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The Sun-Earth-Moon System

Learning Guide

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Table of ContentsLesson 1 - How the Earth Moves .............................................................................................. 2Lesson 2 - Seasons on Earth ....................................................................................................... 4Pause & Review - Seasons on Earth ......................................................................................... 7Lesson 3 - Gravity & Motion ..................................................................................................... 8Lesson 4 - Earth’s Moon ........................................................................................................... 10Pause & Review - Earth’s Moon ............................................................................................. 12Lesson 5 - Phases, Eclipses & Tides ........................................................................................ 13Pause & Review - Phases, Eclipses & Tides........................................................................... 18Lesson 7 - Missions to the Moon ............................................................................................. 19Lab Investigation - Moon Phases, Eclipses & Tides ............................................................. 20Key Vocabulary Terms .............................................................................................................. 24Vocabulary Review ................................................................................................................... 26Assessment Review .................................................................................................................. 28Assessment ................................................................................................................................. 31Assessment Key ......................................................................................................................... 33NGSS Correlations .................................................................................................................... 34

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How the Earth MovesEarth’s RotationThe spinning of the Earth on its axis is known as rotation. As viewed from space, the Earth rotates in a counterclockwise direction called prograde rotation. Venus and Uranus spin in a clockwise direction called retrograde rotation.

Lesson 1

As the Earth rotates east, the Sun appears to move toward the west. We experience a period of daylight when the Earth is facing the Sun and a period of darkness when the Earth is facing away from the Sun.

The Earth rotates at 1,670 kilometers per hour. The amount of time it takes for the Earth to rotate once is known as its period of rotation, or what we call a day. Earth’s period of rotation is 24 hours.

Earth’s RevolutionAs the Earth spins on its axis, it also revolves around the Sun. It moves on an elliptical orbit path at a speed of 107,000 kilometers per hour. The amount of time it takes for the Earth to revolve one time around the Sun is its period of revolution, or what we call a year. Earth’s period of revolution is 365.25 days.

daylight darkness

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Seasons on EarthEarth’s Tilt Causes SeasonsAs the Earth revolves around the Sun, the planet tilts 23.5 degrees on its axis of rotation. The degree to which various points on the globe are pointing toward or away from the Sun determines the seasons. The Northern and Southern hemispheres experience opposite seasons throughout the year.

Latitude and the SunLatitude is a key factor affecting the climate in a particular location on Earth. Because the Earth is a globe, the Sun’s rays hit more directly at the equator than near the poles. This means the Sun’s energy is more concentrated near the equator and more spread out near the poles. Average temperatures become cooler moving from the equator to higher latitudes.

Lesson 2

Summer Solstice June 21

Tropic of Cancer 23.5º N

equator

NorthernHemisphere

Winter Solstice December 21

Tropic of Capricorn23.5º S

equator

SouthernHemisphere

Summer Solstice June 21

Tropic of Cancer 23.5º N

equator

NorthernHemisphere

Winter Solstice December 21

Tropic of Capricorn23.5º S

equator

SouthernHemisphere

SolsticeIn the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs on June 21 when the Sun’s rays are directly hitting the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the equator.

Six months later, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 when the most direct sunlight hits the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern hemisphere.


EquinoxMarch 20 and September 22 are the equinox dates when the Sun’s rays are directly hitting the Earth’s equator. Neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the Sun. All locations on Earth experience approximately equal hours of day and night on these days.

Seasons in Tropical RegionsThroughout the year, the tropical regions near the Earth’s equator receive fairly direct sunlight. These regions experience little variation in daylight hours and temperature. There is little or no change in seasons in the tropics.

equator

NorthernHemisphere

SouthernHemisphere

Spring EquinoxMarch 20

Fall Equinox September 22

Seasons on Earth


Seasons in Temperate RegionsRegions located in the temperate zone latitudes experience four distinct seasons during the Earth’s yearly cycle.

Summer temperatures are warm because the Earth is tilted toward the Sun and there are more daylight hours.

South pole

North pole

Sun’s

radi

atio

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Sun’s

radi

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South pole

North pole

Winter temperatures are cold because the Earth is tilted away from the Sun and there are fewer daylight hours.


