Question | Answer |
solar system | the sun and the group of bodies that revolve around it |
planets | major bodies that orbit a star |
moons | smaller objects that orbit the planets |
satellite | a body that orbits a larger body |
solar energy | energy from the sun which reaches earth as light and heat |
rotation | one complete spin of earth on its axis |
revolution | one elliptical orbit of earth around the sun |
tropic of capricorn | the parallel 23 1/2 degrees SOUTH of the equator |
tropic of cancer | the parallel 23 1/2 degrees NORTH of the equator |
arctic circle | parallel 66 1/2 degrees north of the equator |
antartic circle | the parallel 66 1/2 degrees south of the equator |
tropics | warm, low altitude areas near the equator |
solstice | the time that earths poles point at the greatest angle toward or away from the sun |
polar regions | high latitude, cold regions around the north and south poles |
equinox | the time when both earths poles are at a 90 degree angle from the sun and the suns direct rays strike the equator |
atmosphere | the envelope of gasses that surround a planet like earth |
lithosphere | solid crust of the earth |
hydrosphere | earths water in all its forms |
biosphere | the part of earth that includes all life forms |
environment | combination of earths four spheres, including all of the biological, chemical, and physical conditions that affect life. |