SCIENCE GUIDE

QUESTIONNAIRE #2 - MOON, EARTH, SUN

What are various features of the Moon and
how did they form?

 The moon has no atmosphere.

 the moon does not have protection against objects moving through outer space
 Craters were formed from space objects striking the moon at high speeds.
Why does the moon appear to change shape over
the course of a month?

 The moon is visible to Earth, because it reflects light from the sun
 As the moon moves around Earth, different areas reflect sunlight
so different portions are visible.
How are the Earth and the moon similar and
different?

MOON EARTH

is approximately one-quarter the size of The Earth is about 81 times more massive
Earth than the moon

has approximately one-sixth the gravity Has atmosphere

The Moon has no atmosphere

How do scientists know the composition of the
moon?

 The Apollo moon missions were helpful in collecting data.

 Astronauts collected many rock samples that helped determine the
moon’s composition.
 The Apollo missions helped scientists develop theories about the
moon’s origin.
What are the characteristics of Earth that allow it
to support life?

 Earth is surrounded by a thin atmosphere that

contains nitrogen oxygen and other trace gases.

 This atmosphere provides the air that we breathe.

 It also helps to regulate the temperature so that we do not

experience extreme hot or cold.
What are some features of Earth that make it distinct
from the Moon and from other planets in our solar
system?

 Earth contains an atmosphere.

 Earth contains liquid water on its surface.

 Its atmosphere and the presence of water make

Earth unique in its ability to support life.
 How does the diameter and volume of the sun
compare to the size and mass of other space objects?

 Compared to the planets, moons, and asteroids in its solar system, the sun is very large.

 The sun’s diameter is 100 times greater than earth’s diameter.

 It would take approximately 1.3 million Earth’s to fill a hollow sun.

 Compared to all the stars in the universe, the sun is medium-sized.

 How does the diameter and volume of the sun
compare to the size and mass of other space objects?

 Comparado con los planetas, lunas y asteroides de su sistema solar, el sol es muy grande.

 El diámetro del sol es 100 veces mayor que el diámetro de la tierra.

 Se necesitarían aproximadamente 1,3 millones de Tierras para llenar un sol hueco.

 En comparación con todas las estrellas del universo, el sol es de tamaño mediano.
 Describe the Sunspot cycle and explain how solar
events (including sunspots) affect Earth.
 Sunspots are dark, intense magnetic fields on the sun created because the sun rotates faster at Sunspots: manchas solares
the equator than it does at the poles.

 Sunspots will occur in eleven-year cycles, with the number of sunspots increasing to maximum
then decreasing to minimum over the eleven-year cycle.

 The intense magnetic field caused by sunspots tends to spur other magnetic storms such as solar
flares.

 Solar flares can cause communication and electrical disruptions on earth.

 They can also cause very spectacular auroras, streams of light that occur above earth’s magnetic
poles.
 Describe the Sunspot cycle and explain how solar
events (including sunspots) affect Earth.
 Las manchas solares son campos magnéticos oscuros e intensos en el sol creados porque el sol gira más rápido
en el ecuador que en los polos. Sunspots: manchas solares

 Las manchas solares ocurrirán en ciclos de once años, y el número de manchas solares aumentará al máximo y
luego disminuirá al mínimo durante el ciclo de once años.

 El intenso campo magnético causado por las manchas solares tiende a provocar otras tormentas magnéticas,
como las erupciones solares.

 Las erupciones solares pueden causar interrupciones eléctricas y de comunicación en la tierra.

 También pueden provocar auroras muy espectaculares, corrientes de luz que se producen por encima de los
polos magnéticos de la Tierra.
 What are the layers of the sun and what occurs in each
layer?
THE CORE RADIATION ZONE CONVECTION PHOTOSPHERE CHROMOSPHER THE CORONA
ZONE E
is the innermost The layer above the Heat and energy Is the visible is a red layer above is a tenuous white
layer of the sun core follow convection “surface” of the sun the photosphere. layer that is over
currents in this layer 500,000 K
slowly bringing
energy towards the
surface.
Hydrogen fuses to Energy travels Sunspots and Spicules, spikes of is an ionized gas that
form helium in the through this layer in granules can be gas, occur in the forms the solar
core, releasing waves, bringing observed on this chromosphere. wind.
energy. energy to higher layer.
levels in the sun.
is yellow in color
and has an
approximate
temperature of 5500
K.
 What are the layers of the sun and what occurs in each
layer?

El núcleo del sol es la capa más interna del sol. El hidrógeno se fusiona para formar helio en el núcleo, liberando
energía. La capa por encima del núcleo se denomina zona de radiación. La energía viaja a través de esta capa en
ondas, llevando la energía a niveles más altos en el sol. La siguiente capa es la zona de convección. El calor y la
energía siguen las corrientes de convección en esta capa, llevando lentamente la energía hacia la superficie. La
fotosfera es la “superficie” visible del sol. En esta capa se pueden observar manchas solares y gránulos. La
fotosfera es de color amarillo y tiene una temperatura aproximada de 5500 K. La cromosfera es una capa roja
encima de la fotosfera. Espículas, picos de gas, se producen en la cromosfera. Finalmente, la corona es una tenue
capa blanca que supera los 500.000 K. La corona es un gas ionizado que forma el viento solar.