Ch02 Process of Science
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School
Angelo State University *
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Course
1304
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by DingusBingus
Which of the following best describes your observations?
All of the stars move in a counterclockwise path around Polaris.
The stars closest to Polaris move in smaller circles.
Celestial motions over time periods longer than a day are less obvious. Say you went out at exactly the same time each night and looked at the sky, noting the position of a specific set of stars at that time with respect to reference objects on Earth, such as trees and buildings. The following figure shows how the stars would change position. Based on this figure, what is the most correct conclusion?
The stars appear to move westward from one night to the next.
During the day, the Sun is too bright for us to see where it is located with respect to the constellations, but we can use our observations of stars at night to figure this out. Based on the way stars (and thus constellations) shift position over the course of a year, your knowledge of how the time of day is defined, and the fact that, on a particular day of the year, a given constellation
(such as Orion) is seen at the same place in the sky at the same time of night, which of the following is most likely correct?
The Sun appears to move across the constellations over the course of a year, ending where it started with respect to the background stars by the end of that
period.
Then, choose one of the following conclusions that best explains the cause of the shift from day to night.
The shift from day to night is caused by the rotation of the Earth around its axis.
Let’s start with the hypothesis that the seasons are caused by a variable distance between the Earth and the Sun. Sort the observations or physical laws below according to whether they argue for or against this hypothesis.
Is the hypothesis that the seasons are caused by a variable distance between the Earth and the Sun verified or falsified by the evidence?
The hypothesis is falsified because some of the evidence is against it.
Assuming you are in the Northern Hemisphere, how would you expect the location of the Sun in your local sky at noon to differ from season to season?
The Sun will appear to be higher above the southern horizon in the summer than in the winter. Consider all the evidence about variations in the Sun's influence on the Earth throughout the year. Based on this evidence, what causes the seasons?
The tilt of the Earth’s rotation axis to its orbit around the Sun causes parts of the Earth to experience more direct illumination from the Sun and longer days during the summer than the winter.
Based on what you learn, click and drag the seasons to the place on the celestial sphere where you would expect the Sun to be during each season, as experienced in the Northern Hemisphere. (Note that the Southern Hemisphere will have the opposite season at that time).
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