Seasons in the Polar RegionsThe Sun’s rays hit the Earth’s polar regions at very slanted angles. These regions have year-round cold temperatures and do not experience four distinct seasons.

Instead, these areas have six months of daylight when the Earth’s pole is tilted toward the Sun, followed by six months of darkness when the pole is tilted away from the Sun.

Seasons on Earth


Pause and ReviewHow do the Earth’s rotation, revolution and tilt impact life on Earth?

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Gravity & MotionStrength of GravityThe law of gravity states that every object in the universe attracts every other object. The strength of gravity increases as mass increases. The strength of gravity decreases as distance increases. Both the Earth and Moon exert gravitational pulls on each other.

gravitational pull

Gravity of the Earth & MoonThe Earth has a greater gravitational pull on objects because it has a larger mass than the Moon. Earth’s gravitational pull is about six times greater than the Moon’s gravitational pull. On the Moon, you would weigh about one-sixth of your weight on Earth.

Lesson 3


Earth and Moon Have InertiaInertia is the tendency of an object to resist change once it is in motion. An object will stay in motion at a constant speed and direction, unless it is acted on by another force. The Moon and the Earth are in constant motion as they rotate on their axes, and therefore they have inertia.

Gravity, Inertia and OrbitThe combination of gravity and inertia keeps the Moon moving in orbit around the Earth. If there were no gravitational pull on the Moon, it would move in a straight line away from the Earth into space. If the Moon did not have inertia, then it would be pulled by Earth’s gravity and crash into Earth. The same forces keep the Earth in orbit around the Sun.


Earth’s MoonTheory of Moon’s OriginScientists theorize that the Moon was formed billions of years ago when a planet-sized object collided with the newly forming Earth. A large piece of Earth’s mantle and debris material was blasted into space. Over millions of years the molten material accumulated and crystallized to form the lunar crust.

Synchronous RotationThe Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite, making one complete revolution every 27.3 days. The Moon’s rotation and revolution periods are the same, which is called synchronous rotation. This means that the same side of the Moon faces the Earth at all times.

early Earth

Moonforming

Humans did not see the dark or far side of the Moon until the space flights of the 1960s and 1970s.

Lesson 4


Moon Composition and Surface The Moon is composed of a solid ball of basalt covered by rocks and dust. Since the Moon’s formation billions of years ago, the surface has been struck by asteroids, meteoroids and comets. These impacts have created dust, rocks, boulders and basins. There is no tectonic activity on the Moon, so the rock composition has remained unchanged since its formation.

Moon FactsOur Moon is the fifth largest known moon in the solar system. Its diameter is 3,474 km. The Moon’s volume is about 1/50th that of the Earth. It’s gravitational pull is about 1/6th that of the Earth.

diameter 3,474 km

volume1/50th of Earth’s volume

gravitational pull1/6th of Earth’s gravitatonal pull

size 5th largest moonin the solar system

diameter


Pause and ReviewUse the Venn diagram to compare and contrast the characteristics of the Moon and the Earth.

Earth Moon


Phases, Eclipses and TidesCause of Phases, Eclipses & TidesThe Moon is in motion as it rotates on its axis and revolves around the Earth. The changing relative positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon cause moon phases, eclipses and tides.

Lesson 5

What Are Moon Phases?The changing appearances of the Moon as it makes one complete revolution around the Earth are known as moon phases. The positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon determine the portion of the Moon that is lit by sunlight. Sometimes the entire face of the Moon is lit, and at other times only part of the Moon is lit and the rest is in shadow.


Moon PhasesA new moon occurs when the sunlit portion of the Moon is facing away from the Earth. The Moon is waxing when the sunlit portion is getting larger. A full moon is seen when the side of the Moon facing the Earth is entirely sunlit. The Moon is waning when the lit portion is getting smaller. Crescent and gibbous are shapes of the Moon that we see during a month.

