earth & environmental science unit 3: planet earth the planet of life

Mr. Gibson – Classroom Discussion & Activities Room

213Laboratory Exercises Room 214Unit Length Estimated 10 days

Unit Spanning 10-October through 19-October 2011

Earth & Environmental SciencesUnit 3: Planet Earth

The Planet of Life

Section 1.1 – Planet of Life

Objectives:

1. Review prior knowledge by being able to locate the Earth within the solar system;


The Planet of Life


Objectives:

2. Identify the concept of axial tilt and then compare & contrast earth’s with [that] of the two nearest “terrestrial planets” Mars & Venus;


The Planet of Life


Objectives:

6. Define and use the terms associated with this unit.


The Planet of LifeSection 1.1 – Planet of Life

Objectives: 1. Review prior knowledge by being able to locate the Earth within the solar system;

Can you indicate which planet is

Earth?



Objectives: 1. Review prior knowledge by being able to locate the Earth within the solar system;

Yes! There it is! The 3rd planet from the

sun.



Objectives: 2. Identify the concept of axial tilt and then compare & contrast earth’s with [that] of the two nearest “terrestrial planets” Mars & Venus

Image source url – http://www.calgary.rasc.ca


The Planet of Life

If we use our right hand; first “point” and then “wrap” our four fingers in the direction of the Earth’s rotation…

FIRST!! – We have to define the direction of rotation for planets. To do this we will use the convention called the

“Right-Hand-Rule”


The Planet of Life

Next; hold our thumb straight up at a 90 degree angle to our curved, wrapped fingers…




The Planet of Life

… our thumb will be pointing to the Earth’s geographic “north pole” (not to be confused with a “magnetic” north pole).




The Planet of Life

Now that we have defined the geographic “north pole” for Earth; it is also like all the other planets – they all rotate about the sun on an “orbital plane” (or disk).

http://mistupid.com/astronomy/orbits.htm


The Planet of Life

If the planet’s “geographic north pole” is anything other than perpendicular to the orbital plane about the sun… it is said to have an “axial tilt” –or- “obliquity”.


The Planet of Life

Therefore; a planet’s axial tilt –or- its “obliquity” is the angle that its geographical north pole [is] from its being at 90 degrees –or- perpendicular to its orbital plane about the sun.

2) An axis that is perpendicular to the orbital plane.

1) Planet’s orbital plane around the

sun.


The Planet of Life

Therefore; a planet’s axial tilt –or- its “obliquity” is the angle that its geographical north pole [is] from its being at 90 degrees –or- perpendicular to its orbital plane about the sun.

2) An axis that is perpendicular to the orbital plane.

3) Planet’s geographical “north

pole” – using the “right-hand-rule”

showing it to be NOT 90 degrees, but at

some angle.


The Planet of Life

For the planet Earth; it’s “axial” tilt –or- “obliquity” is 23.4 degrees from the vertical [as] the gif animation on the left shows.


The Planet of Life

With our thumb pointing to the Earth’s geographic “north pole” AND our finger-tips pointing & wrapping in the direction of the Earth’s rotation…

NEXT – we will return to the “Right-Hand-Rule”


The Planet of Life

… IF… our fingers (hence the Earth’s direction of rotation is in the SAME direction of the Earth’s orbital travel about the sun…



The Planet of Life

… IF… our fingers (hence the Earth’s direction of rotation is in the SAME direction of the Earth’s orbital travel about the sun


Direction of planetary “axial” rotation

Direction of planetary orbit around the sun


The Planet of Life

… then the planet’s “axial” rotation is said to be PRO-grade. If the “axial” rotation is in the OPPOSITE direction of its travel about the sun it is RETROgrade.


Direction of planetary “axial” rotation



The Planet of Life

PRO-grade planetary “axial” rotation


RETRO-grade planetary “axial” rotation



So let’s check what we’ve learned so far…

Earth is a planet that has a “___________ (*) rotation and a _______degree tilt to its (“__________”)rotational plane about the sun.



Objectives (2) – Compare & Contrast Earth’s Axial Tilt (to the orbital plane) [to] the two nearest “terrestrial” planets Mars & Venus

Earth is a planet that has a “PROgrade (*) rotation and a _______degree tilt to its (“__________”) -or- rotational plane about the sun.




Earth is a planet that has a “PROgrade (*) rotation and a 23.4 degree tilt to its (“__________”) –or- rotational plane about the sun.




Earth is a planet that has a “PROgrade (*) rotation and a 23.4 degree tilt to its (“obliquity ”) -or- rotational plane about the sun.



Okay; let’s take a look at the “terrestrial” planet Mars –and then – Venus.


The Planet of LifeMars, like Earth is a “rocky” or Terrestrial Planet.


The Planet of Life Reviewing prior knowledge – can you locate Mars within the solar system?


Earth?


