Slide 1 / 104 Slide 2 / 104 5th Grade Earth and the Universe 2015-08-28 www.njctl.org Table of Contents Slide 3 / 104 Click on the topic to go to that section The Sun, Earth and Moon Observable Patterns
Slide 4 / 104 The Sun, Earth and Moon Return to Table of Contents The Universe Slide 5 / 104 When you hear the word "universe", what images come to mind? What is included in the universe? The Universe Slide 6 / 104 The Universe includes living things, planets, stars, and galaxies.
Galaxies Slide 7 / 104 A galaxy is a collection of stars, gas, and dust bound together by gravity. The Universe contains billions of galaxies, each containing millions or even billions of stars. Types of Galaxies Slide 8 / 104 There are three main types of galaxies. Look at the shapes of the galaxies below. How would you categorize these galaxies? Click in the boxes to see their current names. Elliptical Irregular Spiral The Milky Way Slide 9 / 104 If you travel away from the big city lights and you look up into the night sky, you will see a bright band in the sky. The ancient Greeks saw this band and called it the milky circle. The Romans changed the name to "Via Lactea", the milky road, or as we now call it the "Milky Way." The Milky Way is our galaxy.
The Milky Way Slide 10 / 104 The Milky Way is shaped like a huge whirlpool. Outside the main spiral are about 200 ball-shaped clusters of stars. We live in one of the arms of this large spiral galaxy. The Sun and its planets (including Earth) lie in this quiet part of the galaxy, about half way out from the center. Our Solar System is here. Hubble Ultra Deep Field Slide 11 / 104 How many other galaxies are out there? Turns out, more than we thought... Click here watch a video about Hubble Ultra Deep Field. 1 The universe contains which of the following? Slide 12 / 104 A Planets B Stars C Galaxies D All of the above
2 Which force holds a galaxy together? Slide 13 / 104 A Gravity B Intertia C Magnetism D None of the above 3 Who helped to name the Milky Way? Slide 14 / 104 A Ancient Romans B Ancient Greeks C Cavemen D Both A and B 4 The Milky Way is the only galaxy. Slide 15 / 104 True False
Galaxy Sorting Activity Slide 16 / 104 What skills do scientists need to organize and describe objects that they are studying? Find out in this activity! Is there anything odd about this picture? Slide 17 / 104 Does this look more familiar? Slide 18 / 104
The Sun Slide 19 / 104 Both pictures are correct! The sun is a star. Our Sun - "Sol" Slide 20 / 104 Our Sun is not unique in the universe. It is a common, medium-sized yellow star which scientists have named Sol, after the ancient Roman name. This is why our system of planets is called the Solar System. Our Sun - "Sol" Slide 21 / 104 There are many stars that are much bigger than the sun. If this is true, then why does the sun look like the biggest star in the sky? Write your thoughts below.
Is the sun the biggest star? Slide 22 / 104 This is what stars look like in the sky. Note Slide 23 / 104 Here is the Sun in the sky. Note It certainly looks bigger than all the other stars. Can we always trust what we see? Street Lights Slide 24 / 104 These streetlights are all the same size. Use the ruler and measure them. From this perspective, do they look the same size? Explain.
Think Much Bigger! 3 Slide 25 / 104 Just as the street lights seemed to change size with distance, so do stars. These stars are all the same size. Which one is farthest away? 1 2 Sun The Sun Slide 26 / 104 The sun appears so much larger and brighter than the other stars we usually see in the sky because we are so close to it. The sun is not the brightest star but it is the closest one to us. 5 The sun is Slide 27 / 104 A a small yellow star. B a medium yellow star. C a large yellow star.
6 Do same sized objects viewed from the same distance look the same size? Slide 28 / 104 Yes No 7 Do same sized objects viewed from different distances appear different sizes? Slide 29 / 104 Yes No Luminosity Lab Slide 30 / 104 In this lab, collect data to support the idea that the sun shines brighter than other stars because of its proximity with Earth.
