Chapter 3 Study Guide1. What are the terrestrial planets? Describe the

characteristics of these planets.

2. What are the giant planets? Describe the characteristics of these planets.

3. Describe the shape of the earth.

4. Locate the highest and lowest point on the earth.

5. List and describe the three movements of the earth?

Chapter 3 Study Guide6. Define the plane of the ecliptic.7. On a diagram identify the equator, earth's axis, and the

plane of the ecliptic.8. Describe parallelism.9. Explain why we have seasons and why the seasons are

opposite in the northern and southern hemisphere. How does insolation affect the seasons. (use diagrams!)

10. Describe angular and linear velocity.11. Describe the summer solstice, the winter solstice and the

equinox.12.What latitude is the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of

Capricorn?

Dimensions and distancesSpeed of light

299,792 kmps (186,282 mps)

Light year is the distance light travels in one year. 6 trillion miles in 1 year.

Universe is 12 billion light-years across

Milky Way Galaxy 100,000 ly across

Our Solar System 11 light-hours across

Moon is 1.28 light-seconds away

Milky Way Galaxy/Galactic Movement

Energy for life on Earth comes from the sun.

Energy for life on Earth comes from the sun.

Our Solar System

A solar system is defined as all heavenly bodies associated with a particular star due to that star’s mass and gravitational attraction

Movement overall is counter-clockwise movement. Elliptical paths.

Movement overall is counter-clockwise movement. Elliptical paths.

All planets spin or rotate on their axis.

All planets spin or rotate on their axis.

Fig. 3.2

Members of Our Solar System

• 1. Terrestrial Planets? Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars---Relatively small warmed by proximity to sun. Composed of rock and metal. Solid surfaces with geologic forces such as mountains, crater volcanoes.

• 2. Giant Planets? Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune--- Much larger, composed of ices, liquids, gases. Solid cores at center, Huge balls of gas and liquid. What is Pluto???---None more like a moon.

Earth Facts

Fig. 3.11

Earth is flat at poles and bulges at the equator. Where is this?

Pole

Pole

Equator

Oblate spheroid

Linear velocity –Greatest at the Equator. DegreesPlus area covered.

Angular velocity360 degrees

Highest pointMount Everest29,028 ft above sea level

Lowest point   Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench 36,198 feet below sea level. Pacific Ocean near Guam.

NorthernHemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

Earth’s 3 types of Movement

F

1. Rotation2. Revolution3. Galactic Movement

More Earth Facts Revolution

Earth revolves around the Sun

Voyage takes 365 and ¼ days. Leap year.

Earth’s speed is 107,280 kmph (66,660 mph)

RotationEarth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours

Rotational velocity at equator is 1674 kmph (1041 mph)

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Solar Energy: From Sun to Earth  

The Seasons 

The Electromagnetic SpectrumSun radiates shortwave energy

Shorter wavelengths have higher energy

Earth radiates longwave energy

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Figure 3.10

Earth’s Energy Budget

Aphelion and Perihelion

Similar Fig. 3.14 Not why we have seasons!

Not why we have seasons!

SeasonalitySeasonal changes Sun’s altitude – angle above horizon Day length Important days/ Reversal of Seasons in different

hemispheres. Summer Solstice/Winter Solstice

June 21 Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice December 21 Northern Hemisphere Winter solstice Southern Hemisphere?

Equinoxes=Equal March 21 Spring Equinox Northern Hemisphere September 22 Fall Equinox in Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere?

Southern Hemisphere

June 21 Winter Solstice

December 21 Summer solstice

Southern Hemisphere

June 21 Winter Solstice

December 21 Summer solstice

Southern Hemisphere: March 21 Fall Equinox

September 22 Spring Equinox

Southern Hemisphere: March 21 Fall Equinox

September 22 Spring Equinox

Reasons for Seasons Tilt of Earth’s axis

Axis is tilted 23.5° from the perpendicular to the plane of ecliptic

Axial parallelismAxis maintains alignment during orbit around the Sun

North pole points toward the North Star (Polaris)

Amount of daylight hoursAmount of insolation received at particular

location.

Axial Tilt and Parallelism

Similar Figure 3.15

Annual March of the Seasons

Similar Fig. 3.16

Earth-Sun Relations

Insolation receivedJune 21

Fig. 3.19a

Insolation

Which is direct and oblique?Direct- same energy just concentrated in smaller area.Oblique-spread over larger area

DirectDirect ObliqueOblique

Zones of Climate

Fig. 3.20