Transcript Chapter 2 Notes_PowerPoint

Chapter 2
B. As the Earth spins on its
axis, it also follows a path, or
orbit, around the sun. Since
the orbit is not a perfect
circle, it sometimes takes the
Earth closer to the sun or
further away. It takes 365 ¼
days for the Earth to
complete one revolution, or
trip around the sun.
The Seasons
Spring
March 21
Winter and Spring
The North Pole tilts away from the sun
in winter, causing cooler temperatures.
In the spring, temperatures gradually
rise as the North Pole begins to point
toward the sun.
Winter
December 21
Summer
June 21
Fall
September 22
Summer and Fall
Summer’s warm temperatures
are the result of the North Pole’s
tilt toward the sun. As we move
away from the sun in the fall,
temperatures slowly decline.
The Tropics
Some regions on Earth have seasons marked by
rainfall rather than temperatures. This is true in the
tropics, regions close to the equator. At certain
times of the year, winds bring either dry or moist
air to the tropics, creating wet and dry seasons.
I. Earth’s Plates – The planet’s continents, or large
landmasses, are part of Earth’s crust. The
theory of plate tectonics suggests that
Earth’s surface is divided into a dozen or so slowmoving plates, or pieces of Earth’s crust.
A.As plates collide, the energy created from their
collision produces distinct landforms.
1. When two ocean plates collide, one plate pushes under the other.
This process creates ocean trenches.
2. The collision of two continental plates also results in mountainbuilding. When continental plates collide, the land pushes up,
sometimes to great heights.