rotation
The spinning of the Earth on it's axis. This causes day and night. It takes 24 hours or 1 day.
direction of Earth's rotation
Counterclockwise
revolution
The movement of the Earth in it's orbit around the sun. It takes 365 � days or 1 year.
direction of Earth's revolution
Counterclockwise
Tilt of the Earth
23.5 degrees
Cause of seasons
The tilt of the Earth's axis and the orbit of the Earth around the Sun.
Angle of Insolation
A measure of how high the Sun is in the sky.
This affects us daily as well as seasonally.
The higher the angle, the warmer it is.
3 words that make up insolation
INcoming SOLar radiATION
March 20th or 21st
The spring equinox for the northern hemisphere. The sun is directly above the equator.
Days begin to be longer and nights shorter in the northern hemisphere.
All around the world has equal day and equal night.
June 21st or 22nd
The summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. It is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
September 22nd or 23rd
The fall (autumnal) equinox in the northern hemisphere. The sun is directly above the equator. Days begin to be shorter and nights longer in the northern hemisphere. All around the world has equal day and equal night.
December 21st or 22nd
The winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. The Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn. It is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
moon phases
As the moon revolves around the Earth, the amount of the moon's lit/illuminated side becomes more or less visible from Earth.
length of moon phase
It takes about 29 days for the moon to complete one cycle of phases.
waxing
Describes phases following a new moon, as more of the Moon's lighted side becomes visible.
waning
Describes phases that occur after a full moon, as the visible lighted side of the Moon grows smaller.
crescent
Moon phase in which less than half of the Moon appears to be illuminated.
gibbous
Moon phase in which more than half (but less than full) of the Moon appears to be illuminated.
first quarter moon
The phase with half of the Moon visible as it changes from new moon to full moon.
third quarter moon
The phase with half of the Moon visible as it changes from full moon to new moon.
solar eclipse
When the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up in order and the moon blocks the light from the sun. This happens during the New Moon phase.
lunar eclipse
When the Sun, Earth and Moon line up in order and the Earth blocks the light from the Moon. This happens during the Full Moon phase.
tide
As the moon revolves around the Earth, it's gravity causes water levels to "bulge". The area of the Earth that has this "bulge" experiences a high tide.
spring tide
When the high tide is at it's highest and low tide is at it's lowers. This occurs during the full moon and new moon due to the moon and the sun's gravity pulling on the tides.
neap tide
A less than average high and low tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon. The sun is pulling in one direction and the moon is pulling in another.
full moon
The phase of the moon in which we see the entire illuminated side of the moon.
new moon
The phase of the moon where we do not see any of the illuminated side of the moon.