A fixed pole casts a shadow that swings steadily around its base between morning and afternoon. Which motion of Earth produces that daily change?

At the same clock time on clear nights, Orion is easy to see in January but not in July evening skies. Which Earth motion best explains this yearly pattern?

A city moves from daylight to darkness as the day-night boundary crosses it. Which motion carries the city into Earth's shadow?

The noon Sun is much higher in the sky in June than in December at 40° N latitude. Which motion must be combined with axial tilt to cause that annual cycle?

New York reaches solar noon before Los Angeles on the same date. Which Earth motion explains why different longitudes face the Sun at different times?

During one revolution, Earth follows an orbital path around the Sun. Which description best fits the shape of that path?

Stars appear to rise in the east and set in the west during a single night. Which Earth motion causes this apparent daily star motion?

A nearby star appears slightly shifted against distant background stars when measured six months apart. Which Earth motion supplies the changing viewpoint?

The length of daylight at 45° N changes from about 9 hours in winter to about 15 hours in summer. Which Earth motion makes this a yearly cycle?

The Sun appears to move about 15° across the sky in one hour. Which motion of Earth produces that apparent motion?

Use the Foucault pendulum diagram. The swing plane stays nearly fixed while the floor turns beneath it. What motion does this demonstrate?

A Foucault pendulum at the North Pole appears to turn through a full circle in one day. What causes that apparent turning?

Use the Coriolis diagram. A wind moving north in the Northern Hemisphere curves to the right of its path. What Earth motion causes this deflection?

A long-range shell fired northward in the Northern Hemisphere lands slightly east of a straight map path. What evidence is this for?

A Foucault pendulum knocks down pegs around a circle even though no motor twists the cable. What conclusion is best supported?

Use the deflection diagram. Moving air curves right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere. What is the named effect?

A museum pendulum's swing direction appears to change slowly during the day, but the bob is not being pushed sideways. What is actually moving?

Use the Coriolis diagram. Why does the same straight-moving air parcel appear to curve in opposite directions north and south of the equator?

Use the orbit diagram. Earth is shown at different locations around the Sun during the year. Which observation is evidence for this motion?

A nearby star is photographed in January and July and appears in slightly different positions against distant stars. What classic evidence is this?

Use the orbit diagram showing Earth at opposite sides of the Sun. Why can a winter evening observer see a different part of space than a summer evening observer?

The Sun appears against different zodiac constellations during the year. Which Earth motion makes the Sun's background position change?

A meteor shower returns when Earth reaches the same place in its orbit and crosses the same debris trail. What motion is being used as evidence?

Use the seasons diagram. The sequence from equinox to solstice to equinox to solstice repeats each year. What motion carries Earth through that sequence?

Because Earth revolves around the Sun, a given star rises about 4 minutes earlier each night. About how much earlier will it rise after 30 nights?

Earth turns through 360° in about 24 hours. What is Earth's average rotation rate in degrees per hour?

At an average rotation rate of 15° per hour, through how many degrees does a place on the equator turn in 4 hours?

If 24 standard time zones divide 360° of longitude evenly, how many degrees of longitude are in one time zone?

Two cities are 45° of longitude apart. Using 15° per hour, what is the approximate solar-time difference between them?

Earth takes about 365.25 days to complete one revolution. How many days are in 4 complete revolutions?

Earth moves about 360° around its orbit in 365 days. Which value is the best estimate of Earth's orbital motion per day?

If Earth moves through one-fourth of its orbit, about how many days have passed? Use 365 days for one revolution.

The Sun's apparent position shifts about 1° eastward per day against background stars. About how many days are needed for a 30° shift?

Use the orbit diagram. Earth's axis is drawn tilted in the same direction at all four orbital positions. What does that show?

Use the orbit diagram. At the position where the North Pole leans toward the Sun, what happens in the Northern Hemisphere?

Use the orbit diagram. Six months after the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, what is the North Pole's orientation relative to the Sun?

Use the orbit diagram. At the two positions where neither pole leans toward the Sun, what seasonal event is shown?

Use the orbit diagram. Earth's axis is tilted about how many degrees from a line perpendicular to its orbital plane?

Use the orbit diagram. If the axis were drawn straight up and down at every position instead of tilted, which seasonal pattern would be reduced most?

Use the orbit diagram. Why are the Northern and Southern Hemispheres shown having opposite seasons at the same time?