EES Page 1 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 1 Earth s Position and Movement through Space What is Earth s position within the hierarchy of the universe? Draw the concept you described above. Include the Earth and Sun (as part of the solar system), the Milky Way and one other galaxy in your picture. Label each part. How is Earth s motion related to the origin of the galaxy and its solar system? 1. What theory describes how the UNIVERSE began? What does this theory say? Based on this theory, do scientists believe that our universe is contracting or expanding? This is why galaxies appear to moving from each other. 2. What do astronomers think the MILKY WAY GALAXY began as? _ a. Based on this theory, what caused our solar system to orbit the center of the Milky Way? b. Draw a 2 picture series: the spherical cloud (A) turning into the nuclear bulge and surrounding disk (B). Indicate the direction of rotation and the location of our solar system. 3. What do astronomers think our SOLAR SYSTEM began as? _ a. Based on this theory, what caused the Earth to orbit the Sun? b. Draw a 3 picture series: the interstellar cloud or nebula (A) turning into the protosun with surrounding gas (B) turning into our solar system (C). Indicate the direction of rotation.
EES Page 2 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 2 Kepler s Laws and Earth s Orbit How do Kepler s laws describe planetary orbits (especially Earth s)? 1. What is KEPLER S FIRST LAW? (The Law of Orbits)? a. What is an ellipse? Draw an ellipse and label it. b. What is the orbital period of a planet? c. What word do we common folks use for orbital period? 2. What is KEPLER S SECOND LAW? (The Law of Areas)? Draw Kepler s second law and label it. Use alternating colors. a. Why is the area represented by points 1, 2, and the Sun equal to the area represented by points 6, 7, and the Sun? b. At what point in its orbit is a planet moving the fastest?
EES Page 3 of 20 3. What is KEPLER S THIRD LAW? (The Law of Periods)? a. What is the equation for Kepler s third law? (Define the variables.) Draw a picture to explain Kepler s third law. b. According to Kepler s third law, if you knew the distance of a planet to the sun, you would be able to figure out its:. c. Look at Appendix J on p. 921. What two rows would you have to look at to work out the equation for Kepler s third law? Practice!! Use the diagram and information below to answer the following questions According to Kepler s first law, all planets revolve around the Sun in the shape of an ellipse. Mathematically speaking, a circle has an eccentricity of 0 (That is, NO distance between the foci), an ellipse has an eccentricity between 0 and 1 (depending on the distance between the foci), and if the eccentricity is above 1, a parabola is formed (which wouldn t be an orbit at all!). 1. Which three planets orbits are most eccentric? Why would these 3 planets NOT be able to support life? 2. Which 3 planets have an eccentricity closest to zero? Which 2 of these planets would NOT be able to support life? Why? 3. Which planet has the location and orbit shape most like Earth s? What two properties of Earth s orbit allow for life here?
EES Page 4 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Mini Lesson 2 Earth s Orbit and Barycenter What is barycenter? 1. What is the law of universal gravitation? How does this law explain why the Sun wobbles back and forth and is NOT stationary as the planets orbit it? 2. What does a planet (such as Earth) actually orbit? 3. What does the Sun orbit? 4. Draw a picture that shows the concept of the barycenter of the Sun and Earth. Label the barycenter and color the Sun yellow and Earth blue. (Use p. 777 Fig 29-5, bottom diagram. Substitute the Sun for the green weight and the Earth for the blue weight.) 5. Model the concept of barycenter by connecting two Earth-balls with a skewer. Find the center of mass by balancing the model on ONE finger. Q Where is the center of mass between the two Earth-balls? Draw your model and point to the barycenter. Remove one of the Earth balls and replace it with the Sun-ball. Find the center of mass using the same method above. Q Where is the center of mass between the Earth-ball and Sun-ball? Draw your model and point to the barycenter.
EES Page 5 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 3 Earth s Rotation: Day/Night and its Slightly-Squashed Shape What motion determines the day and night cycle? 1. What is Earth s axis? _ 2. What causes the day and night cycle? _ How long is the day/night cycle? 3. What is actually happening when the Sun rises at a particular location on Earth? _ 4. What is actually happening when the Sun sets at a particular location on Earth? _ 5. Draw the concept of what causes day and night. Include yourself in the picture. Earth s Shape What causes Earth s circumference to be slightly larger around the equator than it is around the poles? 1. What motion causes Earth to take the shape of an oblate spheroid instead of that of a true sphere? _ 2. What force causes Earth s mass to move outward from its center at the equator as Earth rotates on its axis? _ 3. Where is the a. slight bulging of Earth s circumference? the equator or the poles b. slight squishing of Earth s circumference? the equator or the poles 4. Which circumference is bigger? the equator or the poles By how much? 5. Draw this concept. Label the equator, poles and the distance around each using information from the powerpoint.
