Investigating Characteristics of the Solar System

Investigation 1- Earth and Sun

by Ms. Galvez

​Shadow Shifting

•  Shadow- the dark area behind an object that blocks light

• ​ Sun-the star at the center of the solar system around which everything else orbits; a source of light

• ​The length and direction of a shadow depends on the Sun's position in the sky.

Multiple Choice

The length and direction of a shadow depends on the Sun's_______.

• distance in space.

• position in the sky.

• rotation around Earth.

• feelings.

Multiple Choice

A shadow is.....

• always behind you.

• a friend.

• the dark area behind an object that blocks light

​Shadow shifting

• At sunrise our shadow is long.

• When the sun is in the East, where it rises, the shadow is in the West.

• The Sun is always on the opposite side of the object creating a shadow.

• ​The higher the Sun is in the sky, the shorter the shadows are.

Multiple Choice

The Sun is always on the ______ side of the object creating a shadow.

• opposite

• same

• east

• north

Multiple Choice

The higher the Sun is in the sky, the _____ the shadows are.

• longer

• shorter

​Day and night

• ​Rotation- turning around on an axis

• ​Revolution- to travel around something else in a circular path

• ​Orbit- to move or travel around an object in a curved path

• ​Axis- an imaginary line on which a sphere, like a planet, rotates

Day and night

• ​ It takes earth 24 hours to complete one rotation.

• ​When the Earth is facing the Sun it  is day time.

• ​As the Earth rotates one side is experiencing day time and the other is experiencing night time depending which side is facing the sun.

• ​The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Multiple Choice

Earth _______ on an axis on a 23.5º angle.

• revolves

• orbits

• rotates

Multiple Choice

The Sun rises in the ________.

• south

• west

• east

• north

​Day and Night

• ​The Earth revolves around the Sun. One revolution is equal to one year.

• Earth's North Pole always points towards the North Star.

• ​Exactly half of the Earth is in day and the other half is in night.

Multiple Choice

​The Earth revolves around the Sun. One revolution is equal to________.

• 1 month

• 1 day

• 1 year

• 1 hour

Multiple Choice

Earth's North Pole always points towards the ____________.

• Jupiter

• Moon

• Sun

• North Star

Open Ended

When you look at a shadow, how can you tell if it is morning or afternoon? Explain.