Modeling Earth and Sun

A student is creating a model of the Earth and the Sun to explain why the length of day and night change throughout the year. What would be the most important feature to add to the model and why?

• The Earth should make a perfect circle around the Sun so the Sun’s light hits all surfaces equally.

• The Earth should make an elliptical orbit around the Sun so that the Sun is at different distances throughout the year.

• The Earth should be tilted on its axis as it goes around the Sun so that the amount of light hitting the Earth varies depending on the tilt.

• The Earth should be placed upright on its axis as it goes around the Sun so that it shows the Earth slowing its rotation.

Which explanation is supported by this model?

• The Earth has the same exact hours of day and night. It is summer.

• The Southern Hemisphere has shorter days and longer nights. It is winter.

• The Southern Hemisphere has longer days and shorter nights. It is summer.

• The Northern Hemisphere has longer days and shorter nights. It is winter.

A student creates a model of the Earth and Sun to show how night and day change throughout the year. The student takes a globe and a large yellow ball. The student picks up the globe and walks around the large yellow ball while spinning to show night and day. What should the student also include in their model demonstration?

• The student needs to also show how the Earth tilts to explain that night is when the Earth is tilted away from the Sun and day is when the Earth is tilted towards the Sun.

• The student needs to also show how the Earth tilts to explain different lengths of sunlight and darkness the Earth will receive.

• The student should show the Earth moving in a straight line to demonstrate the change in seasons.

• The student should keep the globe stationary to show the rotation of the Earth.

Why don’t all parts of the Earth have day and night at the same time?

• Earth revolves around the Sun on an axis, and it is day only.

• The Sun revolves around Earth, and it can only shine on half of Earth at one time.

• Earth rotates on its axis, and only the part of Earth facing the Sun experiences day.

• The moon revolves around Earth, and blocks the Sun from certain parts of Earth at different times.

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the model of the Earth on the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere?

• Mexico would not receive any daylight on the day this model shows.

• The Equator would not receive any daylight on the day this model shows.

• The Northern Hemisphere experiences the longest day of the year.

• The Southern Hemisphere experiences the longest day of the year.

How can a student develop a model to show why the length of daytime is different in the months?

• The student can take two balls to represent the Earth and Sun. The student can show that the Earth is tilted towards the sun most in June and tilted away from the sun most in December.

• The student can take two balls to represent the Earth and Sun. The student can show that the Earth is tilted towards the sun most in December and tilted away from the sun most in June.

• The student can take two balls to represent the Earth and Sun. The student can show that the Earth spins faster in June and spins slower in December.

• The student can take two balls to represent the Earth and Sun. The student can show that the Earth spins slower in June and spins faster in December.

What is the average length of daytime in June in Atlanta, Georgia?

• 12 hrs 35 min

• 13 hrs 3 min

• 14 hrs 23 min

• 11 hrs 21 min

Meesha can tilt the ball at an angle, spin the ball around itself, and move the ball around the light source. What does this demonstrate?

• The ball moving closer to the light source

• The ball rotating away from the light source

• The ball staying still

• The ball spinning and moving around the light source

A student is creating a model of the Earth and the Sun to explain why the length of day and night changes throughout the year. Which feature is most important to add to the model?

• Earth making a perfect circle around the Sun

• Earth making an elliptical orbit around the Sun

• Earth tilted on its axis as it goes around the Sun

• Earth placed upright on its axis

Use the information and model to answer the following question. The model shows Earth during part of its orbit around the Sun.

• Earth is closest to the Sun

• Earth is farthest from the Sun

• Earth is tilted on its axis

• Earth is upright on its axis