Patterns of Light and Stars
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5th Grade Science › Patterns of Light and Stars
Mr. Green's class is studying the Solar System and Milky Way Galaxy. Today they are doing an investigation in the lab. Asia and Chele are partners for today's activity. They are given a ping pong ball with a sticker on one side, a flashlight, and their lab journals with a pencil for recording observations or data. Mr. Green turns off the lights. Asia holds the ping pong ball that represents Earth at a slight angle (like its axis) while Chele shines a flashlight on the center of the ball. Asia slowly rotates the Earth counterclockwise, and they observe where the light shines and where it doesn't. They take notice of the sticker and whether the sun shines on it or it is in darkness while the Earth rotates. Their observations are below.
How does the amount of sunlight change as the Earth rotates?
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets dimmer as it rotates away from the light and will soon be dark and experience night. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get lighter as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets brighter as it rotates away from the light and will soon be light and experience night. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get dimmer as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets dimmer as it rotates towards from the light and will soon be dark and experience day. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get lighter as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets brighter as it rotates towards the light and will soon be dark and experience night. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get darker as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
Explanation
The amount of sunlight changes at a location based on whether they are facing towards the Sun or away from the Sun. When facing directly towards the Sun, an area will experience daytime while the opposite side of Earth experiences night. The light starts to dim as the Earth rotates, and the location begins to experience nighttime. As the rotation takes place, the opposite of Earth becomes lighter as daytime begins.
Mr. Green's class is studying the Solar System and Milky Way Galaxy. Today they are doing an investigation in the lab. Asia and Chele are partners for today's activity. They are given a ping pong ball with a sticker on one side, a flashlight, and their lab journals with a pencil for recording observations or data. Mr. Green turns off the lights. Asia holds the ping pong ball that represents Earth at a slight angle (like its axis) while Chele shines a flashlight on the center of the ball. Asia slowly rotates the Earth counterclockwise, and they observe where the light shines and where it doesn't. They take notice of the sticker and whether the sun shines on it or it is in darkness while the Earth rotates. Their observations are below.
Based on Asia and Chele's observations, how do we know which areas of the world are experiencing daytime?
The parts of the Earth that are facing the Sun will experience daytime while the other half experiences night.
The parts of the Earth that are facing the Sun will experience nighttime while the other half experiences day.
The parts of the Earth that are facing away from the Sun will experience daytime while the other half experiences night.
Asia and Chele's investigation does not reveal any patterns or information about nighttime and daytime.
Explanation
The part of Earth facing the Sun will experience day time. The opposite side will be experiencing nighttime. The Earth's rotation on its axis determines daytime and night because of its location regarding the Sun.
The Victoria State Education and Training department explains why this is true, "The Earth is one of several planets that orbit the Sun, and the moon orbits the Earth. The Earth is essentially a sphere, and the Sun is a nearby star, which is an unimaginably large ball of gas that radiates light and heat as products of nuclear reactions. The Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 days and rotates about its axis once every 24 hours. Day and night are due to the Earth rotating on its axis, not its orbit around the Sun. The term 'one day' is determined by the time the Earth takes to rotate once on its axis and includes both day time and night time."
Dev looked at the night sky through his telescope on the first night of each season (spring, summer, fall, and winter). Each night he started looking at the stars at the same time and the same location. He observed the stars for five hours each night. If the sky was clear of clouds on all four nights, which of the following did he most likely observe?
The same stars would be in the same place on each of the four nights.
The patterns of stars changed and appeared to move across the sky.
Different groups of stars remained in the same place for each of the four nights.
There were no groupings or patterns of stars on the first day of the season.
Explanation
The Earth completes its orbit around the Sun or its revolution in about 365 days total. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the position of the Earth changes and this creates the different views of the night sky. Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation or spin on its axis. This rotation is what causes daylight and nighttime. As the Earth changes its position, the stars appear to move in the sky as well. The stars are stationary but seem to move in the sky. Each day the Earth travels further in its orbit, and a different part of the night sky is visible. The stars appear seasonally, so the pattern will remain the same but seem to move across the sky.
A series of photographs of a 1-meter stick and shadow were taken throughout the day. Students analyzed the photos and recorded the data in the table below. What pattern(s) are revealed about the length of the shadow in the provided data?