Distance Slide 31 / 104 Distance is measured in a variety of units, depending on what is being measured. What would be an appropriate unit of measure for the examples below? (Think metric!) Distance from your fingers to your shoulder centimeters Distance from you to the front of the classroom Distance between your house and the grocery store meters kilometers Distance Slide 32 / 104 What would happen if you measured the distance between your house and the grocery store in centimeters? Distance Slide 33 / 104 The same idea holds true if we try to measure distance between objects in the universe using units of measure used here on Earth. The universe is a much larger entity so we must use a different unit of measure. This is a picture of the Milky Way as viewed from the mountains in West Virginia.
Light-years Slide 34 / 104 We measure distances to the moon, planets and stars in light-years. A light-year is the distance that light can travel in 1 year. How far is that? In one year, light travels about 10 trillion km, or close to 6 trillion miles! The next nearest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri, about 4.2 light-years away. (Notice it looks larger and brighter than the stars around it. Why is that?) 8 A light-year is a unit of time. Slide 35 / 104 True False 9 This is a picture of the crab supernova. If the distance between the Earth and the crab supernova is 40,000 trillion km, how many light-years is this? (Remember: light can travel 10 trillion km in one year.) A 400,000 Slide 36 / 104 B 40,000 C 4,000 D 400
Light Years Activity Slide 37 / 104 Use your math skills to complete some light-years calculations in this activity. Earth's Rotation Slide 38 / 104 The Earth rotates on its axis. The axis is an imaginary line from the North Pole to the South Pole. How many days does it take for Earth to complete a rotation? 1 Day Earth's Revolution Slide 39 / 104 The path of the Earth around the Sun is called the orbit. The Earth revolves around the sun. Sun How many days does it take for the Earth to revolve around the sun? 365.25 days
Earth's Tilt Slide 40 / 104 What do you notice about the Earth in the illustration below? Sun Earth is tilted on its axis as it revolves around the sun. Remember this as it contributes to an important observable pattern in the next section! The Earth and Moon Slide 41 / 104 The moon revolves around the Earth, about once per month. This picture, taken from space, shows the sun illuminating the Earth and moon. Where would the Sun be in this photo? Put this star where the Sun should be. The Earth and Moon Slide 42 / 104 The moon also rotates. This rotation is very slow. One rotation takes the same amount of time as its revolution around the Earth. Because of this, the same side of the moon is facing the Earth at all times.
10 The Earth rotates on its. Slide 43 / 104 A axis B axia C equator D orbit 11 A(n) is one spin around an axis. Slide 44 / 104 A orbit B rotation C revolution D degree 12 A(n) is one lap around an orbit. Slide 45 / 104 A axis B rotation C revolution D degree
13 How long does one revolution of the Earth around the sun take? Slide 46 / 104 A 1 day B 1 month C 1 season D 1 year 14 The moon always looks the same because it does not move. Slide 47 / 104 True False 15 The moon does not revolve around the Sun. (Think!) Slide 48 / 104 True False
Slide 49 / 104 Observable Patterns Return to Table of Contents Observable Patterns Slide 50 / 104 Due to the positions and movement of the Earth and Moon around the Sun, we can see patterns on a regular basis. The moon is missing from this animation. How many times will the moon orbit the Earth during one of Earth's revolutions? Pattern 1 - Day and Night Slide 51 / 104 Earlier, you put the sun on this photo. What are the people on Earth experiencing when they are at position A? B? Sun A B
Pattern 1 - Day and Night Slide 52 / 104 As the Earth rotates, only the side facing the Sun is in daylight. Day Night Notice how the lights turn on as countries enter the night side of the Earth. 16 What causes the pattern of day and night? Slide 53 / 104 A The Earth's rotation around the sun. B The Earth's rotation around its axis. C The Earth's revolution around the sun. D The Earth's revolution around its axis. 17 The Sun does not shine when it is night time. Slide 54 / 104 True False
Pattern 2 Slide 55 / 104 The next pattern we will look at is the answer to the following riddle: I follow you around in the light, I say good bye to you in the night? Who am I? Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 56 / 104 Answer: Your shadow! Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 57 / 104 A shadow is the absence of light. When an object blocks light, it creates a shadow.
Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 58 / 104 Have you ever noticed that your shadow is longest in the early morning and in the late afternoon? Did you get shorter? Did you grow? No? Then what happened? Think about these questions as you complete the following exercises. Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 59 / 104 Add the shadows or suns to the pictures in the place where they belong. Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 60 / 104 Your experiences may have made that a simple task. Did you know there is a pattern of shadows everyday? As you complete the next exercise, pay attention to the pattern of shadows.
Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 61 / 104 Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 6 am. 12 pm 9 am 3 pm 6 pm 6 am Choose from these shadows. Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 62 / 104 Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 9 am. 9 am 12 pm 3 pm 6 pm 6 am Choose from these shadows. Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 63 / 104 Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 12 pm. 9 am 12 pm 3 pm 6 pm 6 am Choose from these shadows.
Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 64 / 104 Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 3 pm. 9 am 12 pm 3 pm 6 pm 6 am Choose from these shadows. Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 65 / 104 Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 6 pm. 9 am 12 pm 3 pm 6 pm 6 am Choose from these shadows. Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 66 / 104 In small groups, think about the shadows in the previous exercises. What features of the shadows changed during the day? length direction How did the shadow at 9 am compare to the shadow at 3 pm? Same length but opposite direction. At what time(s) were shadows the longest? The shortest? Longest at 6 am and 6 pm and shortest at noon.
Pattern 2 - Shadows Slide 67 / 104 Based on your observations about shadows, write a statement that describes the pattern of shadows. In relation to the position of the sun, how do shadows form? Click here to watch a shadow dance by the Pilobolus Dance Company. Think about how the dance was choreographed in order to make each shadow. 18 Shadows form when an object blocks light. Slide 68 / 104 True False 19 During the day, shadows change in response to what? A The sun's brightness Slide 69 / 104 B The earth's revolution C The sun's angle D The earth's tilt
20 The position of a shadow always follows a line beyond the line drawn from the Sun to the object. Slide 70 / 104 True False 21 Suppose that the sun rises at 6 am and sets at 6 pm. At what time would a shadow be the longest? A 8 am Slide 71 / 104 B noon C 3 pm D 6 pm 22 If you are standing at the same location, how would your shadow differ from 7 am to 5 pm? Slide 72 / 104 A It would be the same length but facing the opposite direction. B It would be shorter and facing the opposite direction. C It would be longer and facing the opposite direction. D It would be shorter and facing the same direction.
Shadow Tracking Lab Slide 73 / 104 Use your analytical skills to quantify how your shadow changes throughout the day. Pattern 3 - Seasons Slide 74 / 104 Earth is tilted on its axis at 23.5 degrees. Because of this tilt, a country will experience direct sunlight (hot!) for part of the year. For the rest of the year, that same country will experience indirect sunlight (cold!). The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. It is experiencing winter. The Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. It is experiencing summer. Pattern 3 - Seasons Slide 75 / 104 The tilt of the Earth as it revolves around the sun causes the seasons. Look at the positions of the Earth and the sun below. For each image of the Earth, determine what season it is for the United States. Click in the box below each Earth to check your answers.
23 What causes the seasons? Slide 76 / 104 A The tilt of the Earth as it revolves around the sun. B The tilt of the sun as the Earth revolves around it. C The tilt of the Earth as it rotates around its axis. D The tilt of the moon as it revolves around the Earth. 24 In winter, the North Pole is tilted the sun. Slide 77 / 104 A away from B towards Pattern 4 - Moon Phases Slide 78 / 104 The moon seems to change its appearance. This is a very reliable pattern called the moon phases. As the moon revolves around the Earth, the side of the moon visible to us is not always fully lit by the Sun. Watch the time stamp - how many days does a full cycle take? 28 days.
Pattern 4 - Moon Phases Slide 79 / 104 Notice the moons on the orbit. They are always 1/2 lit by the sun. On Earth, we can only see the portion of the moon that is lit by the sun. Pattern 4 - Moon Phases Slide 80 / 104 Position 1 is a "New Moon." This is when the moon is between Earth and the sun. The moon looks dark to us. From positions 1-5, we see more of the moon. The moon is growing or "waxing." Position 5 is a "Full Moon." We see the entire 1/2 that is lit by the sun. From positions 5-8 we see less of the moon. The moon is getting smaller or "waning." Pattern 4 - Moon Phases Slide 81 / 104 Click here to watch a video about the moon's phases. Source: Nasa.gov Remember: The moon is always 1/2 lit by the sun. It looks different to us because of the angle between where the moon is in its orbit and where we are on Earth.
