Name: _____________________
Pd: ____________ Date: ____________________
Study Guide
1. We have seasons because of Earth’s tilt. Earth tilts 23.5o.
2. On this day, the Sun is at its highest point in the sky. This day marks the first day of
summer. It also is known as the longest day because it has the most hours of daylight of any
day during the year.
June 21st the Summer Solstice
3. On this day, the daylight and nighttime hours are equal. This occurs in September.
Autumnal (Fall) Equinox
4. On this day, the daylight and nighttime hours are equal. This occurs in March.
Vernal (Spring) Equinox
5. On this day, the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky. This day marks the first day of winter.
It also is known as the shortest day because it has the fewest hours of daylight of any day
during the year.
December 21st the Winter Solstice
6. It is warm near the equator because sunlight hits the Earth’s surface directly and is less
spread out. Why is it colder near the poles (both North and South)? Sunlight hits the poles
indirectly and is more spread out.
7. Earth’s path as it revolves around the sun is called its orbit.
8. Earth has seasons because of the tilt of the earth on its axis and earths position around the
Sun.
9. It will be day time on the side of the Earth facing the sun.
10. Earth’s rotation on its axis causes day and night.
11. Earth’s revolution around the sun is called a year! 365 days.
12. When the north end of Earth’s axis is tilted towards the sun, the Northern Hemisphere has
Summer.
1
13. When the north end of Earth’s axis is tilted away from the sun, the Northern hemisphere
has Winter, therefore getting less direct sunlight.
14. An Equinox will occur half way between the solstices , neither hemisphere is tilted toward
or away from the sun.
15. What are tides caused by? Moon and the Earth travel around the sun, the combined
gravitational forces cause the oceans to rise and fall. This is known as tides.
16. Which exerts stronger gravitational pull on earth, the sun or the moon?
The moon has a strong gravitational pull on the top layer of water as it orbits the Earth.
The moon has a stronger pull on the Earth than the sun.
17. What happens when the moon faces one side of the earth?
It causes the tides.
18. What is a spring tide? The sun and moon are aligned which causes a stronger gravitational pull.
19. What position do the sun and moon have to be in to create a spring tide? They have to be
aligned.
20. Explain a neap tide.
Sun and moon are not aligned, this causes the tides to not be as high or low.
21. In most places on earth, how often do high and low tides occur?
Each happens once a day.
22. One lunar month is a complete moon cycle (New Moon to New Moon).
2
3