The length of the shadow decreased throughout the day until it reached the Sun's peak.
The length of the shadows increased after the peak.
The angle of the shadows decreased throughout the day.
All of the answer choices are correct.
Explanation
Data tables are a great way to organize and analyze information from an investigation or experiment. In this investigation, a series of time-lapsed photos were taken from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm, and students measured the length of the shadow that a 1-meter long stick created as well as the angle of the shadow. When reviewing the data, a pattern was revealed about the length of the shadow. The length of the shadow decreased throughout the day until it reached its shortest measurement at the Sun's peak. The length of the shadows increased after this peak. Looking at the column labeled "length," the measurements are increasing until the Sun reaches its peak during the 1:00 pm hour. After the Sun is no longer at its highest point, the length of the shadow begins to increase again. The angle of the shadows also decreased throughout the day. Analyzing data can often lead to patterns being recognized, and predictions about future measurements can be made.
A series of photographs of a 1-meter stick and shadow were taken throughout the day. Students analyzed the photos and recorded the data in the table below. What pattern(s) are revealed about the length of the shadow in the provided data?
The length of the shadow decreased throughout the day until it reached the Sun's peak.
The length of the shadows increased after the peak.
The angle of the shadows decreased throughout the day.
All of the answer choices are correct.
Explanation
Data tables are a great way to organize and analyze information from an investigation or experiment. In this investigation, a series of time-lapsed photos were taken from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm, and students measured the length of the shadow that a 1-meter long stick created as well as the angle of the shadow. When reviewing the data, a pattern was revealed about the length of the shadow. The length of the shadow decreased throughout the day until it reached its shortest measurement at the Sun's peak. The length of the shadows increased after this peak. Looking at the column labeled "length," the measurements are increasing until the Sun reaches its peak during the 1:00 pm hour. After the Sun is no longer at its highest point, the length of the shadow begins to increase again. The angle of the shadows also decreased throughout the day. Analyzing data can often lead to patterns being recognized, and predictions about future measurements can be made.
Dev looked at the night sky through his telescope on the first night of each season (spring, summer, fall, and winter). Each night he started looking at the stars at the same time and the same location. He observed the stars for five hours each night. If the sky was clear of clouds on all four nights, which of the following did he most likely observe?
The same stars would be in the same place on each of the four nights.
The patterns of stars changed and appeared to move across the sky.
Different groups of stars remained in the same place for each of the four nights.
There were no groupings or patterns of stars on the first day of the season.
Explanation
The Earth completes its orbit around the Sun or its revolution in about 365 days total. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the position of the Earth changes and this creates the different views of the night sky. Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation or spin on its axis. This rotation is what causes daylight and nighttime. As the Earth changes its position, the stars appear to move in the sky as well. The stars are stationary but seem to move in the sky. Each day the Earth travels further in its orbit, and a different part of the night sky is visible. The stars appear seasonally, so the pattern will remain the same but seem to move across the sky.
Mr. Green's class is studying the Solar System and Milky Way Galaxy. Today they are doing an investigation in the lab. Asia and Chele are partners for today's activity. They are given a ping pong ball with a sticker on one side, a flashlight, and their lab journals with a pencil for recording observations or data. Mr. Green turns off the lights. Asia holds the ping pong ball that represents Earth at a slight angle (like its axis) while Chele shines a flashlight on the center of the ball. Asia slowly rotates the Earth counterclockwise, and they observe where the light shines and where it doesn't. They take notice of the sticker and whether the sun shines on it or it is in darkness while the Earth rotates. Their observations are below.
Based on Asia and Chele's observations, how do we know which areas of the world are experiencing daytime?
The parts of the Earth that are facing the Sun will experience daytime while the other half experiences night.
The parts of the Earth that are facing the Sun will experience nighttime while the other half experiences day.
The parts of the Earth that are facing away from the Sun will experience daytime while the other half experiences night.
Asia and Chele's investigation does not reveal any patterns or information about nighttime and daytime.
Explanation
The part of Earth facing the Sun will experience day time. The opposite side will be experiencing nighttime. The Earth's rotation on its axis determines daytime and night because of its location regarding the Sun.
