Patterns On Earth Flashcards

Front 1

The Sun's Heat and Where it Goes

Back 1

We know that the equator receives the most direct heat because it is like a bulging belly (it sticks out the farthest) due to the Earth's tilt. The poles receive indirect heat because the Earth is tilted, making their climates very cold.
(Look at the Sun's Energy Notes in your journal.)

Front 2

Different Temperatures, Create Different Air Pressures

Back 2

Along the equator where the temperatures are the hottest, air particles are very spread out creating what we know as low pressure. The air particles along the poles are very densly packed (in a tight mass) and this is known as high pressure.

Front 3

Knowing Your Earth's Geography

Back 3

The equator runs horizonatally along the middle of the Earth (its belly.) The axis is an invisible line running from pole to pole to show the Earth at its tilt. The equator receives direct sunlight because of the tilt, while the poles receive indirect sunlight. (This creates the different temperatures/air pressures on Earth.)

Front 4

Wind is Created (1 Role of the Sun)

Back 4

Because the Earth is at a tilt and heated unequally, different parts of the Earth receive different amounts of sunlight/thermal energy and temperatures change. When temperatures change, so do the air pressures. This swicthing back and forth between low pressure, high pressure, etc. means air particles are in motion = wind.

Front 5

Weather Tools

Back 5

Meteorologists, weather scientists, use many tools to help them forecast (predicit) the weather. Perhaps their most important tool is the satellite, as it captures pictures of the clouds and the direction they are moving/where they have come from. (There is a tool foldable in your journal.)

Front 6

Weather vs. Climate

Back 6

Weather is the condition of the atmopshere (what it's like outside) at any given time (right now.) Weather changes daily, and sometimes every few hours. Climate is the average weather (temperature & rainfall) of an area over MANY YEARS...think deserts, the arctic, rain forests, etc.

Front 7

Air Mass Movements/Clouds

Back 7

We know that is we see an air mass moving from the equator that the temperature will be warm or hot, just as we know air masses coming from either of the poles will include cool or cold temperatures. If an air mass has moved over large areas of water (like oceans), we can predict rainfall as we know the clouds are full of water droplets. The reverse is true...if an air mass has been moving over land, we can assume there will be no chance of rain, as no water has been evaporated/collected into the clouds.

Front 8

The Water Cycle

Back 8

Water is always in motion. Water travels through a never-ending cycle known as the Water Cycle. There are four components (steps) to the Water Cycle. Evaporation = liquid heated to a gas, condensation = gas cools as it rises and turns into liquid droplets/the droplets then collect dust particles forming clouds, precipitation = the droplets become too heavy and fall to Earth as rain, sleet, snow, or hail, and accumulation = where the droplets gather/group such as in rivers, lakes, streams, oceans, etc. (Look in your journal at the Water Cycle notes.)

Front 9

The Planets' & Moons' Movements

Back 9

Planets/moons move in two very distinct ways. All planets revovle around a central star (our sun)...this is also known as their orbit. A planet's revolution time = a year on that planet. All planets also rotate, or spin in place on their axis. A planet's rotation time = one day on that planet. All is the same for a planet's moon, except that moon's revolve around planets, not stars.

Front 10

Rotation

Back 10

When Earth rotates, or spins on its axis in place, this creates day and night on the planet. While one half of the planet is experiencing daylight, the other half is experiencing nighttime. (Look at the foldable in your journal.)

Front 11

Revolution

Back 11

Earth revolves around the sun, so at different points of the year, the Earth is either tilted toward the sun or away from the sun. This revolving round the sun is the reason for the seasons. We experience four seasons during a year: spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter. (Look at the foldable in your journal.)

Front 12

The Solar System

Back 12

You can remember all the planets in order from closest to farthest from the sun using the acronym: "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos." The farther the planet is from the sun, the longer its revolution time is.

Front 13

The Sun's Five Roles (Jobs)

Back 13

1) The sun povides the planet with light & thermal energy.
2) The sun holds all objects in the solar system in place with its gravity.
3) The sun drives the water cycle during the process of evaporation.
4) The sun heats the Earth unevenly creating different temperatures/air pressures, which creates wind.
5) The sun gives the plants energy they need to make their own food.

Front 14

The Moon's Rotation & Revolution Time

Back 14

The moon is a natural (not man made) satellite that revolves and rotates around the Earth. The moon take the SAME amount of time to rotate once on its axis as it does to revolve completely around the Earth...about 27/28 days or one month. Therefore, we only see one side of the moon.

Front 15

The Moon Phases

Back 15

Sunlight reflects off the moon differently during the month as the moon revolves around the Earth. We call the different images of the moon, phases. If light is "being added" to the moon and it is on the right side, we know these are the waxing phases. (Wax on the right.) If we see "light fading" or the light is on the left, we know these are the waning phases. When the moon is halfway lit, we call these "quarter moons." The first quarter is lit on the right, while the third quarter is lit on the left side. A new moon is when the moon is completely in the dark and seems to disappear. This is when the moon is directly between the Earth and the sun and is facing us (the moon's "back" is to the sun.) A full moon is when the moon is completely lit and facing the sun on the opposite side of the Earth,

Front 16

Tides

Back 16

The moon's gravity pulls our oceans toward it as we rotate on our axis daily. The Earth's oceans experience four tides a day, two high tides and two low tides. The tides are every six hours and alternate between high tide, then low tide, then high, etc. (6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24hrs.)