Created By: Peter North
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Before you begin your mission be sure to click here to print out your answer form.
You are about to answer questions that you once thought were unanswerable. These are the questions that you bothered your parents about and they nervously made up answers, as they too were clueless! Be sure to record your answers in the spaces provided in the answer form.
1) How long does it take for Earth to complete one full rotation?
www.polaris.iastate.edu/NorthStar/Unit3/EarthsRotation/body_earthsrotation.html
2) Explain why the eastern hemisphere experiences daytime while the western hemisphere experiences night? Click here for a diagram to help you answer this question.
3) How many days does it take for the Earth to revolve around the sun? What is this amount of time called? Click here for a diagram to help answer this question.
I know, I know...those were easy! Now that you're warmed up lets start the challenge!
4) How does the tilt of the Earth's axis influence the seasons of the year?
http://www.scienceu.com/observatory/articles/seasons/seasons.html
5) Why is the climate near the equator hotter than ours in New York?
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/MichaelLevin.shtml
http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/weather/adptcty/shape.html
6) If it is summer in the northern hemisphere, what season is it in the southern hemisphere? Why?
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question165.htm
Still stumped? Click here for a helpful diagram.
Now for your final challenge.
7) Explain how rotation, revolution, and the tilt of the Earth's axis all interact to cause the seasons of the year and night and day.