What Is an Eclipse?When one celestial body comes between the Sun and another celestial body, a shadow is cast on the second celestial body. This phenomenon is called an eclipse. When the Moon’s shadow hits the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs. When the Earth’s shadow hits the Moon, a lunar eclipse occurs.

Phases, Eclipses and Tides

solar eclipse

lunar eclipse


Solar EclipseA solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, and sunlight is blocked from hitting the Earth. A total solar eclipse will only occur during a new moon. The sky turns dark and the temperature drops during the eclipse. The Sun’s outer atmosphere called the corona becomes visible.

The Moon’s Umbra & PenumbraDuring a solar eclipse, the Moon will cast the darkest part of its shadow, called it’s umbra, on a small portion of the Earth. Only these locations will experience a total solar eclipse. Other locations within the Moon’s penumbra, a wider shadow, will experience a partial solar eclipse.

Lunar Eclipse A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, and sunlight is blocked from hitting the Moon. A total lunar eclipse only occurs when the Moon is full. The entire Moon falls within the Earth’s dark shadow, or umbra. The completely darkened Moon can be seen at all locations on Earth where the Moon is visible.

umbra


Moon’s Orbit Is Tilted One might expect that lunar and solar eclipses would occur every month as the Moon orbits the Earth. This does not happen because the Moon’s orbit is actually tilted by a little more than five degrees relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. It is rare that the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow during a full moon or between the Earth and Sun during a new moon.

What Causes Ocean Tides?Changing water levels of the oceans are known as tides. Both the Sun and Moon influence tides. The gravitational pull of the Moon creates bulges in the Earth that impact the timing and height of tides. When ocean water is pulled by the Moon’s gravitational force to create high tides in one area, water leaves other areas and creates low tides.

Phases, Eclipses and Tides


Spring TidesWhen the Sun, Earth and Moon line up with each other, the gravitational pull on the oceans is at its maximum. This alignment causes unusually high tides called spring tides. These tides occur twice a month during the new moon and the full moon.

Neap TidesWhen the Sun and Moon are at 90 degrees to one another, the total gravitational pull on the oceans is at its minimum, and the high tide is called a neap tide. These tides have the least difference between consecutive high and low tides. Neap tides occur twice a month, during the first and third quarter moon phases.


Pause and ReviewFill in the name for each phase of the moon.


Missions to the MoonNASA and the First Man on the MoonThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established in 1958.

Lesson 6

Neil Armstrong was the first human to step on the Moon when the Apollo 11 landed on the Moon’s surface in 1969.

Apollo MissionsThe Apollo missions from 1969 through 1972 were a series of space flights that landed many Americans on the Moon. During these missions, the Moon’s surface was studied using a Lunar Roving Vehicle. Hundreds of kilograms of rock and soil samples were collected for further study.

Current Moon ExplorationNASA anticipates sending humans back to the Moon in the near future. Current lunar research focuses on determining the feasibility of a permanent moon base to be used for further space exploration and research.

NASA rendering of future lunar outpost

images taken from the LRO

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009, is collecting highly detailed information about the lunar environment.


Lab Investigation - Moon Phases, Eclipses & TidesThe changing relative positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon cause the moon phases, eclipses and tides. In this virtual investigation you will draw the Moon in its correct position relative to the Earth and Sun.

ProcedureA specific moon phase, eclipse or tide is written above each Sun-Earth-Moon picture. Draw the Moon in the correct alignment position to show the specific phenomenon. Select the image that shows how this phenomenon appears from Earth. For tides, select the image that illustrates the specific tide.

Solar Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse


First Quarter Moon

Waxing Crescent Moon

New Moon


Lab Investigation - Moon Phases, Eclipses & TidesWaning Gibbous Moon

Spring Tide

Neap Tide


Conclude & Apply1. What is the alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon during a full moon? What other

phenomena occur during this phase?

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2. What is the alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon during a new moon? What other phenomena occur during this phase?

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3. Explain the Moon’s appearances during the first and third quarter? What type of tide occurs during these phases?

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4. What is the difference between a waxing and waning gibbous moon?

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5. Why do you think a total solar eclipse is visible at limited locations on Earth, while a lunar eclipse is visible at all locations on Earth that are experiencing night?

