Unit 2 Test: A Study Guide

Unit 2 Study Guide*

Answer the following questions to be better prepared for your Unit 2 Test later on this week, on Thursday and Friday.

1. What is the shape of Earth’s orbit?
2. What 2 types of satellites are there? Give an example of each.
3. Compare the orbits of the planets.
4. The north pole is actually Earth’s magnetic ____ pole.
5. How do lines of flux enter and exit a magnet?
6. What is Earth’s defense against coronal mass ejections?
7. What is orbital velocity?
8. What is gravity?
9. What is aphelion?
10. What is an eclipse?
11. What is an orbit?
12. What are cosmic rays?
13. What does centripetal mean?
14. What is a satellite?
15. What is perihelion?
16. What is a solar eclipse?
17. How long do solar eclipses last?
18. Which type of eclipse is safe to look at without eye protection?
19. What is a lunar eclipse?
20. How long do lunar eclipses last?
21. What season is it in the Northern hemisphere when Earth is closest to the sun?
22. What season is it in the Southern hemisphere when Earth is closest to the sun?
23. What season is it in the Northern hemisphere when Earth is farthest from the sun?
24. What season is it in the Southern hemisphere when Earth is farthest from the sun?
25. What season is it in the Northern hemisphere when Earth is at vernal equinox?
26. What season is it in the Southern hemisphere when Earth is at vernal equinox?
27. What season is it in the Northern hemisphere when Earth is at autumnal equinox?
28. What season is it in the Southern hemisphere when Earth is at autumnal equinox?
29. What contributes to the changing of the season?
30. In the hand spinning the ball diagram
    1. The hand represents the ___.
    2. The string represent the ___.
    3. The dotted line represents the ___.
    4. The ball represents the __.
31. What 2 things need to be balanced for an orbit to happen?
32. If we model the solar system using a football field, how would Earth be represented?
33. If NASA reports the sun’s mass decreased by half, but its size stayed the same, what would happen to earth’s orbit?
34. If NASA reports the sun’s mass doubled, but its size stayed the same, what would happen to earth’s orbit?
35. What 2 factors affect the strength of an electromagnet?
36. What is the angle of inclination (orbital inclination)?
37. If an object is closer to the sun it will feel ____ gravitational pull from the sun.
38. If an object is farther away from the sun it will feel ____ gravitational pull from the sun.
39. If an object has a larger mass it will feel ___ gravitational pull from the sun.
40. If an object has a smaller mass it will feel ___ gravitational pull from the sun.
41. Calculate your weight (for example 40 pounds) on a planet with
    1. 0.25 times the gravity of Earth.
    2. 0.50 times the gravity of Earth.
    3. 0.75 times the gravity of Earth.
    4. 1.25 times the gravity of Earth.
    5. 1.50 times the gravity of Earth.
    6. 2 times the gravity of Earth.
42. How many days pass between new moon and full moon?
43. How many days pass between new moon and quarter moon?
44. How many days pass between full moon and last quarter moon?
45. What moon phase must it be for a lunar eclipse to occur?
46. What moon phase must it be for a solar eclipse to occur?
47. Why do solar and lunar eclipse not happen every month?
48. Change between regular notation and scientific notation
    1. 45,000
    2. 9,000,000
    3. 0.0000378
    4. 0.054
    5. 9.46 x 10^–6
    6. 2.5 x  10³
    7. 6 x 10^–3
    8. 8 x 10²
49. You look into the night sky with binoculars and see a satellite that does not appear to be moving. Explain.
50. Describe 2 ways people use satellites.
51. Satellites experience orbital decay. So, how does the International Space Station maintain orbit?
52. One thing responsible for the magnetic field around the earth is the Earth’s …
53. Describe one reason why NASA study eclipses?
54. Why do the moon and the sun appear to be the same size in the sky?
55. Explain why all of the constellations are not always visible at night.
56. How can being able to recognize constellations help people?
57. Draw a picture of a magnet with its lines of flux.
58. Draw a picture of what the magnet looks like when it is cut in half.
59. According to Einstein, what directions can you move in spacetime?
60. Compare Einstein theory to Newton’s theory for falling objects.

*Source: Ms. Heather Whitehead, Woodworth Middle School, Dearborn, Michigan