Earth Science Vocab 4

Question 1

lithosphere

Answer 1

the outer shell of the Earth consisting of the crust and uppermost portion of the mantle

Question 2

asthenosphere

Answer 2

the partially melted layer of the mantle that underlies the lithosphere

Question 3

Rotation

Answer 3

the turning of Earth on its axis

Question 4

International Date Line

Answer 4

the imaginary line placed at 180 degrees longitude where the new calendar day begins, moving from east to west.

Question 5

Revolution

Answer 5

the movement of Earth orbiting around the sun

Question 6

Parallax

Answer 6

the apparent shift of one object’s position relative to another caused by a change in the location of the observer

Question 7

summer solstice

Answer 7

the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which occurs on about June 21st each year when the noon sun appears to reach its most northern point in the sky

Question 8

winter solstice

Answer 8

the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs on December 21st each year when the noon day sun appears to reach its most southern point in the sky

Question 9

vernal equinox

Answer 9

start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring on March 21st each year when the noon sun is directly over the equator; day and night are of equal lengths in both hemispheres

Question 10

autumnal equinox

Answer 10

start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring on September 22nd each year when the noon sun is directly over the equator; day and night are of equal lengths in both hemispheres