The Sun, Earth and Moon Observable Patterns Return to Table of - - PDF document

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5th Grade

Earth and the Universe

2015-08-28 www.njctl.org

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· The Sun, Earth and Moon · Observable Patterns

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The Sun, Earth and Moon

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Slide 5 / 104 The Universe

When you hear the word "universe", what images come to mind? What is included in the universe?

Slide 6 / 104 The Universe

The Universe includes living things, planets, stars, and galaxies.

Slide 7 / 104 Galaxies

A galaxy is a collection of stars, gas, and dust bound together by gravity.

The

Universe contains billions

• f galaxies, each

containing millions or even billions of stars.

Slide 8 / 104 Types of Galaxies

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 Spiral Irregular

Slide 9 / 104 The Milky Way

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.

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The Milky Way is shaped like a huge whirlpool. Outside the main spiral are about 200 ball-shaped clusters of stars. Our Solar System is here. 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.

The Milky Way Slide 11 / 104 Hubble Ultra Deep Field

How many other galaxies are out there? Turns out, more than we thought...

Click here watch a video about Hubble Ultra Deep Field.

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1 The universe contains which of the following? A Planets B Stars C Galaxies D All of the above

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2 Which force holds a galaxy together? A Gravity B Intertia C Magnetism D None of the above

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3 Who helped to name the Milky Way? A Ancient Romans B Ancient Greeks C Cavemen D Both A and B

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4 The Milky Way is the only galaxy. True False

Slide 16 / 104 Galaxy Sorting Activity

What skills do scientists need to organize and describe objects that they are studying? Find out in this activity!

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Is there anything odd about this picture?

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Does this look more familiar?

Slide 19 / 104 The Sun

Both pictures are correct! The sun is a star.

Slide 20 / 104 Our Sun - "Sol"

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.

Slide 21 / 104 Our Sun - "Sol"

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.

Slide 22 / 104 Is the sun the biggest star?

This is what stars look like in the sky.

Note

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Here is the Sun in the sky. It certainly looks bigger than all the

• ther stars.

Can we always trust what we see?

Note

Slide 24 / 104 Street Lights

These streetlights are all the same size. Use the ruler and measure them. From this perspective, do they look the same size? Explain.

Slide 25 / 104 Think Much Bigger!

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

3

Sun

Slide 26 / 104 The Sun

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.

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5 The sun is A a small yellow star. B a medium yellow star. C a large yellow star.

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6 Do same sized objects viewed from the same distance look the same size? Yes No

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7 Do same sized objects viewed from different distances appear different sizes? Yes No

Slide 30 / 104 Luminosity Lab

In this lab, collect data to support the idea that the sun shines brighter than other stars because of its proximity with Earth.

Slide 31 / 104 Distance

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 Distance between your house and the grocery store Distance from you to the front of the classroom centimeters meters kilometers

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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

• bjects 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.

Distance Slide 34 / 104 Light-years

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?)

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8 A light-year is a unit of time. True False

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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 B 40,000 C 4,000 D 400

Slide 37 / 104 Light Years Activity

Use your math skills to complete some light-years calculations in this activity.

Slide 38 / 104 Earth's Rotation

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

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The path of the Earth around the Sun is called the orbit. The Earth revolves around the sun.

Sun

Earth's Revolution

How many days does it take for the Earth to revolve around the sun? 365.25 days

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Sun

Earth's Tilt

What do you notice about the Earth in the illustration below? 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!

Slide 41 / 104 The Earth and Moon

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 moon revolves around the Earth, about once per month.

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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.

The Earth and Moon

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10 The Earth rotates on its ___. A axis B axia C equator D orbit

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11 A(n) ____ is one spin around an axis. A orbit B rotation C revolution D degree

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12 A(n) ____ is one lap around an orbit. A axis B rotation C revolution D degree

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13 How long does one revolution of the Earth around the sun take? A 1 day B 1 month C 1 season D 1 year

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14 The moon always looks the same because it does not move. True False

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15 The moon does not revolve around the Sun. (Think!) True False

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Observable Patterns

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Slide 50 / 104 Observable Patterns

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?

Slide 51 / 104 Pattern 1 - Day and Night

Earlier, you put the sun on this photo. What are the people on Earth experiencing when they are at position A? B?

A B

Sun

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As the Earth rotates, only the side facing the Sun is in daylight. Night Day Notice how the lights turn on as countries enter the night side of the Earth.