EES Page 6 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 4 The Seasons What causes the seasons? 1. What is the ecliptic? 2. What is the tilt of Earth s axis relative to the ecliptic? degrees 3. Draw the concept of seasons. Label the Earth at the 4 seasonal positions with the correct seasons for the southern and northern hemispheres. 4. What causes a. summer in the northern and southern hemispheres? b. winter in the northern and southern hemispheres? 5. Why are the seasons opposite in the northern & southern hemispheres? 6. At which month in the N. Hemisphere is Earth closest to the sun? a. What season is this? b. What is this position in Earth s orbit called? 7. At which month in the N. Hemisphere is Earth farthest from the sun? a. What season is this? b. What is this position in Earth s orbit called?
EES Page 7 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 4 Visual March of the Penguins Name: Date: Period: The Poles and Seasons 1. On which continent do emperor penguins live? 2. Is this in the North Pole or South Pole? (Circle one.) 3. Why are the seasons in Antarctica the opposite of ours? The Penguin s Life Cycle and Seasons 1. During which season do the penguins mate? Which months of the year is this? 2. During which season does the male incubate (keep it warm) the egg? Which months of the year is this? a. Where does the male keep the egg while it is incubating? b. Where do the male penguins live during the egg s incubation? c. What behavioral adaptation keeps the males from freezing during the winter? 3. What does the female do after she lays her egg? During which Antarctic season does she do this? 4. During which season does the egg hatch? a. From what part of the father does the VERY FIRST meal for the chick come? b. Why do some chicks die? Name two reasons. 5. During which season does the female come back to take care of the chick? Which months of the year is this? a. How do the male and female mates recognize each other? b. What do some mothers do if their chick dies? 6. What do the penguins do during the summer? Which months of the year is the Antarctic summer? Threats to Survival 1. Name one natural and one human-caused threat to the emperor penguins survival. 2. What is the last thing we are told about the cameramen who film emperor penguins?
EES Page 8 of 20 On the diagram below, label the seasons in the South Pole and write what the male and female emperor penguins are doing during each season. Label perihelion and aphelion. The Earth and the Sun are NOT to scale. See Lesson 4 for help.
EES Page 9 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 5 Changes in the Seasons (Precession and Nutation) What is precession? p. 373, 783 1. How long does it take Earth s rotational axis to go through one cycle of precession? 2. What force causes precession? 3. What is the name of our current north star? What will be our north star in 12,000 years? 4. Draw the concept of precession and label it. 5. When Earth s axis tilts toward Vega, during what months of year will Earth experience a. winter in the Northern Hemisphere? How will that change our winter? b. summer in the Northern Hemisphere? How will that change our summer?
EES Page 10 of 20 What is nutation? 1. Review! What is the present tilt of Earth s axis? degrees 2. Between what degrees can the tilt vary? to. 3. What would happen to the temperature difference between summer and winter if a. the tilt decreased to 22.1? b. the tilt increased to 24.5? 4. Draw the concept of nutation and label it. Modeling Precession and Nutation 1. Model the concept of precession using the Sun and Earth balls on the Seasons Styrofoam Model. Begin at Position A and review the normal progression of seasons. Then change the direction of Earth s axis (precession) and go through the seasons again. a. What about the seasons changes? b. Assuming a half cycle of precession occurs, during what months would i. summer in the Northern Hemisphere occur? ii. winter in the Northern Hemisphere occur? c. Explain why summer and winter will occur at opposite times of the year in the northern hemisphere. d. What affect will Earth s axis-wobble (precession) have on seasons in the Northern Hemisphere? 2. Model the concept of nutation this time moving Earth to stations A and C only. At each of these stations, change the tilt of the Earth ball, NOT the direction of Earth s axis! a. What about the seasons changes? b. What is the difference in our summer (at A) when the Earth s angle of axis is i. more than its present angle ii. less than its present angle c. What is the difference in our winter (at C) when the Earth s angle of axis is i. more than its present angle ii. less than its present angle
EES Page 11 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Reinforcement Lesson 5 Changes in the Seasons (Precession and Nutation) PRECESSION 1. What is Earth s axis? 2. What shape does Earth s axis trace as it wobbles? How many years does it take for Earth s axis to trace this shape? 3. What is precession? Is precession a change in direction or a change in tilt of Earth s axis? 4. What is the definition of a North Star? 5. What are the four stars that have been or will be the North Star? 6. Why does the Earth s North Star change? 7. What is the wobbling of Earth on its axis (precession) similar to? 8. What causes precession? 9. Name the North Star and the constellation it is in a. Present day b. 5000 years ago c. 5000 years from now d. 12,000 years from now NUTATION 1. What is nutation? Is nutation a change in direction or a change in tilt of Earth s axis? 2. What does the word mean in Latin? 3. Nod your head. When you nod, what about your head s position changes? 4. What causes nutation?
