Contextualization
The Earth, our home, is constantly in motion. This movement can be classified into two main types: rotation and translation. The rotation movement is when the Earth spins around its own axis, and the translation movement is when it orbits around the Sun.
The rotation movement occurs over a period of 24 hours - what we call a 'day'. It is this rotation that determines the alternation between day and night. However, the Earth's axis of rotation is not perpendicular to its orbital plane - it is inclined at about 23.5 degrees. This inclination is responsible for the phenomenon of the seasons.
Translation, on the other hand, is the Earth's journey around the Sun, taking about 365.25 days - what we call a 'year'. The Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle, but an ellipse, which means that the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies throughout the year.
Therefore, the Earth's axis tilt and its elliptical orbit shape result in uneven heating of the Earth's surface, leading to a variety of regional climates and patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation.
Understanding the movements of the Earth is not only essential for understanding the basics of astronomy, but also for understanding the climate and environment in which we live. These movements have direct and practical implications in our daily lives, affecting everything from the climate to the length of the day.
The following sources can be used to deepen your knowledge on the subject:
- Book: 'Geografia Geral e do Brasil' - Eustáquio de Sene and João Carlos Moreira.
- Website: Brasil Escola - Earth's Movements
- Video: Canal Nostalgia - The Earth's Movements
Practical Activity: 'Movements of the Earth and Their Implications'
Project Objective
Your task is to model the movements of the Earth and analyze how these movements and the tilt of the Earth's axis influence the occurrence of the seasons and the different climates on Earth.
Detailed Project Description
The project will be developed in three phases:
Phase 1: Theoretical Research. The group should research the Earth's rotation and translation movements, the concept of the Earth's axis tilt, and how this influences the formation of the seasons and climates around the world.
Phase 2: Model Construction. Based on the research, students must prepare a three-dimensional model showing the Earth's movements and the positioning of the sun throughout the year.
Phase 3: Analysis and Discussion. Finally, the group must analyze the model's behavior and discuss its implications for life on Earth.
Required Materials
- Styrofoam sphere (to represent the Earth)
- Barbecue stick (to represent the Earth's axis)
- Flashlight (to represent the Sun)
- Cardboard paper
- Markers of different colors
- Glue
Detailed Step-by-Step
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Start your project with a detailed research on the Earth's movements, Earth's axis tilt, and the seasons. Use books, websites, and videos to deepen your knowledge on the subject.
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Based on the research, draw a sketch of the three-dimensional model you will build.
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Prepare the styrofoam sphere to represent the Earth by inserting the barbecue stick into the center of it at an inclined angle, this will be the Earth's axis.
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Using the markers, draw a large circle on the cardboard paper representing the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
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Position the Earth (styrofoam sphere) in the center of the orbit, with the flashlight representing the Sun in the center.
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Make successive markings on the cardboard paper representing the different positions of the Earth in its orbit throughout the year.
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Based on the observations from the model, discuss with the group the implications of the Earth's movements for the seasons and climates.
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Finalize the project by preparing a detailed report, as described in the following section.
Project Deliverables
The final product of this project will be a detailed report containing the following sections:
Introduction: In this section, you should contextualize the theme, its relevance and real-world application, as well as the objective of this project.
Development: Here, you should explain the theoretical concepts discussed, describe the model built and the methodology used. Additionally, you should present your results and discussions.
Conclusion: In this part, you should synthesize the learnings obtained and the conclusions drawn from the project.
Bibliography: Finally, list all the sources you used to develop the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.
The report should be produced collaboratively by the group and delivered by the end of the month. Creating the report is an essential part of the process, as it allows you to clearly communicate your findings and insights gained throughout the project.
