Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
What term describes the spinning of the Earth on its axis from west to east?
Answer
Rotation
Question
The imaginary line passing through the centre of the Earth on which it rotates is called the _____.
Answer
Earth's axis
Question
At what angle is the Earth's axis tilted from the vertical?
Answer
$23 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$
Question
What is the angle of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of its orbit?
Answer
$66 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$
Question
In which direction does the Earth complete its rotation?
Answer
West to east
Question
What is the precise duration of one full rotation of the Earth?
Answer
$23$ hours, $56$ minutes, $4.09$ seconds
Question
The speed of the Earth's rotation is highest at the _____.
Answer
Equator
Question
How does the speed of Earth's rotation change as one moves from the Equator towards the poles?
Answer
The speed decreases
Question
What is the speed of rotation at the Equator in kilometres per hour?
Answer
$1670$ km per hour
Question
The line that divides the Earth into a lighted half and a dark half is the circle of _____.
Answer
Illumination
Question
What phenomenon is caused by the rotation of the Earth on its axis?
Answer
Occurrence of day and night
Question
The period when the sun begins to cast its light in the sky is known as _____.
Answer
Twilight
Question
Concept: Dusk
Answer
Definition: The period of diffused light between sunset and complete darkness.
Question
Why is the duration of day and night not equal at all places on Earth?
Answer
Due to the Earth's inclined axis
Question
What force refers to the deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation?
Answer
Coriolis Effect
Question
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds and ocean currents are deflected to the _____.
Answer
Right
Question
In the Southern Hemisphere, winds and ocean currents are deflected to the _____.
Answer
Left
Question
Why do the sun, moon, and stars appear to move from east to west?
Answer
Because the Earth spins from west to east
Question
The apparent outward force acting on the rotating Earth that causes a bulge at the Equator is _____ force.
Answer
Centrifugal
Question
What is the physical effect of centrifugal force on the Earth's shape?
Answer
A bulge in the middle portion and flattening at the poles
Question
How many minutes of time difference occur for every degree of longitude on Earth?
Answer
$4$ minutes
Question
The movement of the Earth round the sun in an elliptical orbit is known as _____.
Answer
Revolution
Question
What is the average speed of the Earth's revolution in kilometres per second?
Answer
$29.8$ kilometres per second
Question
Why is the speed of Earth's revolution non-uniform?
Answer
Variations in gravitational pull as the distance from the sun changes
Question
What is the precise duration of one complete revolution round the sun?
Answer
$365$ days, $5$ hours, $48$ minutes, and $45.51$ seconds
Question
A year with $366$ days, occurring every four years, is called a _____.
Answer
Leap year
Question
In which month is the extra day of a leap year added?
Answer
February
Question
The position of the Earth when it is closest to the sun is called _____.
Answer
Perihelion
Question
The position of the Earth when it is farthest from the sun is called _____.
Answer
Aphelion
Question
On approximately what date does Perihelion occur?
Answer
January 3rd
Question
On approximately what date does Aphelion occur?
Answer
July 4th
Question
What is the distance between the Earth and the sun at Perihelion?
Answer
$147.3$ million km
Question
What is the distance between the Earth and the sun at Aphelion?
Answer
$152$ million km
Question
What determines the amount of heat a specific place on Earth receives?
Answer
The angle at which the sun's rays reach the surface
Question
Which heat zone stretches between $23 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ N and $23 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ S latitudes?
Answer
Torrid Zone
Question
The region between $23 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ and $66 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ in both hemispheres is the _____ zone.
Answer
Temperate
Question
Which heat zone experiences extremely cold climates due to extremely oblique sun rays?
Answer
Frigid Zone
Question
The term 'Solstice' is derived from Latin words meaning 'sun' and _____.
Answer
To stand still
Question
On which date does the Summer Solstice occur in the Northern Hemisphere?
Answer
June 21st
Question
During the Summer Solstice, the sun is vertically overhead at the _____.
Answer
Tropic of Cancer ($23 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ N)
Question
On which date does the Winter Solstice occur in the Northern Hemisphere?
Answer
December 22nd
Question
During the Winter Solstice, the sun is vertically overhead at the _____.
Answer
Tropic of Capricorn ($23 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ S)
Question
The term 'Equinox' is derived from Latin words meaning 'equal' and _____.
Answer
Night
Question
On which two days of the year does the sun shine vertically over the Equator?
Answer
March 21st and September 23rd
Question
What characterizes the length of day and night during an Equinox?
Answer
They are of equal length (12 hours each) everywhere on Earth
Question
March 21st is known as the Vernal Equinox in the _____ Hemisphere.
Answer
Northern
Question
September 23rd is known as the _____ Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
Answer
Autumnal
Question
How is the altitude (angle of incidence) of the sun calculated on an Equinox?
Answer
By subtracting the latitude value from $90^{\circ}$
Question
What is the angle of incidence of the sun's rays at $50^{\circ}$ N on March 21st?
Answer
$40^{\circ}$
Question
What phenomenon describes regions beyond the Arctic Circle experiencing 24 hours of daylight in summer?
Answer
Midnight Sun
Question
What is the duration of daylight at the Equator on June 21st?
Answer
$12$ hours
Question
On June 21st, how many hours of daylight are experienced at the Arctic Circle ($66 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ N)?
Answer
$24$ hours
Question
On December 22nd, how many hours of daylight are experienced at the Arctic Circle ($66 \frac{1}{2}^{\circ}$ N)?
Answer
$0$ hours
Question
Why is the duration of twilight longer at the poles compared to the Equator?
Answer
Because the sun rises and sets in an oblique path rather than a vertical one
Question
The period of diffused light between sunrise and full daylight is called _____.
Answer
Dawn
Question
Under what condition would every place on Earth have equal day and night lengths year-round?
Answer
If the Earth's axis were vertical instead of inclined
Question
What would be the effect on seasons if the Earth did not revolve around the sun?
Answer
There would be no seasons
Question
Why do we not feel the high-speed motions of the Earth?
Answer
Gravity keeps everything attached, and objects move at a uniform motion with reference to Earth
Question
Which latitude experiences a constant 12-hour day and night throughout the year?
Answer
The Equator ($0^{\circ}$)
Question
What happens to the altitude of the sun as one moves away from the Equator during an Equinox?
Answer
The altitude of the sun decreases