Option 1: Explore Asteroid Impact
Student Worksheet
PART 1 Background Information:
The Moon
Everyone has seen the moon in the night sky. The reason you can see the moon is because of the light reflecting off the moon from the Sun. The moon does not produce its own light. While Earth revolves around the sun, the moon revolves around Earth. At the same time, the moon is rotating around an axis, just as Earth rotates on its own axis. By coincidence, the moon rotates around its axis and revolves around the Earth at almost exactly the same speed. This means that the same side of the moon is always facing towards Earth.
Just like Earth, half of the moon is always lit by the sun as the moon rotates. The moon always has a light half and a dark half, just like Earth always has a day half and night half. Even though the moon is much smaller than Earth, the moon takes much longer to rotate around its axis - almost a month (as opposed to Earth which takes 24 hours/one day).
Because the side of the moon that is lit by the sun is not always the side of the moon facing Earth, the moon appears to change shape through the month, but it never actually changes shape - only our perspective changes. All of the different moon shapes, or phases, have different names. Click on the link below to learn about all of the phases. You can also read your lessons for more information.
Moon Phases
Directions for Part 1:
You will now use what you have learned about the moon to think critically about a hypothetical situation in which an asteroid collides with the moon, breaking it in half. What do you think the future might look like in this situation? Follow the steps below to complete this activity.
Create a diagram or model that illustrates the causes of CURRENT lunar phases. Title your diagram “Before Impact”. For this part you can:
Draw a diagram by hand and insert a picture of your diagram into this document
Use the “draw” function in this Google Doc (Insert>Drawing>New)
Draw a diagram by hand and upload the picture to the Lesson dropbox separately
Create a physical model and insert a picture of your model into this document
Create a physical model and upload a picture of your model to the Lesson dropbox separately
Insert picture here if a, b, or d
Once you have finished your diagram or model of the moon phases, use it to make a prediction about how lunar phases might be changed if an asteroid collided with the moon, splitting it in half. A series of questions has been provided for you to use to develop your train of thought. Make sure to provide reasoning and evidence to support your answer.
QUESTION: How might the lunar phases change if the moon collided with an asteroid, causing it to break in half?
Explain how the moon might be physically different.
Explain how the moon might appear differently to us on Earth.
Would the seasons on Earth change?
Would days and nights on Earth change?
Are there any other changes you can identify that might happen on Earth?
Type your answer here
3. Create a diagram or model that illustrates how the moon would appear after the asteroid collision. Title your diagram “After Impact”. For this part you can:
Draw a diagram by hand and insert a picture of your diagram into this document
Use the “draw” function in this Google Doc (Insert>Drawing>New)
Draw a diagram by hand and upload the picture to the Lesson dropbox separately
Create a physical model and insert a picture of your model into this document
Create a physical model and upload a picture of your model to the Lesson dropbox separately
Insert picture here if a, b, or d
PART 2 Background Information:
Seasons
There are many factors that change in order to create the four separate seasons. The first is Earth’s revolution - or trip around the Sun. It takes Earth approximately 365 days to make one full revolution, or orbit, around the sun. Because Earth’s orbit is an elliptical shape, sometimes Earth is closer to the sun than other times in its orbit. However, this does not necessarily mean that Earth will experience the summer season when it is closest to the sun and winter when it is farthest. This is because of the tilt of Earth on its axis. Earth does not stand straight up and down, it is tilted so that one hemisphere will face in the opposite direction from the other hemisphere.
During much of the year, based on where Earth is at in its orbit as well as the tilt of the axis, either the northern or southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun while the other hemisphere is pointed away. The hemisphere pointed towards the sun will experience more direct solar rays. The more direct sunlight will cause longer days and more intense heat, creating the conditions we recognize as summer. To learn more about how the seasons are created watch the video linked below. You can also use the information given in your lessons.
Seasons and the Sun
Directions for Part 2:
You will now use what you have learned about the seasons to think critically about a hypothetical situation in which an asteroid collides with the Earth, significantly changing the tilt of Earth’s axis. What do you think the future might look like in this situation? Follow the steps below to complete this activity.
4. Create a diagram or model that illustrates the causes of CURRENT seasons. Title your diagram “Before Impact”. For this part you can:
Draw a diagram by hand and insert a picture of your diagram into this document
Use the “draw” function in this Google Doc (Insert>Drawing>New)
Draw a diagram by hand and upload the picture to the Lesson dropbox separately
Create a physical model and insert a picture of your model into this document
Create a physical model and upload a picture of your model to the Lesson dropbox separately
Insert picture here if a, b, or d
Once you have finished your diagram or model of the seasons, use it to make a prediction about how the seasons might be changed if an asteroid collided with the Earth, significantly changing its axis tilt. A series of questions has been provided for you to use to develop your train of thought. Make sure to provide reasoning and evidence to support your answer.
QUESTION: How might the seasons change if an asteroid collided with the Earth, significantly changing its axis tilt?
Explain how the Earth's axis might be physically different.
Explain how the seasons might be different.
What effects might this have on weather patterns and climates around the world?
How might this impact plant and animal life?
Are there any other changes you can identify that might happen on Earth?
Type your answer here
6. Create a diagram or model that illustrates how the seasons would appear after the asteroid collision. Title your diagram “After Impact”. For this part you can:
Draw a diagram by hand and insert a picture of your diagram into this document
Use the “draw” function in this Google Doc (Insert>Drawing>New)
Draw a diagram by hand and upload the picture to the Lesson dropbox separately
Create a physical model and insert a picture of your model into this document
Create a physical model and upload a picture of your model to the Lesson dropbox separately
Insert picture here if a, b, or d