25 The Moon changes size during a month. Slide 82 / 104 True False 26 The Moon phase that is the brightest is. Slide 83 / 104 A New Moon B Full Moon C Quarter Moon D Crescent Moon 27 When the moon appears to be getting bigger, it is Slide 84 / 104 A waxing. B waning.
Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 85 / 104 The ancient Greeks looked at the sky and imagined pictures in the star formations. We call these constellations. Hide-and-Seek Star Activity Why do we only see the stars at night? Conduct this activity and discuss as a class. Then, click below to reveal the answer. Slide 86 / 104 The reason we cannot see the stars during the day is because of the sun. The sun is the closest star to us and it is our source of light. It is just like the thousands of stars that we see in the night sky, except that the sun is much closer to us than any of the other stars. When the sun is shining during the day, the light it gives off is so bright, that it outshines all other stars. Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 87 / 104 Constellations were useful for ancient communities because most constellations are only visible in the night sky during certain months of the year. Ancient people were able to use the constellations as a calendar. For example, Orion becomes visible right before the start of winter. Spring Summer Fall Winter Source: www.kidscosmos.org
Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 88 / 104 Ancient communities did not have modern technology, such as GPS. Constellations were used for navigation. For example, by looking at the angle of Polaris (North Star) in the sky, you can determine your latitude. Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 89 / 104 A constellation is a group of stars. Each point in a constellation is composed of an individual star. This is the constellation Orion, the hunter. Notice the three stars (Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka) that compose Orion's belt. Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 90 / 104 Here is Orion again with fewer lines drawn in. Can you still see it?
Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 91 / 104 How about now? Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 92 / 104 Knowing one constellation can often help you to find other constellations or stars. Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (big and little bears). The Big Dipper can be used to find the North Star, or Polaris. Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 93 / 104 If you sat and watched the stars all night, you would notice that they appear to move across the sky. This is similar to how the sun moves across the sky during the day. Think back to why it appears that the sun moves across the sky. Why do you think it also appears that the stars are moving? Click in the box to check your answer. The stars' positions appear to change as the Earth rotates on its axis. Click here to watch a time lapse of the changing night sky.
Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 94 / 104 Let's think about why most constellations are only visible during some months. Pretend you are a mouse. You decide to take a walk around a track. Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 95 / 104 x You are at the "x." There is a bear in the middle of the track that you can always see. There are various landmarks around the track (flowers, smiley faces etc.) that you see when you are near them, but not all the time. Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 96 / 104 Take this idea and apply it to Earth: We are tiny specks on this Earth model. As we go around our orbit, we are always able to see the sun (during the day). We do not always see the same stars, however. Just like the mouse on the track. Sun Earth
Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 97 / 104 Relative to the Earth, the stars are fixed. They do not move. What we see changes over the course of a year in a regular, predictable way as the Earth revolves around the sun. Sun Earth Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 98 / 104 The North Star is at the top of an imaginary dome over the whole orbit. We can always see it in the Northern Hemisphere. What about if you live in the Southern Hemisphere? Pattern 5 - Constellations Slide 99 / 104 Think about the information on the previous slides. What three things determine what constellations you are able to see in the night sky? Click in the boxes to check your answers. Earth's rotation Earth's revolution Location on Earth Can you see the Big Dipper?
28 The positions of stars change every year. Slide 100 / 104 True False 29 Stars in the sky appear to change during the night because of. Slide 101 / 104 A Earth's revolution B varying brightness of the stars C Earth's rotation D your location on Earth 30 The constellations visible in the sky change from month to month because of. Slide 102 / 104 A Earth's revolution B the birth of new stars C Earth's rotation D your location on Earth
31 What factors contribute to what stars are visible to you at a specific time? (Choose all that apply.) Slide 103 / 104 A The moon's rotation B Your location on Earth C Earth's revolution D Earth's rotation Big Dipper Clock Activity Slide 104 / 104 During the day, people are able to use the sun's progression in the sky to tell time. This sundial is an example of this. How can people tell the time during the night when the sun is not casting shadows? Find out in this activity!