4.3 - The Earth

Question 1

How can you show that the earth is spinning?

Answer 1

If you take a photograph of the sky over a long period of time you can see the stars are moving in circles which show the earth is moving.

Question 2

Which way does the sun rise?

Answer 2

East.

Question 3

Which way does the sun set?

Answer 3

West.

Question 4

Are the days longer or shorter in the summer?

Answer 4

Longer.

Question 5

Is the sun higher or lower in the summer at noon?

Answer 5

Higher.

Question 6

Why is it hotter in the summer

Answer 6

It’s hotter because of the tilt of the earth’s axis means that the suns rays are spread over a smaller area and the days are longer.

Question 7

Explain why the shadow of a fence post longer in the winter than in the summer.

Answer 7

The angle of the earths axis makes the sun look lower down which creates a long shadow as it hits the fence post whereas if it was in the summer the sun will appear higher making a shorter shadow of the fence post.