- 1. The Earth orbits the Sun due to the gravitational pull exerted by the Sun, which is a massive ball of gases at the center of our solar system. The force of gravity causes the Earth to accelerate towards the Sun, but because the Earth also has a significant horizontal velocity, it doesn't fall straight into the Sun. Instead, it moves in a curved path, creating an elliptical orbit. This balance between gravitational attraction and the inertial motion of the Earth allows it to maintain a stable distance from the Sun, completing one full orbit approximately every 365.25 days, which constitutes a year. The tilt of the Earth's axis is responsible for the changing seasons as the Earth orbits, affecting the angle and intensity of sunlight received in different regions throughout the year. Additionally, the Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, leading to variations in distance from the Sun at different times, with the closest point, called perihelion, occurring around January 3rd, and the farthest point, called aphelion, occurring around July 4th. The interplay of these factors creates the dynamic and life-sustaining environment that we experience on our planet.
What force keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun?
A) Centrifugal force
B) Magnetic force
C) Frictional force
D) Gravitational force
- 2. What is the term for the point in Earth's orbit when it is farthest from the Sun?
A) Perihelion
B) Aphelion
C) Solstice
D) Equinox
- 3. What happens to Earth's speed as it gets closer to the Sun?
A) It stops
B) It remains the same
C) It decreases
D) It increases
- 4. Which of the following describes Earth's axial tilt?
A) About 30 degrees
B) About 23.5 degrees
C) About 10 degrees
D) About 45 degrees
- 5. What is the term for the position of the Earth closest to the Sun?
A) Aphelion
B) Perihelion
C) Apex
D) Zenith
- 6. Which planet has the most elliptical orbit in the Solar System?
A) Earth
B) Venus
C) Mercury
D) Mars
- 7. What phenomenon results from Earth's orbit and tilt regarding daylight?
A) Constant day length
B) No day length
C) Opposite day length
D) Variation in day length
- 8. Which of these is a key factor in Earth's orbital mechanics?
A) Mars' gravity
B) Jupiter's gravity
C) The Moon's gravity
D) The Sun's gravity
- 9. What is the significance of the equinoxes?
A) Shortest day of the year
B) Longest day of the year
C) Equal day and night duration
D) Constant daylight
- 10. What are Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion primarily about?
A) Planetary sizes
B) Planetary atmospheres
C) Planetary temperatures
D) Planetary orbits
- 11. What does the term 'synodic month' refer to?
A) One complete year
B) Time taken by Earth to orbit the Sun
C) The lunar month related to the Sun
D) Interval of equinoxes
- 12. Which celestial event occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align?
A) Meteor shower
B) Supernova
C) Eclipse
D) Aurora
- 13. What is one reason why seasons occur?
A) Tilt of Earth's axis
B) Distance to the Sun
C) Shape of Earth's orbit
D) Earth's rotation speed
- 14. What event marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere?
A) Autumnal equinox
B) Winter solstice
C) Vernal equinox
D) Summer solstice
- 15. How long does it take for Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?
A) 24 hours
B) 365 days
C) 30 days
D) 12 months
- 16. What season occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when Earth is tilted towards the Sun?
A) Summer
B) Winter
C) Fall
D) Spring
- 17. What phenomenon is caused by the Earth's orbit and axial tilt?
A) Seasons
B) Tides
C) Eclipses
D) Day and night
- 18. What is the average speed of Earth in its orbit around the Sun?
A) 10 km/s
B) 100 km/s
C) 50 km/s
D) 29.78 km/s
- 19. What celestial event marks the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere?
A) Equinox
B) Summer solstice
C) Perihelion
D) Winter solstice
- 20. What is the term for Earth's path around the Sun?
A) Rotation
B) Orbit
C) Revolution
D) Eclipse
- 21. Which force opposes gravity in Earth's orbit?
A) Magnetism
B) Pressure
C) Friction
D) Inertia
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