The Planet of Life Reviewing prior knowledge – can you locate Mars within the solar system?


Earth?If you had said it was the 4th

planet out from the sun you’d

be correct.


The Planet of Life

Mars’ “obliquity” or axial tilt is very close to Earth’s at 29. 15 degrees.

Its axial rotation with respect to its orbital plane about the sun is PRO-grade as well.


The Planet of Life

And last; let’s take a look at the “terrestrial” planet Venus.


The Planet of Life

Venus too is a “rocky” or “terrestrial” planet.


The Planet of Life Reviewing prior knowledge – can you locate Venus within the solar system?

Can you indicate which

planet is Earth?


The Planet of Life Reviewing prior knowledge – can you locate Venus within the solar system?

Can you indicate which

planet is Earth?If you had said it was the 2nd

planet out from the sun you’d

be correct.


The Planet of Life

Venus is a bit “odd” in terms of “obliquity” [as] it has “slipped” on its axial rotational orbit quite a bit.


The Planet of Life

Venus’ “obliquity” is 177

degrees.


The Planet of Life

And because Venus’ axis of rotation has slipped so much --

its rotational motion with respect to its orbital plane

about the sun is classified as

RETRO-grade.


The Planet of LifeSo let’s review quickly –

Mars is a planet that has a “_________ rotation and a _____degree tilt to its (“obliquity ”) –or- rotational plane about the sun.

Mars



Mars is a planet that has a “_Prograde__ rotation and a _____degree tilt to its (“obliquity ”) –or- rotational plane about the sun.

Mars



Mars is a planet that has a “_Prograde__ rotation and a _29.15__degree tilt to its (“obliquity ”) –or- rotational plane about the sun.

Mars


The Planet of Life

Venus is a planet that has a “_______”_ rotation and a ________degree tilt to its (_________) –or- rotational plane about the sun.


The Planet of Life

Venus is a planet that has a “_Retrograde__ rotation and a ________degree tilt to its (__________) –or- rotational plane about the sun.


The Planet of Life

Venus is a planet that has a “_Prograde__ rotation and a _177__degree tilt to its (___________) –or- rotational plane about the sun.


The Planet of Life

Venus is a planet that has a “_Prograde__ rotation and a _177__degree tilt to its (“obliquity”) –or- rotational plane about the sun.





Mars





Mars Venus

Earth & Environmental SciencesUnit 3: Planet EarthThe Planet of Life

Section 1.1 – Planet of Life – Informal Assessment (Drag n Drop):

Objectives 1 & 2:


Terrestrial Planet

Orbital Position from the

Sun

Obliquity to the Orbital Plane

Orbital Rotation

Venus

Earth

Mars

2nd

3rd

4th

177 deg.

23.4 deg

29.15 deg

Retrograde

Retrograde

Prograde

Prograde



Objectives: 2. Identify the concept of axial tilt and then compare & contrast earth’s with [that] of the two nearest “terrestrial planets” Mars & Venus Image source url – http://www.calgary.rasc.ca

Terrestrial Planet

Orbital Position from the

Sun

Obliquity to the Orbital Plane

Orbital Rotation

Venus 2nd 177 degrees

Retrograde

Earth 3rd 23.4 degrees

Prograde

Mars 4th 29.15 degrees

Prograde

Objective 1 & 2 Summary Table

Term Definition

The angle of axial tilt with respect to the orbital plane of rotation about the sun.

An axial rotation that is in the same direction as the direction of orbital rotation.

A convention that has the fingers wrapped & pointing in the same direction as axial rotation with the thumb pointing at 90 degrees.

An axial rotation that is in the opposite direction as the direction of orbital rotation.

The direction that lies 90 degrees perpendicular to the direction of axial rotation – indicated by the right hand thumb rule.

The term used for planets that are mostly made of rock.

The term used for a planet’s movement about a star.

Retrograde

Pro-grade

Obliquity Right-hand thumb

rule

Orbital plane of rotation

Terrestrial

Geographic North Pole

Term Definition

The angle of axial tilt with respect to the orbital plane of rotation about the sun.

An axial rotation that is in the same direction as the direction of orbital rotation.

A convention that has the fingers wrapped & pointing in the same direction as axial rotation with the thumb pointing at 90 degrees.

An axial rotation that is in the opposite direction as the direction of orbital rotation.

The direction that lies 90 degrees perpendicular to the direction of axial rotation – indicated by the right hand thumb rule.

The term used for planets that are mostly made of rock.

The term used for a planet’s movement about a star.

Retrograde

Pro-grade

Obliquity

Right-hand thumb rule

Orbital plane of rotation

Terrestrial

Geographic North Pole

earth & environmental science unit 3: planet earth the planet of life

Documents

planets orbital plane

planets geographic north

planets axial tilt

planet earth

planet of lifeobjectives

earths geographic north

right hand

earths direction of