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Key Vocabulary Terms

equator

NorthernHemisphere

SouthernHemisphere

equatorthe imaginary line drawn around the Earth dividing it into the northern and southern hemispheres

NorthernHemisphere

SouthernHemisphere

equinox the two days a year when the Sun’s rays are most directly hitting the equator; neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the Sun

full moon the moon phase when the near side of the Moon that is facing Earth is completely lit by the Sun

inertia the tendency of an object to resist change once it is in motion

latitude the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees

lunar eclipse a blocking of the Sun’s light on the Moon when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon

neap tide the lowest high tide that occurs when the Sun and Moon are at 90 degrees to each other relative to the Earth

new moon the moon phase when the far side of the Moon facing away from Earth is completely lit by the Sun

orbit the curved path a celestial body takes to travel around another celestial body

equator

gravity a force of attraction that pulls objects toward each other


phase the appearance of the moon at a particular time of the month; created by the relative positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth

prograde rotation the counterclockwise rotation of a planet on its axis

retrograde rotation the clockwise rotation of a planet on its axis

seasona period of a year characterized by particular weather patterns resulting from the Earth’s changing position in relation to the Sun

23.5º N

equator

NorthernHemisphere

23.5º S SouthernHemisphere

solar eclipse a blocking of the Sun’s light when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth

solsticethe two days a year when the Sun’s most direct rays are 23.5 degrees north or south of the equator

spring tide the highest high tide that occurs when the Moon, Sun and Earth are in line with each other

umbra the darkest shadow of a celestial body during an eclipse

waning moon the phase of the Moon when the sunlit portion of the Moon is getting smaller

waxing moon the phase of the Moon when the sunlit portion of the Moon is getting larger


Vocabulary Reviewequator _____________________________________________________________________

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equinox ____________________________________________________________________

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full moon ___________________________________________________________________

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gravity _____________________________________________________________________

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inertia ______________________________________________________________________

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latitude _____________________________________________________________________

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lunar eclipse ________________________________________________________________

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neap tide ___________________________________________________________________

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new moon __________________________________________________________________

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orbit _______________________________________________________________________

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Vocabulary Review


phase ______________________________________________________________________

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prograde rotation ____________________________________________________________

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retrograde rotation ___________________________________________________________

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season ______________________________________________________________________

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solar eclipse ________________________________________________________________

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solstice _____________________________________________________________________

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spring tide __________________________________________________________________

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umbra ______________________________________________________________________

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waning moon _______________________________________________________________

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waxing moon _______________________________________________________________

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Assessment Review1. Draw the Sun-Earth-Moon system. Include the orbit paths and arrows indicating the

direction of rotation and revolution. Label your drawing.

2. What determines the length of a day on Earth? Explain.

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3. What determines the length of a year on Earth? Explain.

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4. What causes seasons on Earth?

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6. Explain the relationship between latitude and climate.

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5. Add the following labels on the image below: December, March, June, September, fall, winter, spring, summer

7. Why do all locations on Earth experience approximately 12 hours of light and darkness on the equinox dates?

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8. What factors affect gravitational pull?

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9. If an object weighed 12 kg on the Moon, how much would it weigh on Earth? Why?

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10. What keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth?

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11. Why does the same side of the Moon always face the Earth?

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12. Fill in the table below about eclipses.

13. Fill in the table below about tides.

14. Why were the Apollo missions to the Moon important?

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15. What is the focus of NASA’s current lunar research?

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Assessment Review

Eclipse

Solar

Lunar

Alignment of Sun-Earth-Moon

Moon phase Who wil be able to see it?

Tide

Neap

Spring

Alignment of Sun-Earth-Moon

Moon phase Description


Assessment

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Assessment


Assessment Key

1. B

2. C

3. B

4. D

5. D

6. B

7. A

8. B

9. C

10. B

11. True

12. B

13. C

14. A - solar eclipse, B - lunar eclipse, C - neap tide

15. A - new moon, B - waning moon, C - waxing moon

16. A - Venus, B - Moon, C - Earth

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