Name: Hannah Smith
Lee Arthur Date:
Student Exploration: Seasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun
Vocabulary: altitude, axis, azimuth, equinox, horizon, latitude, revolution, rotation, solstice
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Suppose you were stranded on a desert island without a calendar or clock. How would you know when
a day, a month, or a year had passed? Using the sun
2. How could you tell what time of year it was? The weather?
Gizmo Warm-up
Thousands of years ago, people told time by looking at the sky. You may not think
about it, but you probably do this as well. For example, you know a day has passed
when the Sun rises, it grows light outside, and then Sun sets again.
In the Seasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun Gizmo, you will learn how you can relate
the passage of time to different astronomical events.
Drag the Simulation speed slider all the way to the left. Click Play () and observe
the SIMULATION pane.
A. What happens? The earth rotates on its axis
B. Click on the 2D VIEW tab. What do you see? The sun and
the moon in the sky day by day
C. Click on the DAY GRAPH tab. What do you see? Solar
Intensity going up throughout the year
D. Click on the SHADOWS tab. What do you see? A sundial changing shadows based on the
time of day.
Activity A: Days, months, and years Get the Gizmo ready: Click Reset. Select the 2D VIEW tab.
Question: What astronomical events coincide with the passage of a day, month, or year?
1. Observe: Click Play. Observe how the position of the red dot in the SIMULATION pane relates to the
cycle of night and day on the 2D VIEW tab.
What astronomical event causes day and night? The rotation of the moon around the sun.
Every time Earth finishes one rotation on its axis, a complete cycle of day and night occurs. In the
SIMULATION pane, Earth’s axis is represented by the red line that goes through the center of the planet.
2. Describe: Months are another unit of time based on an astronomical event. Click Reset, and move the
Simulation speed slider to the right a quarter of the way. Click Play, and observe the movements of Earth
and the Moon for one month. (Note: You can use the calendar in the upper right corner of the 2D VIEW tab
to determine when a month has passed.)
1
, A. Describe the movements of Earth and the Moon over the
course of a month. The moon will rotate around the Earth and
the Earth will rotate around the Sun.
B. What astronomical event corresponds to the passage of
one month? The moon rotating around the earth
It takes approximately 28 days for the Moon to revolve around Earth.
Revolution is the elliptical motion of a body traveling around another
body in space.
3. Diagram: Click Reset. Set the Simulation speed to maximum. Click Play, and observe the movement
of Earth over the course of one year. In the diagram below, draw how the position of Earth changes.
A. What astronomical event corresponds to the passage of 1 year? The earth rotating around the sun
B. How long does it take Earth to revolve around the Sun? 1 year
Activity B: Sun’s path Get the Gizmo ready: Click Reset. Set the Simulation speed to minimum.
Question: What causes the Sun to appear to
move in a path across the sky?
1. Observe: Select the 2D VIEW tab. Click
Play, and watch the apparent motion of the Sun
across the sky. In the diagram at right, draw an
arrow to show the Sun’s direction and path.
Mark the highest altitude the Sun reaches with
an X. Altitude is the distance an object appears
to be above the horizon. The horizon is the line
along which the sky and the Earth appear to
meet.
2. Make a rule: On the 2D VIEW tab, E
stands for east and W stands for west. Knowing
this, you can conclude that the Sun rises in the
east and sets in the west.
3. Analyze: The Sun’s azimuth is the direction of the Sun in the sky. Azimuth is measured in degrees.
Look at the diagram.
A. What is the Sun’s approximate azimuth when it rises?
east
B. What is the Sun’s approximate azimuth when it sets?
West
2
, 4. Summarize: Select the SHADOWS tab. Click Play, and observe the Azimuth. How does the Sun’s
azimuth change over the course of the day?
It goes from South to West throughout the day
5. Describe: Click Reset. Select the 2D VIEW tab. On the SIMULATION pane, the red dot on Earth
represents where the observer who is seeing the scene on the 2D VIEW tab is standing. Describe the
position of the red dot in the SIMULATION pane at midnight.
