Extra Project: The Earth and its movements

Kiko and Jorge's project 2015-2016

This project consist of creating a model of the Earth's orbit. Our objetive is to develop better understanding of the Rotation and Revolution movements. For this activity, you will need:

Materials:

- Your notebook to write on it all the process and your own conclusions

- 4 cork balls (other mouldable material)

- 1 big cork ball 

- mouldable wire

- piece of carton

- pen, scissors, string, sheet, thumback.

Steps:

1) Drawing the orbit

Search for the definition of ellipse and then draw it on the sheet. To do so, take two thumbacks and put it on the paper. Hold the string with the thumback, as shown in the photo below. With a pencil, draw the ellipse. 

2) Drawing the hemispheres

Draw a line to signal the hemispheres on the balls and then draw the 6 continents. Do it on the four balls you will use to represent the equinoxs and the soslstices.

3) The Earth's Axis
After that, pay attention to the picture and incliNE the wire 23.5º degrees to resemble the position of the axis axis of the Earth during the Rotation movement. 

4) Equinox and Soltices

Look for the definition of equinox and soltice. Place the four balls of the Earth in the position of the following picture. Pay attention to the axis and its position in each moment.

5) The elipse of the Earth

The aphelion is the farthest point of the Sun (A) and the perihelion (B) is the nearest one. The aphelion takes place in 4th July and the perihelion around six month later (around 4th January).  Signal in your model the location of the aphelion and the perihelion are. Draw a line from them to indicate the maximun and minimun distances to the Sun.

6) Conclusions

After decoring and detailing your miniature, write your conclusions about Rotation and Revolution movements. Why does the winter in Northen Hemisphere take place during the perihelion? 


Results of the project of 1º C British Council course of IES Francés de Aranda, 2015-2016