Patterns in the Sky—Motions of Earth

Study Plan

Learning Goals

1. Explain how the stars appear to move through the sky, and how the motion of the stars differs when viewed from different latitudes on Earth.
2. Explain why there are different seasons throughout the year.
3. Summarize how the motion of the Moon in its orbit about Earth, together with the motion of Earth and the Moon around the Sun, shapes the phases of the Moon and the spectacle of eclipses.
4. Sketch the alignment of Earth, Moon, and Sun during different phases of the Moon.

Prepare and Assess

1. Read Chapter 2 in your textbook or ebook.
2. Take the Diagnostic Quiz to assess your understanding of the basic concepts and identify gaps in your understanding of the reading.

Learn

1. Use the FlashCards to test your memory for the new terms introduced in this chapter.
2. Access the AstroTours for this chapter. These brief lessons enhance your understanding of core concepts.
   1. The Celestial Sphere and the Ecliptic
      Section: 2.2 and 2.3
   2. The Earth Spins and Revolves
      Section: 2.2 and 2.3
   3. The Moon's Orbit: Eclipses and Phases
      Section: 2.4 and 2.6
   4. The View from the Poles
      Section 2.2
3. Access the Nebraska Simulations for this chapter. Be sure to try different parameters with the simulations to make sure you understand the concepts.
   1. Ecliptic (Zodiac) Simulator
      Change the date to view the sky during different months of the year.
   2. Sun's Rays Simulator
      Note how the direct rays of the Sun hit different parts of Earth as the year progresses.
   3. Sun Motions Demonstrator
      Models the motions of the Sun in the sky using a horizon diagram, demonstrating daily and seasonal changes in the Sun’s position.
   4. Lunar Phase Simulator
      Be sure to note how the angle between the Sun and the Moon change during the Moon’s orbit.
   5. Moon Phases and the Horizon Diagram
      Change the position of the Moon and the Sun and note which phases of the Moon are visible in the daytime sky or evening sky.
   6. Eclipse Shadow Demonstrator
   7. Meridional Altitude Simulator
      Change the latitude and note the altitude at which the north or south celestial pole can be viewed.
4. Review the figures in the chapter; they were very specifically chosen to help your understanding of different topics and concepts. Challenge yourself by covering the figure captions and describing what each figure is trying to communicate and/or represent.
5. Review Math Tools 2.1.
6. Work the Thinking about the Concepts and Applying the Concepts questions in the end-of-chapter review materials.
7. If your instructor has assigned SmartWork online homework, log in for additional practice and review.

Reassess and Apply

1. Take a Diagnostic Quiz to assess your understanding of the basic concepts. If you are not satisfied with your score, use the resources in your Custom Study Plan to focus on the concepts you missed. Continue to take quizzes until you feel comfortable that you have achieved the Learning Goals for this chapter or until you have exhausted the questions in the quiz bank.
2. Try the Summary Self-Test and True/False and Multiple Choice questions in the end-of-chapter materials. These questions will provide another assessment of your understanding of the basic concepts.
3. Try the Thinking about the Concepts and Applying the Concepts questions in the end-of-chapter materials. Understanding these questions indicates an ability to apply the basic concepts of this chapter.
4. Check for new articles on Astronomy in the News.

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