student sheet 8 sun-earth-moon system...

LESSON 8 SU N S P O T S A N D SPA C E WE AT H E R

116 STC/MS™ EA R T H I N SPA C E © 2003 National Academy of Sciences

Student Sheet 8Sun-Earth-Moon System Review

Directions To prepare for the written assessment in Lesson 9, answer the following questions incomplete sentences. Reading selections you should review include:

Lesson 1: Astronomy: Looking Back Lesson 2: Scaling the Sun-Earth-Moon System Lesson 4: The Reasons for Seasons Lesson 6: Eclipses Lesson 7: Our Sun’s Energy Lesson 8: Space Weather Lesson 8: Auroras

1. Why do we experience day and night?

2. Define the terms “rotation” and “revolution” as they relate to space science.

3. Describe the Moon’s period of rotation and revolution.

4. Describe the relative size and distance relationships among the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

5. Why can the Moon appear as large as the Sun even though we know the Moon is much smallerthan the Sun?

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Name:

Class: Date:

STC/MS™ EA R T H I N SPA C E 117


Student Sheet 8 (continued)

6. Why do shadows change during the day? You may draw a picture to show changes in shadowlength relative to the Sun’s position in the sky.

7. Explain why shadow lengths change throughout the year.

8. What causes seasons?

9. What factors (other than the one you listed in Question 8) affect how hot or cold it is in any oneplace on Earth?

10. Looking at the Moon from space, how much of the Moon always receives light from the Sun?Explain your answer.

11. Sketch and label the phases of the Moon.

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© 2003 National Academy of Sciences




12. Draw a diagram of each eclipse listed below. Make certain to show the lighter and darker portions of the eclipse shadow. Label the Moon, Sun, and Earth, umbra and penumbra, and indicate whether it is a partial or total eclipse.

Solar eclipse:

Lunar eclipse:

13. Why do solar and lunar eclipses occur?

14. During which phase of the Moon does a solar eclipse occur? During which phase of the Moondoes a lunar eclipse occur?

15. Why don’t we have eclipses every month?

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16. What is the source of energy for the Earth?

17. How is Earth protected from receiving too much solar radiation?

18. What can you conclude from your observations of sunspots?

19. What is space weather? How does it affect Earth, including its space environment?

20. What are auroras and how do they form? (If you haven’t done so already, read ahead to“Auroras” in Lesson 8 to answer this question.)


LESSON 20 EX P L O R I N G SPA C E TE C H N O L O G Y


Student Sheet 20Solar System Review

Directions Review the reading selections in your Student Guide, your notes, and your student sheetsin Lessons 11–21 to prepare for the assessment in Lesson 22. Complete the following questions toprepare for the assessment.

1. List the planets in order according to their distances from the Sun. Tell which planet receives themost light from the Sun, and why. (Lesson 11)

2. Use the scale factor 1 cm = 400 km to estimate how big a model of Earth should be. (Hint: Firstlook up Earth’s diameter. Then divide by 400 km/cm. Watch your units.) (Lesson 11)

3. Why is it difficult to create an accurately scaled model of the solar system in the classroom?(Lesson 11)

4. How are impact craters formed? Draw a crater and label its parts. (Lesson 12)

5. Why are the craters on Earth’s surface less evident than those on other terrestrial planets’ surfaces?(Lessons 12 and 13)

Name:

Class: Date:

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6. Other than the nine planets, what objects are in the solar system? (Lessons 1–8, Lessons 12 and 17)

7. Complete Table 1 Planetary Processes by listing two planetary processes in the first column.Describe the landforms created by each process in the second column. In the last column, nameone or more planets on which this process and/or landform can be found. (Lesson 13)

Table 1 Planetary Processes

Landform Created Planet Where This ProcessPlanetary Process by This Process or Landform Exists

8. Describe how gravity affects an apple falling from a tree. (Lesson 14)

9. Describe the difference between mass and weight. (Lesson 14)

10. Why would a can of soda weigh different amounts on each planet? (Lesson 14)


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11. How does the mass of a planet affect the speed of a moon that orbits it? (Lesson 15)

12. What happened to your orbiting marble when you lifted up the metal ring? Explain why thishappened. (Lesson 15)

13. Describe the motion of a planet when it orbits a star. (Be specific. How is the motion of a planetnear the star different from the motion of a planet far from the star? What is the shape of a planet’sorbit?) (Lesson 15)

14. Why are there usually two high tides and two low tides each day? (Lesson 16)

15. What did Eugene Shoemaker, his wife Carolyn Shoemaker, and David Levy witness in 1994?(Lesson 17)

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student sheet 8 sun-earth-moon system...

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