EES Page 12 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 6 Tides What causes the tides? 1. What are tides? 2. What motion causes the tides to change every 6 hours? 3. What forces cause the tides? (Write small!) 4. Why do the times of the high and low tides at a particular location change each day? 5. Draw the tides from the perspective of hovering over the N. Pole. Label all parts. Also draw a spring tide and a neap (even) tide.
EES Page 13 of 20 Lesson 6 Visual: Blue Planet: Tidal Seas Amazing Tides! 1. The Sun and Moon pull together on the waters entering the Amazon to create a spectacular tidal phenomenon known as a tidal. 2. Where is the largest tidal range in the world? Bay of Low Tide and the Sand Critters 1. At which tide are the tiny crabs making sand balls? low / high Circle one. 2. Before which tide are the clams digging into the sand? low / high Circle one. 3. Why does the osprey hunt for flounder during low tide? Rocky Coasts and Tides 1. What happens to the animals and vegetation on rocky coasts during low tide? 2. The special tide that is caused by the sun and moon pulling together is called a tide. Draw this in the margin! 3. Which animal takes advantage of the extremely low spring tide on the coast of Vancouver? Equatorial Tides 1. Why are the tides at the equator weaker? 2. During which tide do the large predators hunt among the sea grass? low / high 3. Why is a hurricane s storm surge especially destructive during high tide? 4. Which tide floods the coast leaving behind salty tidal pools that create the perfect environment for the flamingo? low / high Circle one. 5. During which tide do the Christmas Island crabs lay their eggs? low / high Dolphins 1. Where do the dolphins hunt? 2. During which tide do dolphins hunt? low / high Circle one. 3. What is the last animal shown? Tides: A Summary! 1. What force and motions cause the cycle of high and low tides in Earth s oceans? 2. On which side of Earth, relative to the moon, are a. high tides? Facing towards & away / NOT directly facing towards & away b. low tides? Facing towards & away / NOT directly facing towards & away
EES Page 14 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 7 Energy Reactions How does the process of fusion power the Sun and how does this process differ from fission or combustion? 1. What is fusion? Draw it below. a. Where does fusion occur? b. During the process of fusion i. What are the two atoms that combine to form helium? ii. What happens to the mass that is lost when two hydrogen atoms combine to form helium during fusion? iii. What theory explains this conversion of mass into energy? What equation describes this theory? (And who came up with it?!) 2. What is fission? Draw it below. a. How does the process of fission differ from fusion? b. Where (or when) does fission occur on Earth? c. Why are the processes of fusion and fission called nuclear reactions? 3. What is combustion? Draw it below. a. How does the process of combustion differ from fusion and fission? b. What are 3 examples of how combustion is used for energy? c. In a powerplant that uses combustion, what fuels are most commonly used? Fusion Fission Combustion
EES Page 15 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Reinforcement Lesson 7 Fusion vs. Fission vs. Combustion: A Concept Map Is produced by which include for example which is the process by which which is the process in which smaller atoms bigger atoms to become which releases energy to which releases energy to but does NOT release but also releases Lightly shade each of the Fusion boxes in sunshine yellow, the Fission boxes in radioactive purple, and the Combustion boxes in coal black (gray)! Inside each of the second to last set of boxes ( which releases energy to ), draw a picture to represent how or where each form of energy is used.
EES Page 16 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 8 The Sun s Energy, Ozone, and Earth s Magnetic Field What forms of Energy are produced by the Sun and how are some filtered by the atmosphere or deflected away from Earth? 1. What does electromagnetic radiation consist of and how does it travel through space? _ 2. What is the electromagnetic spectrum? _ 3. What types of electromagnetic energy are produced by the Sun? 4. Which type of energy is most harmful to living things? short OR long wavelengths 5. What gas in the atmosphere blocks the Sun s ultraviolet radiation? a. In which layer of the atmosphere is it found? b. What human-created compound can destroy ozone? c. In what three types of products are chlorofluorocarbons found? (p. 726) How does the Earth s magnetic field protect the planet from the harmful effects of radiation? http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/earth/magnetic.html 1. What is the solar wind and how does it affect each planet? 2. How does Earth s magnetic field protect Earth from the solar wind? 3. On the picture below, draw the diagram from the power point that shows how Earth s magnetic field protects against the solar wind. Label: Sun, solar wind, bow shock, and magnetosphere. 4. What causes the auroras?
