Sun-Earth-Moon System Vocabulary

the imaginary line wrapped around the middle of the Earth, divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

• equator

• axis

• solstice

• equinox

• seasons

the two days of the year when Earth's rotation axis is tilted most toward or away from the Sun (shortest or longest day of the year)

• equator

• axis

• solstice

• equinox

• seasons

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

the two days of the year on which neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun

• equator

• axis

• solstice

• equinox

• seasons

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), caused by the tilt of Earth on its axis as it revolves around the Sun

• equator

• axis

• solstice

• equinox

• seasons

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

a natural object outside of Earth's atmosphere

• gravity

• motion

• inertia

• celestrial body

• revolution

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

celestial bodies appear to move in the sky due to the Earth rotating on its axis

• law of universal gravity

• velocity

• Newton's first law of motion

• apparent motion

• satellite

The two days of the year in which the sun's most direct rays reach farthest north or farthest south

• Inertia

• Newton's First Law of Motion

• Equinox

• Solstice

• Law of Universal Gravitation

The two days of the year when day and night are almost the same length everywhere on Earth

• Inertia

• Newton's First Law of Motion

• Equinox

• Solstice

• Law of Universal Gravitation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

the moon phase in which we see more than half, but not all, of the moon's sunlit side.

• wax

• lunar eclipse

• gibbous

• solar eclipse

• wane

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

As the moon travels counterclockwise around Earth, it appears to grow, or ___________ .

• wax

• lunar eclipse

• gibbous

• solar eclipse

• wane

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1