Welcome Astronomers to the Sun, Moon, and

Earth!

The relationship

between the Sun, Moon, and Earth is very

important to the existence of life on Earth. Our

quest is to find out how their relationships affect

day and night, years, the seasons around the

world, and the phases of the moon.

Day, Night, Year, and

Seasons

S6E2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate

information about the effects of the relative

positions of the sun, Earth, and moon.

a. Develop and use a model to demonstrate the

phases of the moon by showing the relative positions

of the sun, Earth, and moon.

b. Construct an explanation of the cause of solar

and lunar eclipses.

c. Analyze and interpret data to relate the tilt of the

Earth to the distribution of sunlight throughout the

year and its effect on seasons.

Purpose/Objective: The students will be able to:1)Describe how the Earth’s rotation on its axis relative to the Sun causes the Earth to experience cycles of day and night.2) Describe how Earth’s 365-day revolution around the Sun allows us to have years.3) Explain the reason why Earth passes through four different seasons during its revolution around the Sun.4) Relate the Moon phases to changes in the Moon’s position

relative to the Earth and Sun during its 29-day revolution around

the Earth.

Directions: Read each slide and then complete the

organizer. Some information that is needed is in

RED.

Rotation – Earth spinning on axis.

1 rotation = 24 hours

Part of Earth facing sun = day

Part of Earth facing away from Sun = night

Rotation

What does Rotation mean?Rotation occurs when something is spinning around

an axis. Memory Clue/ Illustration ideaWhat are some examples of things that rotate?

Tops, Ballerinas, Figure skaters, cyclones, Tornadoes, a merry-go-round, Earth

How do we know that the Earth rotates?1. Star trails- trails made with time exposure, circular paths that occur

because the planet is moving and not stationary.2. Winds curve because of the Earth’s rotation.3. Ocean currents curve clockwise in the northern hemisphere, and

counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.4. The movement of a pendulum. It does not actually move, it is the Earth

moving that causes the pendulum to appear to change the direction of its swing.

Revolution – Movement of 1 object around

another object.

Earth Revolution around Sun = 1 year (365

days)

What is the effect of our ROTATION

Night and DayWhat causes night and day?The rotation of the Earth

• The side of the Earth that is facing the sun has daylight, the side of the Earth away from the sun has night.

• It takes 24 hours for the Earth to complete one rotation.

• The Earth is tilted on it’s axis at a 23.5 degree angle.

• The Earth’s tilt is always in the direction of the North Star.

What is another name for the North Star? Polaris• This tilt is what causes our days to get longer in the summer and shorter in the winter.• Because of the Earth’s rotation the sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west.

Revolution Effect

Earth Revolution around Sun =

1 year (365 days)

Every day the

Earth travels

around the sun.

The Earth and the

moon travel

together in an

orbit around the

sun once a year.

Earth’s

Axis

Earth’s Axis:

• Earth’s axis is an imaginary

line through the center of the

Earth from the North Pole to

the South Pole.

• Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5°

Direct Sunlight

• more direct at the equator

• more indirect at the poles

Areas at a higher angle (closer to 90°) receive more

total solar radiation (sun rays) than areas where

sunlight strikes at a lower angle.

Add these statements

to the diagram on your notes

Direct & Indirect COPY

SeasonsWhat two things cause the difference in the seasons?

1. The angle of the sun’s rays

2. The length of the days

There are two kinds of rays from the Sun:

1. Direct- occurs when Earth is tilted toward the Sun

2. Indirect-occurs when Earth is tilted away from the Sun

In the Summer, we get the direct rays from the sun and the days are longer. (But we are farther away from the Sun)

In the Winter, we get indirect rays from the Sun and the days are shorter. (But we are closer to the Sun)

Why does this happen?

Reason for the Seasons

are caused by the tilt of

the Earth

One revolution around the sun

equals 365 days. This

revolution causes the changing

of the seasons.

The Four Seasons: The Effect of the Tilt

of Earth’s Rotation Axis

Winter in Northern Hemisphere = Summer in

Southern Hemisphere.

Winter Solstice 1st Day of Winter, Dec. 22.

Longest Night

Not to scale, the Sun is MUCH bigger than the Earth.

Summer in Northern Hemisphere = Winter in

Southern Hemisphere.

Summer Solstice 1st Day of Summer, June 21.

Longest Day

Spring in Northern Hemisphere = Fall in

Southern Hemisphere.

Vernal Equinox 1st day of Spring, March 21.

Equal Day and Equal Night

Fall in Northern Hemisphere = Spring in the

Southern Hemisphere.

Autumnal Equinox 1st day of fall Sept. 23

Equal Day and Equal Night

Orbit – The path an object takes

as it revolves around another

object.

Axis – Imaginary line passing through

Earth causing it to rotate. Earth

tilted 23.5 degrees on axis.

Finished – Answer all questions use your Notes

– Go to the BLOG and read Worktext pages

115-121

– Reread your notes and do Close reading

(S6E2.a.) Earth, Moon, and Sun