Earth’s Rotation

DAY and NIGHT End of the axis are the NORTH and SOUTH poles. Axis of Rotation – an imaginary line running through Earth’s center that allows Earth to rotate. End of the axis are the NORTH and SOUTH poles. N O R T H S O U T H P O L E P O L E

DAY and NIGHT Any location on Earth’s surface moves from WEST to EAST as Earth turns. North Pole The way Earth Rotates

DAY and NIGHT ½ Earth is in Sunlight ½ Earth is in Darkness If it is noon at one location , what time is it at a location directly on the other side of the Earth?

DAY and NIGHT 1 FULL rotation on Earth’s Axis = 1 day (24 Hours)

Seasons Revolution – the motion of one object around another. The Earth is tilted at about a 23.5 degree angle. If Earth’s rotation and orbit lined up perfectly what would that mean for Earth’s Seasons?

Seasons Earth’s orbit is NOT quite a perfect circle. Earth is about 5 million kilometers closer to the Sun Earth is about 5 million kilometers further away then the Sun 148,000,000 km 153,000,000 km

Seasons Seasons – patterns of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of a year. Near the poles, very large changes in temperature from winter to summer. Near the equator, very little temperature changes all year.

Seasons Equinox – sunlight shines equally on the northern and southern hemispheres. Solstice – the area of sunlight is at a maximum in one hemisphere and a minimum in the other hemisphere. Both occur on or around the 21st day of certain months of the year.

In the North Pole the sun does not set at all for 6 months at a time. Lengths of Days In the North Pole the sun does not set at all for 6 months at a time. The further from the equator the more extreme the changes in day length become. Near the equator, the periods of daylight and darness are almost equal year-roudn. ~ 12 hours In the South Pole the sun does not rise for 6 months at a time.

Unit E : Space Science : Chapter 2 : Page 49 : Questions : 1- 6 HOMEWORK Unit E : Space Science : Chapter 2 : Page 49 : Questions : 1- 6