0 solar intensity
6. Observe: Click Play. When the Sun begins to rise on the 2D VIEW, click Pause (). How has the
position of the red dot changed?
Higher Solar Intensity
7. Observe: Click Play again. When the Sun begins to set on the 2D VIEW, click Pause. How has the
position of the red dot changed?
Lower Solar Intensity
8. Draw conclusions: What causes the apparent motion of the Sun across the sky: the movement of Earth
or the movement of the Sun? Explain.
Movement of the earth on its axis because the sun does not rotate around the earth.
9. Predict: A shadow is caused when an object blocks sunlight. For example, when your body blocks
sunlight, you may see a shadow of yourself on the ground. How do you think the shadow of an object, such
as a flagpole, would change over the course of the day as the Sun appears to move across the sky?
Because it is at a different point in the sky causing a different angle of the shadow of the flagpoles
10. Observe: Click Reset. Select the SHADOWS tab, and click Play. Observe the Overhead and
Projection view of the Shadow of a stick. What do you notice?
It changes angle over the course of the day
11. Compare: As you watch the shadow move, observe how its length changes in comparison to the
Altitude of the Sun.
A. Describe the length of the shadow when the Sun is at its highest altitude. Shorter shadow
B. Why does the Sun’s altitude affect shadow length?
Because the angle of the sun determines the length of the shadow
Activity C: Sunrise and Get the Gizmo ready: Click Reset. Select the DESCRIPTION tab. Set the
sunset times Simulation speed to minimum.
Question: What factors affect sunrise and sunset times?
1. On your own: Latitude is a location’s distance north or south of the equator. You can use Google™ or
another search engine to look up your town’s latitude.
What is the latitude of your town?33.9815° N
Use the Latitude slider on the DESCRIPTION tab to set the Gizmo to your town’s latitude.
3
Lee Arthur Date:
Student Exploration: Seasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun
Vocabulary: altitude, axis, azimuth, equinox, horizon, latitude, revolution, rotation, solstice
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Suppose you were stranded on a desert island without a calendar or clock. How would you know when
a day, a month, or a year had passed? Using the sun
2. How could you tell what time of year it was? The weather?
Gizmo Warm-up
Thousands of years ago, people told time by looking at the sky. You may not think
about it, but you probably do this as well. For example, you know a day has passed
when the Sun rises, it grows light outside, and then Sun sets again.
In the Seasons: Earth, Moon, and Sun Gizmo, you will learn how you can relate
the passage of time to different astronomical events.
Drag the Simulation speed slider all the way to the left. Click Play () and observe
the SIMULATION pane.
A. What happens? The earth rotates on its axis
B. Click on the 2D VIEW tab. What do you see? The sun and
the moon in the sky day by day
C. Click on the DAY GRAPH tab. What do you see? Solar
Intensity going up throughout the year
D. Click on the SHADOWS tab. What do you see? A sundial changing shadows based on the
time of day.
Activity A: Days, months, and years Get the Gizmo ready: Click Reset. Select the 2D VIEW tab.
Question: What astronomical events coincide with the passage of a day, month, or year?
1. Observe: Click Play. Observe how the position of the red dot in the SIMULATION pane relates to the
cycle of night and day on the 2D VIEW tab.
What astronomical event causes day and night? The rotation of the moon around the sun.
Every time Earth finishes one rotation on its axis, a complete cycle of day and night occurs. In the
SIMULATION pane, Earth’s axis is represented by the red line that goes through the center of the planet.
2. Describe: Months are another unit of time based on an astronomical event. Click Reset, and move the
Simulation speed slider to the right a quarter of the way. Click Play, and observe the movements of Earth
and the Moon for one month. (Note: You can use the calendar in the upper right corner of the 2D VIEW tab
to determine when a month has passed.)