Pattern 1 - Day and Night Slide 53 / 104

16 What causes the pattern of day and night? 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.

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17 The Sun does not shine when it is night time. True False

Slide 55 / 104 Pattern 2

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?

Slide 56 / 104 Pattern 2 - Shadows

Answer: Your shadow!

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A shadow is the absence of light. When an

• bject 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.

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Add the shadows or suns to the pictures in the place where they belong.

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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

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Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 6 am.

6 am 9 am 6 pm 3 pm 12 pm

Choose from these shadows.

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6 am 9 am 6 pm 3 pm 12 pm

Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 9 am.

Choose from these shadows.

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6 am 9 am 6 pm 3 pm 12 pm

Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 12 pm.

Choose from these shadows.

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6 am 9 am 6 pm 3 pm 12 pm

Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 3 pm.

Choose from these shadows.

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6 am 9 am 6 pm 3 pm 12 pm

Add the arrow's shadow from the sun at 6 pm.

Choose from these shadows.

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In small groups, think about the shadows in the previous exercises. · How did the shadow at 9 am compare to the shadow at 3 pm? · At what time(s) were shadows the longest? The shortest? · What features of the shadows changed during the day? length direction Same length but opposite direction. Longest at 6 am and 6 pm and shortest at noon.

Pattern 2 - Shadows

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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.

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18 Shadows form when an object blocks light. True False

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19 During the day, shadows change in response to what? A The sun's brightness B The earth's revolution C The sun's angle D The earth's tilt

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20 The position of a shadow always follows a line beyond the line drawn from the Sun to the object. True False

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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 B noon C 3 pm D 6 pm

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22 If you are standing at the same location, how would your shadow differ from 7 am to 5 pm? A It would be the same length but facing the

• pposite 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.

Slide 73 / 104 Shadow Tracking Lab

Use your analytical skills to quantify how your shadow changes throughout the day.

Slide 74 / 104 Pattern 3 - Seasons

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.

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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

• f the Earth, determine what season it is for the United States. Click in

the box below each Earth to check your answers.

Pattern 3 - Seasons Slide 76 / 104

23 What causes the seasons? 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.

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24 In winter, the North Pole is tilted _________ the sun. A away from B towards

Slide 78 / 104 Pattern 4 - Moon Phases

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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

Click here to watch a video about the moon's phases.

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25 The Moon changes size during a month. True False

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26 The Moon phase that is the brightest is ___. A New Moon B Full Moon C Quarter Moon D Crescent Moon

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27 When the moon appears to be getting bigger, it is A waxing. B waning.

Slide 85 / 104 Pattern 5 - Constellations

The ancient Greeks looked at the sky and imagined pictures in the star

• formations. We call these

constellations.

Slide 86 / 104 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. 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.

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Constellations were useful for ancient communities because most constellations are only visible in the night sky during certain months

• f the year. Ancient people were able to use the constellations as a
• calendar. For example, Orion becomes visible right before the start
• f 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.

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Here is Orion again with fewer lines drawn in. Can you still see it?

Pattern 5 - Constellations

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How about now?

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Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (big and little bears).

The Big Dipper can be used to find the North Star, or Polaris. Knowing one constellation can often help you to find other constellations or stars.

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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.

Click here to watch a time lapse of the changing night sky.

The stars' positions appear to change as the Earth rotates on its axis.

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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.

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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.

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Take this idea and apply it to Earth: We are tiny specks on this Earth model.

Sun Earth

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.

Pattern 5 - Constellations

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Sun Earth

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.

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The North Star is at the top of an imaginary dome over the whole

• rbit. We can always see it in the Northern Hemisphere.

What about if you live in the Southern Hemisphere?

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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. Location on Earth Earth's revolution Can you see the Big Dipper? Earth's rotation

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28 The positions of stars change every year. True False

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29 Stars in the sky appear to change during the night because of ___. A Earth's revolution B varying brightness of the stars C Earth's rotation D your location on Earth

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30 The constellations visible in the sky change from month to month because of ___. A Earth's revolution B the birth of new stars C Earth's rotation D your location on Earth

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31 What factors contribute to what stars are visible to you at a specific time? (Choose all that apply.) A The moon's rotation B Your location on Earth C Earth's revolution D Earth's rotation

Slide 104 / 104 Big Dipper Clock Activity

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

• ut in this activity!