Chapter 3 Study Guide1. What are the terrestrial planets? Describe the
characteristics of these planets.2. What are the giant planets? Describe the
characteristics of these planets.3. Describe the shape of the earth. 4. Locate the highest and lowest point on the earth.5. List and describe the three movements of the
earth?
Chapter 3 Study Guide6. Define the plane of the ecliptic.7. On a diagram identify the equator, earth's axis, and the plane
of the ecliptic.8. Describe parallelism.9. Explain why we have seasons and why the seasons are
opposite in the northern and southern hemisphere. How does insolation affect the seasons. (use diagrams!)
10. Describe angular and linear velocity.11. Describe the summer solstice, the winter solstice and the
equinox.12.What latitude is the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn?
Dimensions and distancesSpeed of light
299,792 kmps (186,282 mps)Light year is the distance light travels in one year. 6 trillion miles in 1 year.Universe is 12 billion light-years acrossMilky Way Galaxy 100,000 ly acrossOur Solar System 11 light-hours acrossMoon is 1.28 light-seconds away
Milky Way Galaxy/Galactic Movement
Energy for life on Earth comes from the sun.
Our Solar System
A solar system is defined as all heavenly bodies associated with a particular star due to that star’s mass and gravitational attraction
Movement overall is counter-clockwise movement. Elliptical paths.
All planets spin or rotate on their axis.
Fig. 3.2
Members of Our Solar System• 1. Terrestrial Planets? Mercury, Venus,
Earth, Mars---Relatively small warmed by proximity to sun. Composed of rock and metal. Solid surfaces with geologic forces such as mountains, crater volcanoes.
• 2. Giant Planets? Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune--- Much larger, composed of ices, liquids, gases. Solid cores at center, Huge balls of gas and liquid. What is Pluto???---None more like a moon.
Earth Facts
Fig. 3.11
Earth is flat at poles and bulges at the equator. Where is this?
Pole
Pole
Equator
Oblate spheroid
Linear velocity –Greatest at the Equator. DegreesPlus area covered.
Angular velocity360 degrees
Highest pointMount Everest29,028 ft above sea level
Lowest point Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench 36,198 feet below sea level. Pacific Ocean near Guam.
NorthernHemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
Earth’s 3 types of Movement
F
1. Rotation2. Revolution3. Galactic Movement
More Earth Facts Revolution
Earth revolves around the SunVoyage takes 365 and ¼ days. Leap year.Earth’s speed is 107,280 kmph (66,660 mph)
RotationEarth rotates on its axis once every 24 hoursRotational velocity at equator is 1674 kmph (1041 mph)
Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons
Solar Energy: From Sun to Earth The Seasons
The Electromagnetic SpectrumSun radiates shortwave energyShorter wavelengths have higher energyEarth radiates longwave energy
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Figure 3.10
Earth’s Energy Budget
Aphelion and Perihelion
Similar Fig. 3.14Not why we have seasons!
SeasonalitySeasonal changes Sun’s altitude – angle above horizon Day length Important days/ Reversal of Seasons in different
hemispheres. Summer Solstice/Winter Solstice
June 21 Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice December 21 Northern Hemisphere Winter solstice Southern Hemisphere?
Equinoxes=Equal March 21 Spring Equinox Northern Hemisphere September 22 Fall Equinox in Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere?
Southern Hemisphere
June 21 Winter Solstice
December 21 Summer solstice
Southern Hemisphere: March 21 Fall Equinox
September 22 Spring Equinox
Reasons for Seasons Tilt of Earth’s axis
Axis is tilted 23.5° from the perpendicular to the plane of ecliptic
Axial parallelismAxis maintains alignment during orbit around the SunNorth pole points toward the North Star (Polaris)
Amount of daylight hoursAmount of insolation received at particular
location.
Axial Tilt and Parallelism
Similar Figure 3.15
Annual March of the Seasons
Similar Fig. 3.16
Earth-Sun Relations
Insolation receivedJune 21
Fig. 3.19a
Insolation
Which is direct and oblique?Direct- same energy just concentrated in smaller area.Oblique-spread over larger area
Direct Oblique
Zones of Climate
Fig. 3.20