EES Page 17 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lesson 9 Energy for Earth By what three processes does the Sun s energy warm the Earth and Earth s atmosphere? 1. What is radiation? _ a. By what process does the Sun s energy reach Earth? b. What percent of incoming solar radiation (Remember, solar refers to the Sun!) is actually absorbed by the Earth? c. (Part of the solar radiation that gets absorbed by the atmosphere is harmful ultraviolet radiation.) What gas in the atmosphere absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation? d. Which heats up and cools down more slowly water or land? i. This is called. ii. Differential heating causes climates in coastal areas to be more moderate / more extreme because iii. in the winter, the ocean acts as a giant and in the summer it acts as a giant. 2. What is conduction? _ a. Once the surface of the Earth is heated by radiation, the molecules of air just above Earth s surface are warmed by the process of. b. To model conduction, put your hand on your desk. Which way is energy moving? 3. What is convection? _ a. The air that is warmed by conduction has more energy, the molecules move more rapidly, it becomes less dense, and begins to. b. As the warm air rises, it expands, starts to cool, and then. c. This rising of warm air and sinking of cool air are known as currents. Draw and label the processes of radiation, conduction, and convection to show how energy from the Sun travels through space and heats Earth s surface and atmosphere.
EES Page 18 of 20 How is solar energy transformed into chemical energy through photosynthesis? 1. During the process of photosynthesis, into what type of energy is solar energy is transformed? This chemical energy is commonly known as. 2. Which types of organisms perform the process photosynthesis? 3. What raw materials does an autotrophic (Literally self-feeder ) organism need in order for photosynthesis to occur? 4. What is the energy source for photosynthesis? 5. In which cell parts (organelles) does photosynthesis occur in plants and algae? 6. Draw a picture of a plant and label all of the components and raw materials that contribute to its ability to photosynthesis.
EES Page 19 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lab Lesson 9 Energy for Earth! Name: Date: Period: Introduction The Sun is the source of all energy in the atmosphere. This energy is transferred to Earth and throughout the atmosphere in three ways. That is what you will explore today. A. Radiation Go outside and stand in a sunny place. Then find some shade and answer the next few questions. 1. Describe what you feel while standing in the Sun. 2. What kind of energy is given off by the Sun? Name as many types as you can. 3. What is the process by which the Sun s energy travels through space? 4. Why is it cooler in the shade? B. Conduction Find a surface that has been baking in the Sun. Feel the surface directly. Also, feel the air directly above the surface. 1. Describe what the surface feels like. 2. By what process did the surface get warmed? (Hint, see Part A!) 3. What does the air just above the surface feel like? 4. By what process did the air molecules just above the hot surface get heated? (p. 276) C. Convection Think about the heated air from a fireplace or campfire. 1. Does warm air rise or sink? 2. What is the name of the process in which energy is transferred by the flow of a heated substance? 3. What types of birds ride the thermals? (Or catch the warm air as it rises?) D. The Greenhouse Effect Place your two thermometers side by side on a warm surface. Put the plastic tub over one thermometer. Wait about 5 to 10 minutes. Record your observations in degrees F. 1. What is the temperature reading of the open-air thermometer? 2. What is the temperature reading of the thermometer under the tub? 3. Explain why the temperature was higher under the tub.
EES Page 20 of 20 Earth s Role as a Body in Space Lab Lesson 9 Energy for Earth and Earthlings! Name: Date: Period: Introduction The Sun is the source of all energy in the atmosphere. This energy is transferred to Earth and its atmosphere by 3 processes. It is also transformed for use by living things! A. Radiation. Put your hand on the back of your neck. 1. What kind of energy do you give off? 2. What is the process by which your body heat moves away from you into the air? 3. What is the process by which the Sun s energy travels through space towards Earth? B. Conduction Put your hand on your desk. (You may also feel your chair seat.) 1. Describe what the desk feels like when you first touched it. 2. After a little while, the desk will feel warmer. By what process did it warm up? 3. Which way did the heat move? 4. By what process do the air molecules just above Earth s warmed surface get heated? C. Convection Think about the heated air from a fireplace, campfire, or room heater. 1. Does warm air rise or sink? Why? 2. So, if you wanted to warm your hands, would you put them above or below a heater? 3. What is the process by which a room is heated by a fireplace? 4. What is the process by which Earth s atmosphere is heated by rising warm air? 5. What types of birds ride the thermals? (Or catch the warm air as it rises?) D. Photosynthesis 1. Where do YOU get the energy to produce heat? 2. By what process is the Sun s radiation turned into food to allow you to produce heat? 3. Photosynthesis changes solar energy into what type of energy? 4. Complete the flow chart Begin with solar energy and end with body heat. What type of energy goes in the middle rectangle? Hint See your answer to Q3 above. is changed into is changed into