Understanding Earth's Rotation and Shadows

Explain how the rotation of Earth on its axis causes the day/night cycle. Use evidence to support your explanation.

• The rotation of Earth on its axis causes the Sun to move around the Earth, creating day and night.

• The rotation of Earth on its axis causes different parts of the Earth to face the Sun or away from it, resulting in day and night.

• The rotation of Earth on its axis causes the Moon to block the Sun, creating night.

• The rotation of Earth on its axis causes the Earth to move closer to and farther from the Sun, creating day and night.

Plan an experiment to demonstrate how Earth's rotation affects the position and shape of shadows throughout the day.

• Use a flashlight to simulate the Sun and observe a stationary object at different times of the day.

• Use a globe and a lamp to simulate Earth's rotation and observe the changes in shadow positions.

• Use a sundial to record shadow lengths at different times and compare them.

• Use a mirror to reflect sunlight and observe the changes in shadow shapes.

Reason why the Sun appears to move across the sky from east to west during the day.

• The Sun orbits around the Earth from east to west.

• The Earth rotates from west to east, making the Sun appear to move from east to west.

• The Earth's orbit around the Sun causes the Sun to move from east to west.

• The Sun's own rotation causes it to move from east to west.

Using evidence, explain how the length of a shadow changes from morning to noon and then to evening.

• Shadows are longest at noon because the Sun is directly overhead.

• Shadows are shortest at noon because the Sun is directly overhead, and longest in the morning and evening when the Sun is lower in the sky.

• Shadows do not change in length throughout the day.

• Shadows are longest in the morning and evening because the Sun is directly overhead.

Plan a method to track the Sun's apparent movement across the sky over a single day.

• Use a compass to find the Sun's position at noon.

• Use a series of photographs taken at regular intervals to document the Sun's position.

• Use a telescope to observe the Sun's surface features.

• Use a thermometer to measure the Sun's heat at different times.

Explain why the day/night cycle is approximately 24 hours long.

• It takes 24 hours for the Earth to orbit the Sun.

• It takes 24 hours for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis.

• It takes 24 hours for the Moon to orbit the Earth.

• It takes 24 hours for the Sun to orbit the Earth.

Design a model to show how Earth's rotation causes the Sun to appear to move across the sky.

• Use a spinning top to represent the Earth and a stationary light to represent the Sun.

• Use a rotating globe and a fixed light source to simulate the Sun's apparent movement.

• Use a pendulum to demonstrate the Earth's rotation.

• Use a rotating fan to show the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Analyze how the position of the Sun in the sky affects the temperature at different times of the day.

• The temperature is highest when the Sun is lowest in the sky.

• The temperature is highest when the Sun is highest in the sky, usually around noon.

• The temperature does not change with the Sun's position.

• The temperature is highest at sunrise and sunset.

Evaluate the impact of Earth's rotation on the daily life of humans.

• Earth's rotation has no impact on human activities.

• Earth's rotation causes the day/night cycle, influencing work, sleep, and other daily activities.

• Earth's rotation affects only the weather patterns.

• Earth's rotation causes the seasons to change.

Predict how the day/night cycle would change if Earth rotated twice as fast on its axis.

• The day/night cycle would remain the same.

• The day/night cycle would be shorter, with each cycle lasting approximately 12 hours.

• The day/night cycle would be longer, with each cycle lasting approximately 48 hours.

• The day/night cycle would not occur.