Shared Flashcard Set

Details

8.21 Mrs Jensen
The Sun-Earth-Moon System
18
Science
8th Grade
12/29/2011

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
sphere
Definition
round, three-dimensional object whose surface at all points is the same distance from its center
Term
axis
Definition
imaginary line around which Earth spins
Term
rotation
Definition
spinning of Earth on its axis, which causes day and night to occur
Term
revolution
Definition
yearly orbit of Earth around the sun
Term
ellipse
Definition
elongated, closed curve that describes Earth's orbit
Term
equinox
Definition
twice-yearly time when the sun is directly above Earth's equator and the number of nighttime hours equals the number of daylight hours worldwide
Term
solstice
Definition
point at which the sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator
Term
moon phase
Definition
changing appearance of the moon as seen from Earth, which depends on the relative positions of the moon, Earth, and sun
Term
new moon
Definition
moon phase that occurs when the lighted half of the moon faces the sun and the dark side faces Earth
Term
waxing
Definition
occurs shortly after a new moon, when more and more of the moon's lighted side become visible
Term
first quarter
Definition
moon phase in which one-quarter of the moon's surface that faces Earth is lit up and occurs about a week after a new moon
Term
full moon
Definition
moon phase in which all of the moon's surface that faces Earth is lit up
Term
waning
Definition
occurs after a full moon, when the amount of the moon's lighted side that can be seen becomes smaller
Term
third quarter
Definition
moon phase in which only half of the lighted side of the moon is visible
Term
lunar eclipse
Definition
eclipse that occurs when Earth's shadow falls on the moon
Term
maria
Definition
dark-volored, relatively flat areas of the moon that were formed when ancient lava filled basins on the moon's surface
Term
mascon
Definition
concentration of mass on the moon located beneath an impact basin
Term
solar eclipse
Definition
eclipse that occurs when the moon moves directly between the sun and Earth and casts a shadow on part of Earth
Supporting users have an ad free experience!