The Victoria State Education and Training department explains why this is true, "The Earth is one of several planets that orbit the Sun, and the moon orbits the Earth. The Earth is essentially a sphere, and the Sun is a nearby star, which is an unimaginably large ball of gas that radiates light and heat as products of nuclear reactions. The Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 days and rotates about its axis once every 24 hours. Day and night are due to the Earth rotating on its axis, not its orbit around the Sun. The term 'one day' is determined by the time the Earth takes to rotate once on its axis and includes both day time and night time."
Mr. Green's class is studying the Solar System and Milky Way Galaxy. Today they are doing an investigation in the lab. Asia and Chele are partners for today's activity. They are given a ping pong ball with a sticker on one side, a flashlight, and their lab journals with a pencil for recording observations or data. Mr. Green turns off the lights. Asia holds the ping pong ball that represents Earth at a slight angle (like its axis) while Chele shines a flashlight on the center of the ball. Asia slowly rotates the Earth counterclockwise, and they observe where the light shines and where it doesn't. They take notice of the sticker and whether the sun shines on it or it is in darkness while the Earth rotates. Their observations are below.
How does the amount of sunlight change as the Earth rotates?
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets dimmer as it rotates away from the light and will soon be dark and experience night. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get lighter as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets brighter as it rotates away from the light and will soon be light and experience night. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get dimmer as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets dimmer as it rotates towards from the light and will soon be dark and experience day. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get lighter as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
The part of the Earth that faces the Sun gets brighter as it rotates towards the light and will soon be dark and experience night. The part that was facing away from the Sun starts to get darker as it moves into the daytime and receives light.
Explanation
The amount of sunlight changes at a location based on whether they are facing towards the Sun or away from the Sun. When facing directly towards the Sun, an area will experience daytime while the opposite side of Earth experiences night. The light starts to dim as the Earth rotates, and the location begins to experience nighttime. As the rotation takes place, the opposite of Earth becomes lighter as daytime begins.
If you were to watch the night sky from dusk to dawn, you would notice starts rising from the eastern horizon. They will sweep across the night sky and set beneath the western horizon at dawn. Something interesting happens over time. If you were to look outside again a few weeks later, those same stars would disappear from your view. A new group of stars would take their place. In the winter months, stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere look into the night sky and see Orion the Hunter. The same spot in the summertime revels the stars of Scorpius. In the spring, the constellation of the Sickle of Leo, the Lion, is present. Finally, in the fall, the Great Square of Pegasus comes into view. Every season this same pattern takes place, and the constellations return to the skywatcher's view.
As our Earth whirls through space around the Sun, its motions cause night and day, the four seasons, and the passage of the years. The Earth completes a single turn on its axis, not in 24 hours, but 23 hours 56 minutes. As a result, the stars appear to rise, cross the sky and set four minutes earlier each night. The Earth does not merely stand in the same spot in space and spins but is always rushing eastward along in its orbit around the Sun.
Based on this information, which constellation(s) will be visible next summer in the Northern Hemisphere?
Scorpius
Great Square of Pegasus
Orion the Hunter
Sickle of Leo, the Lion
Explanation
The Earth completes its orbit around the Sun or its revolution in about 365 days total. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the position of the Earth changes, and this creates the different views of the night sky. Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation or spin on its axis. This rotation is what causes daylight and nighttime. As the Earth changes its position, the stars appear to move in the sky as well. The stars are stationary but seem to move in the sky. Each day the Earth travels further in its orbit, and a different part of the night sky is visible. The stars appear seasonally, so the pattern will remain the same. Scorpius will appear each summer in the Northern Hemisphere following this pattern.
What statement about patterns of stars in the sky is correct?
As the Earth rotates on its axis, the patterns of stars in the night sky appear to move.
The patterns of stars rotate as the Sun moves around Earth.
The stars are rotating, so it makes the Earth appear to move.
As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the patterns of the stars appear to move.
Explanation
The Earth completes its orbit around the Sun or its revolution in about 365 days total. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the position of the Earth changes and this creates the different views of the night sky. Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation or spin on its axis. This rotation is what causes daylight and nighttime. As the Earth changes its position, the stars appear to move in the sky as well. The stars are stationary but seem to move in the sky. Each day the Earth travels further in its orbit, and a different part of the night sky is visible. The stars appear seasonally, so the pattern will remain the same but seem to move across the sky.