

What are the three Moon formation theories? Capture Theory Simultaneous Formation Theory Impact Theory

Describe the Capture theory of Moon formation. When the solar system was forming a large object came to close to Earth and was caught in the gravitational pull.

What are the problems with the capture theory of Moon formation? Something would have to slow this object down first (inertia in space). b) The composition of the Moon are too similar to be a coincidence. A captured object would have a different composition in the crust.

Describe the Simultaneous Formation theory the Moon? The theory was the Earth and the Moon formed at the same time in the same general location. This solves problem of having to slow down the Moon and explains similar composition.

What is the problem with the Simultaneous Formation theory the Moon? It does not explain why the Earth has a lot of iron and the Moon does not.

Describe the Impact theory of the Moon. A mars sized object hit the Earth as it was developing. The iron on the Earth at this time sunk to the center due to its high density. The object struck Earth and ejected the iron deficient outer layer which formed the moon. -This solves the problems with the other theories.

What is the most accepted theory for the Moons formation? Impact Theory

What did Foucault’s pendulum help prove What did Foucault’s pendulum help prove? That the Earth is spinning or rotating.

What causes air currents to curve to the right in the Northern hemisphere? The Earth’s rotation

How wide is one standard time zone? 15 degrees

On what 2 dates will each area on earth receive 12 hours of Sun light On what 2 dates will each area on earth receive 12 hours of Sun light? The equinoxes: March 21-23 and September 21-23

What causes night and day? The rotation (spinning) of the Earth causes night and day.

How many degrees per hour does the Earth spin? A rate of 15 degrees per hour

Describe how a pendulum can show the Earth is spinning ? When released, the pendulum will change direction, instead of swinging in a straight line.

What is our time keeping based on? keeping is based on a solar day (sun rise to sun set).

What is the Coriolis effect? The curvature of the winds as a result of the Earth spinning.

How long does it take for the Earth to orbit the Sun? It takes about 365 days to complete an orbit around the Sun.

What is the term for the plane on which the Earth orbits? Ecliptic

What is the Earth’s tilt? 23.5 degrees

The Earth’s tilt is equal to the tropics What is the relationship between the Earth’s tilt and the location of the tropics? The Earth’s tilt is equal to the tropics

Describe how the Sun’s altitude changes throughout the year. The Sun’s altitude is low in the winter, gets higher in the spring, is highest in the summer, and gets lower in the fall.

Between 23.5 degrees North and South latitude. Between what two latitudes could you see the Sun directly over head at 90 degrees. Between 23.5 degrees North and South latitude.

When is the Earth closest to the Sun? December 21-23

During the equinoxes, March 21-23 and Sept 21-23. When does the Sun rise directly in the East and set directly in the West? During the equinoxes, March 21-23 and Sept 21-23.

Describe the position of the Earth when we have a solstice? A solstice occurs when the Earth is tilted towards or away from the Sun.

What is the shortest day of the year? The Winter solstice is Dec 21 our shortest day.

What is the longest day of the year? The Summer solstice occurs when we are tilted towards the Sun on June 21 our longest day.

Describe the position of the Earth when we have a equinox? The equinox (equal night in Latin) occurs when the Earth is not tilted towards or away from the Sun, but side ways.

What does equinox mean in Latin? Equal night (12 hours night and 12 hours day light)

The autumnal equinox September 21 The Vernal (spring) equinox March 21 What time of year do we have 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night everywhere on the planet? The autumnal equinox September 21 The Vernal (spring) equinox March 21

What causes the phases of the Moon? As the Moon orbits the Earth we see different amounts of the illuminated surface.

How much of the moon is always illuminated? Half of the Moon is always illuminated

If half of the Moon is always illuminated, why can’t we always see the Moon? During the new Moon phase, the half not facing the Earth is illuminated.

The Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a line, in that order. Describe the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth during the new Moon phase. The Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a line, in that order.

The Sun, Earth and Moon are in a line in that order. Describe the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth during the full Moon phase. The Sun, Earth and Moon are in a line in that order.

What causes the daily motion of the tides? The Moon as it revolves around the Earth.

Does the Sun influence the tides? Yes, but since it is so far away the Moon has a greater influence.

Approximately 93 million miles or 8 light minutes How far away is the Sun? Approximately 93 million miles or 8 light minutes

Which are the strongest tides, the Neap tides or Spring tides? The Spring tides.

The Sun, Earth and Moon are in a line but the order doesn’t matter. Describe the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth during the Spring tides. The Sun, Earth and Moon are in a line but the order doesn’t matter.

The Sun, Earth and Moon form a right angle to each other. Describe the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth during the Neap tides. The Sun, Earth and Moon form a right angle to each other.

Why do we always see the same side of the Moon? The Moon’s orbital period and rotational period are equal.

What is the term for the Moon’s orbital period and rotational period are equal. Synchronous rotation

How long is the Lunar cycle (one full Moon to the next)? The Lunar cycle is about 29.5 days

How long does it take for the Moon to revolve around the Earth? It takes about 27.3 days for one revolution around Earth.

Why is there a difference between how long it takes for one revolution of the Moon 27.3 days, and the Lunar cycle which is 29.5 days? Because the Earth is moving in space, it takes a few extra days for the Moon to get to the same angle that creates the same phase.

The Moon rises and sets about _______ minutes later each day. 50

How many degrees in its orbit does the moon move in a days time? 13

What is it called when the Sun’s light is blocked by the Moon? Solar Eclipse

What phase is the Moon in that would cause a solar eclipse? New Moon

What is the term for the Earth blocking the Suns light going to the Moon? Lunar Eclipse

What phase is the Moon in that would cause a lunar eclipse? Full Moon

What is the name of the darkest part of the shadow that the Moon creates during a Solar eclipse Umbra

What is the name of the shadow that the Moon creates during a Solar eclipse that is not as dark as the umbra? Penumbra

Why is it that we do not have an eclipse every month? The orbital plane of the Moon is at a 5 degree tilt compared to the orbital plane of the Earth (ecliptic).

What is the term for when the Moon is closest to the Earth? Perigee

What is the term for when the Moon is farthest to the Earth? Apogee

When is the Earth closest to the Sun? December 21-23

What does the tilt of the Earth cause as it revolves around the Sun? The Seasons

What are the dates of the two Solstices? June 21-23 December 21-23

Where are you if you see the Sun over- head at noon on either equinox? The Equator