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Earthsmotion

Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit, completing one revolution in approximately one year due to the force of gravity. Earth also rotates on its axis, which is tilted relative to its orbital plane, completing one rotation in one day. This axial tilt and yearly orbit cause the seasons by changing which hemisphere receives more direct sunlight over the course of the year. The seasons are most extreme at the solstices in June and December when the tilt is most aligned with Earth's position in its orbit, and more mild at the equinoxes in March and September when the tilt is aligned perpendicular to Earth's position.

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122 views2 pages

Earthsmotion

Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit, completing one revolution in approximately one year due to the force of gravity. Earth also rotates on its axis, which is tilted relative to its orbital plane, completing one rotation in one day. This axial tilt and yearly orbit cause the seasons by changing which hemisphere receives more direct sunlight over the course of the year. The seasons are most extreme at the solstices in June and December when the tilt is most aligned with Earth's position in its orbit, and more mild at the equinoxes in March and September when the tilt is aligned perpendicular to Earth's position.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Earths Motion

A. The Earth and the Sun

1. The Suns diameter is more than 100 times greater than Earths diameter.
a. In the Sun, atoms combine during nuclear fusion, producing huge

amounts of energy.
b. Some of the Suns energy reaches Earth as thermal energy and light.
2. Revolution is the movement of one object around another object.
a. The path a revolving object follows is its orbit.
b. It takes approximately one year for Earth to make one revolution

around the Sun.


c. Earth moves around the Sun because of the pull of gravity between

Earth and the Sun.


3. The force of gravity between two objects depends on the size of the objects

and how far apart they are.


4. The rotation of an object is its spinning motion.
a. The line around which an object rotates is the rotation axis.
b. Looking at Earth from above the North Pole, Earth rotates in a(n)

counterclockwise direction from west to east.


c. Earths rotation makes the Sun appear to rise in the east.
5. It takes one day for Earth to complete one rotation.
6. Earths rotation axis is always rotating in the same direction.

B. Temperature and Latitude

1. The Sun shines on the part of the Earth that faces the Sun.
2. When light shines on a tilted surface, the light is more spread than it would

be on a surface that is not tilted.


a. Because of the tilt of Earths axis, Earths surface becomes more tilted

as you move away from the sun.


b. As a result of this tilt, regions of Earth near the poles receive less

energy than regions near the equator.

C. Seasons
Earths Motion
1. Earths seasons change in a yearly cycle because of the tilt of its rotation axis

and Earths orbit around the Sun.


2. The end of Earths axis that is tilted toward the Sun receives more energy

from the Sun.


a. The part of Earth tilted toward the Sun experiences seasons of spring

and summer. If the northern end of Earths axis leans toward the Sun,

it is spring or summer in the northern hemisphere.


b. The part of Earth tilted away from the Sun experiences seasons of

autumn and winter. If the southern end of Earths axis leans toward the

Sun, it is fall or winter in the southern hemisphere.


3. During a(n) solstices, Earths rotation axis is the most toward or away from

the sun.
a. Solstices occur twice each year.
b. The June solstice is the first day of summer in the northern

hemisphere.
c. On the December solstice, the north end of Earths rotation axis leans

the most away from the Sun.


4. During its revolution, Earths axis does not lean toward or away from the Sun

during a(n) equinox.


a. The September equinox marks the first day of spring in the southern

hemisphere.
b. The March equinox marks the first day of spring in the northern

hemisphere.
5. The Suns apparent path through the sky in the northern hemisphere is

lowest near the June solstice and lowest near the December solstice.

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