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Unit 3: EARTH’S MOTIONS
STUDENT NOTES PACKET
ABSTRACTThis unit covers the motions of Earth in space, the consequences of those motions, and the evidence we have to support the fact that those motions are taking place.
STUDENT NAME:____________________________________________
NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes PacketAfter Unit 3 you should be able to:
o Differentiate between rotation and revolution of the Earth
o Apply the rates of rotation and revolution to basic problems
o Provide evidence for rotation and revolution
o Understand the causes of daily and seasonal observations as viewed from Earth
o Recognize the appropriate arcs of the Sun for the different seasons
o Recall the dates for the solstices and equinoxes
o Calculate eccentricity
o Describe the shape of an orbit using eccentricity
o Understand how the orbital velocity of an object is impacted by gravity
o Understand how stars in the night sky arc around Polaris
Unit 3 vocabulary you should be able to use and understand:
o Real motiono Apparent motiono Axiso Tilto Rotationo Rate of Rotationo Polariso Foucault’s Pendulumo Coriolis Effecto Northern hemisphereo Southern hemisphereo Arco Celestial sphereo Constellationo Equatoro Revolutiono Rate of Revolutiono Ellipseo Orbit
o Seasonal constellationso Tropic of Cancero Tropic of Capricorno Summer Solsticeo Winter Solsticeo Autumnal Equinoxo Vernal Equinoxo Insolationo Zenitho Heliocentric modelo Eccentricityo Focio Major Axiso Gravityo Velocityo Orbital velocityo Period of Rotationo Period of Revolution
This is the point in the course where we begin to narrow our focus to our home, Earth. This unit covers how Earth moves in our Solar System and what implications that has for observed phenomena here on Earth.
The Tilt of Earth
Earth’s ________________ is an imaginary line running through the _____________________________________________________________________
The axis is tilted toward or away from the Sun ____________________________________ depending on the season
This tilt is held in place by the gravitational attraction between the Earth and Moon
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NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes PacketThe North Pole and Polaris
The North Pole points directly at the distant star ___________________________________
For this reason we call Polaris the _______________________________________________
Polaris is the only star that appears to remain stationary in the sky
Locating Polaris in the Sky
Polaris is part of the constellation the ___________________________________________ or ____________________________________________
The two stars at the leading edge of the _____________________________________________ (Ursa Major) are pointer stars and they line up pointing towards Polaris
Earth’s Two Motions
__________________________________________ of the Earth on its axis
__________________________________________ of the Earth around the Sun
Rotation of Earth
Rotation is also called _____________________
The Earth completes one rotation every 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds (____________________________)
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NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes Packet
Since one complete spin is 360O, the rate of rotation is ____________________________________
Rotational Direction
The Earth rotates from _____________________________________________________________________________
This is a ______________________________________________________________ looking down at the
_______________________________________ or to the right when looking at an equatorial view of the Earth
The __________________________________________________ directly at the distant star,_____________________
Evidence Supporting Rotation
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Changing Path of Foucault’s Pendulum
A freely swinging pendulum should not change path unless a force is acting on it
Foucault demonstrated that a freely swinging pendulum
_____________________
___________________________________________________________________
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The Coriolis Effect
The _____________________________________________________ is the deflection of objects and fluids from a straight-line path in a rotating system
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NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes Packet
The deflection is to the _________________________ in the _________________________________
__________________________________________ and to the _______________________ in the
__________________________________________________________________________________
Since the Earth is rotating, objects in motion on the surface of the Earth
become deflected
Daily / Nightly Changes Caused by Rotation
We observe many changes in the sky over a daily time period caused by the rotation of Earth, including:
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Directional Movement
The counterclockwise rotation of Earth causes
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Additionally, the stars arc around Polaris counterclockwise
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NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes PacketThe Other Real Motion: Revolution
__________________________________________________________________ in a slightly
____________________________________________________________ once a year
_____________________________________________________________
It takes Earth __________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
The rate is approximately ________________________________________
360o / 365.25 days = 1o per day
What is the best evidence that indicates that revolution actually takes place?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Change in Seasonal Constellations
Because of the Earth’s change in position around the Sun,
______________________________________________________________________________
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The constellations that are ____________________ are on the _________________________________________________ (pointing away
from the Sun)
Observable Changes Caused by Revolution
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NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes Packet
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Seasonal Arcs of the Sun: Summer
The direct rays of the Sun strike different parts of the Earth depending on the date
_____________________________________________________________________________
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On this date, the Sun rises North of East and sets North of West, giving us the longest day and longest arc in the sky
Seasonal Arcs of the Sun: Spring and Autumn
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On this date, the Sun rises due East and sets due West, giving us an equal day and night arc length
Seasonal Arcs of the Sun: Winter
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On this date, the Sun rises South of East and sets South of West, giving us a very short arc and the shortest day of the year
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NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes Packet
Consequences of Tilt and Revolution of the Earth
The combination of these elements results in the ______________________________________________________________. Contrary to popular belief, we are not closer to the Sun in the Summer, actually we are closer in the Winter.
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Important Dates
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Describing Orbits
The shape of an orbit can be described using the equation for eccentricity.
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Gravitational attraction causes the planets to travel in nearly circular paths
The _______________________ is considered one of the ________________________ in an elliptical path of a planet
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NYS Regents Earth Science Mr. BurgessUnit 3: Earth’s Motions Notes PacketEccentricity
If ___________________________________________ is equal to ______, then the path is a _________________________
The path becomes ____________________________________ moving away from zero and _______________________________________
How is eccentricity calculated?
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Orbital Velocities
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