1
, A. Describe the movements of Earth and the Moon over the
course of a month. The moon will rotate around the Earth and
the Earth will rotate around the Sun.
B. What astronomical event corresponds to the passage of
one month? The moon rotating around the earth
It takes approximately 28 days for the Moon to revolve around Earth.
Revolution is the elliptical motion of a body traveling around another
body in space.
3. Diagram: Click Reset. Set the Simulation speed to maximum. Click Play, and observe the movement
of Earth over the course of one year. In the diagram below, draw how the position of Earth changes.
A. What astronomical event corresponds to the passage of 1 year? The earth rotating around the sun
B. How long does it take Earth to revolve around the Sun? 1 year
Activity B: Sun’s path Get the Gizmo ready: Click Reset. Set the Simulation speed to minimum.
Question: What causes the Sun to appear to
move in a path across the sky?
1. Observe: Select the 2D VIEW tab. Click
Play, and watch the apparent motion of the Sun
across the sky. In the diagram at right, draw an
arrow to show the Sun’s direction and path.
Mark the highest altitude the Sun reaches with
an X. Altitude is the distance an object appears
to be above the horizon. The horizon is the line
along which the sky and the Earth appear to
meet.
2. Make a rule: On the 2D VIEW tab, E
stands for east and W stands for west. Knowing
this, you can conclude that the Sun rises in the
east and sets in the west.
3. Analyze: The Sun’s azimuth is the direction of the Sun in the sky. Azimuth is measured in degrees.
Look at the diagram.
A. What is the Sun’s approximate azimuth when it rises?
east
B. What is the Sun’s approximate azimuth when it sets?
West
2
, 4. Summarize: Select the SHADOWS tab. Click Play, and observe the Azimuth. How does the Sun’s
azimuth change over the course of the day?
It goes from South to West throughout the day
5. Describe: Click Reset. Select the 2D VIEW tab. On the SIMULATION pane, the red dot on Earth
represents where the observer who is seeing the scene on the 2D VIEW tab is standing. Describe the
position of the red dot in the SIMULATION pane at midnight.
0 solar intensity
6. Observe: Click Play. When the Sun begins to rise on the 2D VIEW, click Pause (). How has the
position of the red dot changed?
Higher Solar Intensity
7. Observe: Click Play again. When the Sun begins to set on the 2D VIEW, click Pause. How has the
position of the red dot changed?
Lower Solar Intensity
8. Draw conclusions: What causes the apparent motion of the Sun across the sky: the movement of Earth
or the movement of the Sun? Explain.
Movement of the earth on its axis because the sun does not rotate around the earth.
9. Predict: A shadow is caused when an object blocks sunlight. For example, when your body blocks
sunlight, you may see a shadow of yourself on the ground. How do you think the shadow of an object, such
as a flagpole, would change over the course of the day as the Sun appears to move across the sky?
Because it is at a different point in the sky causing a different angle of the shadow of the flagpoles
10. Observe: Click Reset. Select the SHADOWS tab, and click Play. Observe the Overhead and
Projection view of the Shadow of a stick. What do you notice?
It changes angle over the course of the day
11. Compare: As you watch the shadow move, observe how its length changes in comparison to the
Altitude of the Sun.
A. Describe the length of the shadow when the Sun is at its highest altitude. Shorter shadow
B. Why does the Sun’s altitude affect shadow length?
Because the angle of the sun determines the length of the shadow
Activity C: Sunrise and Get the Gizmo ready: Click Reset. Select the DESCRIPTION tab. Set the
sunset times Simulation speed to minimum.
Question: What factors affect sunrise and sunset times?
1. On your own: Latitude is a location’s distance north or south of the equator. You can use Google™ or
another search engine to look up your town’s latitude.
What is the latitude of your town?33.9815° N
Use the Latitude slider on the DESCRIPTION tab to set the Gizmo to your town’s latitude.
3
