Set 4 Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the phenomenon when planets APPEAR to go backwards?
Retrograde motion
This occurs as the Earth passes the planets in space.
When does a lunar eclipse occur?
During a Full Moon
The moon is in Earth’s shadow.
What evidence suggests that the Earth rotates?
Foucault’s Pendulum
It appears to change its direction of swing.
What is the Coriolis Effect?
Deflection of moving objects
It deflects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.
What is the date and duration of daylight during the summer solstice?
June 21; 16 hours daylight
The sun rises north of east and has a vertical ray on 23.5° N, Tropic of Cancer.
In what direction do all celestial objects APPEAR to move?
To the west
Why does the moon have phases?
Due to the angle of view from Earth
Half of the moon is always lit.
When does a solar eclipse occur?
During a New Moon
The sun is blocked by the moon.
What determines the seasons on Earth?
The tilt of the Earth’s axis
When is the winter solstice, and how many hours of daylight does it have?
December 21; 8 hours daylight
The sun rises south of east and has a vertical ray on 23.5° S, Tropic of Capricorn.
What are the dates and daylight duration for equinoxes?
Vernal - March 21, Autumnal - September 23; 12 hours daylight
How many hours of daylight does the equator always have?
12 hours
What is the Earth’s rate of revolution?
1° per day
In which direction does the Earth revolve?
Counterclockwise
What is the Earth’s rate of rotation?
15° per hour
In which direction does the Earth rotate?
West to east
What does the Law of Superposition state?
In undisturbed strata, the bottom layer is oldest
What does the Law of Cross-Cutting state?
Intrusions and faults are younger than the rock they are in
What is an unconformity?
A buried erosional surface
When is the Earth closest to the sun?
In winter
What does the term geocentric refer to?
Earth-centered universe
What does the term heliocentric refer to?
Sun-centered universe
What is the relationship between a planet’s distance from the sun and its orbital speed?
The closer a planet is to the sun, the faster it orbits
When is the hottest part of the day?
After 12 noon
