Chapter 3 Study Guide

What is the solar system composed of?

• The sun, planets, and other objects held in orbit by the sun's gravity

• Only the sun and planets

• Stars and galaxies

• The sun and moons only

What is the atmosphere of Earth?

• A solid layer of rock

• A liquid ocean

• An envelope of gases

• A magnetic field

What holds the Earth's atmosphere in place?

• The Sun's heat

• The Earth's gravity

• The Moon's pull

• The Earth's rotation

What is the most obvious motion of the Earth called?

• Revolution

• Rotation

• Orbit

• Precession

At what angle does the Earth rotate on its axis?

• 45°

• 90°

• 23½°

• 60°

How long does it take for the Earth to complete one full rotation?

• 12 hours

• 24 hours

• 48 hours

• 72 hours

What is the term for the Earth's trip around the sun once a year?

• Rotation

• Revolution

• Orbit

• Spin

What is the event called when the length of day and night are approximately equal all over the planet?

• Solstice

• Equinox

• Eclipse

• Perihelion

What is the event called when the sun reaches its greatest angular distance from the equator?

• Equinox

• Solstice

• Eclipse

• Aphelion

What causes the seasons on Earth?

• The distance of Earth from the sun

• The slant of sunlight and the tilt of Earth's axis

• The speed of Earth's rotation

• The shape of Earth's orbit