Earths Elliptical Path Around the Sun

Earth's Elliptical Path Around the Sun Earths motion around the Sun was a mystery for many centuries as very early sky watchers attempted to understand what was actually moving: the Sun across the sky or Earth around the Sun. The Sun-centered solar system idea was deduced thousands of years ago by the Greek philosopher Aristarchus of Samos. It wasnt proved until Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus proposed his Sun-centered theories in the 1500s, and showed how planets could orbit the Sun. Earth orbits the Sun  in a slightly flattened circle called an ellipse. In geometry, the ellipse is a curve that loops around two points called foci. The distance from the center to the longest ends of the ellipse is called the semi-major axis, while the distance to the flattened sides of the ellipse is called the semi-minor axis. The Sun is at one focus of each planets ellipse, which means that the distance between the Sun and each planet varies throughout the year.   Earths Orbital Characteristics When Earth is closest to the Sun in its orbit, it is at perihelion. That distance is 147,166,462 kilometers, and Earth gets there each January 3. Then, on July 4 of each  year, Earth is as far from the Sun as it ever gets, at a distance of 152,171,522 kilometers. That point is called aphelion. Every world (including comets and asteroids) in the solar system that primarily orbits the Sun has a perihelion point and an aphelion. Notice that for Earth, the closest point is during northern hemisphere winter, while the most distant point is northern hemisphere summer. Although theres a small increase in solar heating that our planet gets during its orbit, it doesnt necessarily correlate with the perihelion and aphelion. The reasons for the seasons are more due to our planets orbital tilt throughout the year. In short, each part of the planet tilted toward the Sun during the yearly orbit will get heated more during that time. As it tilts away, the heating amount is less. That helps contribute to the change of seasons more than Earths place in its orbit. Useful Aspects of Earths Orbit for Astronomers Earths orbit around the Sun is a benchmark for distance. Astronomers take the average distance between Earth and the Sun (149,597,691 kilometers) and use it as a standard distance called the astronomical unit (or AU for short). They then use this as shorthand for larger distances in the solar system. For example, Mars is 1.524 astronomical units. That means its just over one-and-a-half times the distance between Earth and the Sun. Jupiter is 5.2 AU, while Pluto is a whopping 39.,5 AU.   The Moons Orbit The Moons orbit is also elliptical. It moves around Earth once every 27 days, and due to tidal locking, always shows the same face to us here on Earth. The Moon doesnt actually orbit Earth; they actually orbit a common center of gravity called a barycenter. The complexity of the Earth-Moon orbit, and their orbit around the Sun results in the apparent changing shape of the Moon as seen from Earth. These changes, called phases of the Moon,  go through a cycle every 30 days. Interestingly, the Moon is slowly moving away from Earth. Eventually, it will be so far away that such events as total solar eclipses will no longer occur. The Moon will still occult the Sun, but it wont appear to block the entire Sun as it does now during a total solar eclipse. Other Planets Orbits The other worlds of the solar system that orbit the Sun have different length years due to their distances. Mercury, for example, has an orbit just 88 Earth-days long. Venuss is 225 Earth-days, while Marss is 687 Earth days. Jupiter takes 11.86 Earth years to orbit the Sun, while Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto take 28.45, 84, 164.8, and 248 years, respectively. These lengthy orbits reflect one of Johannes Keplers laws of planetary orbits, which says that the period of time it takes to orbit the Sun is proportional to its distance (its semi-major axis). The other laws he devised describe the shape of the orbit and the time each planet takes to traverse each part of its path around the Sun. Edited and expanded by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Families, society and school Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Families, society and school - Research Paper Example The city covers an area of approximately 71 square miles, where population is considered quite dense, as 34,919.6 individuals cover every square mile (â€Å"Brookly (Borough), New York,† 2009). The general household figures in Brooklyn reaches to 21,544, with typical incomes average at 56,293$ (â€Å"Brooklyn: City Profile,† 2011). Considering the demographic background, the combination of lower median incomes and densely populated area appeared to converge on one critical issue, family homelessness. Brooklyn City had been recorded to have one of the highest percentages of family homelessness in the state of New York, with a result of 2.86 families, in overall result of 2.90, utilizing shelter programs (â€Å"Brooklyn, n.d.†). While families in such category struggle to meet the basic needs of food, water and safe shelter, and basic education of the children (among other child needs) appeared to be neglected in the process. Children, unlike the adult groups, requ ire consistent guidance and protection, as they are not yet equipped with developmental maturity to hold stable jobs. At most, they are at high risk for failure, as their homeless status makes them more liable to experience â€Å"economic deprivation, family loss or separation (and) social and emotional instability† (Mickelson, 2000, p. 66). As they cannot afford to enroll in exclusive middle schools, most go to public middle schools, such as the Seth Low School. Situated in Brooklyn’s Bensohurst area, Seth Low School is classified as a middle school catering to students from grades six to eight. The said school is considered a vital educational institution in Brooklyn communities, as it has provided quality service for over 80 years (â€Å"Seth Low,† 2010, p. 5). On average, students enrolled in the school frequently reach to more than a thousand, while the teaching staff in-charge in classroom lessons totaled to 74 instructors. Majority of the students are Asi ans, closely followed by White Americans, and some small percentages of Black Americans and Hispanic children (â€Å"I.S 96 Seth Low,† 2011). Committed to achieve the ultimate goal of the school for academic excellence, a variety of programs had been offered to support students in their studies, such as â€Å"special education students.† In line with this, other academic improvements also aimed at involving the families of the school’s students in learning, including the two-year project on integrated computer education, providing computer sets to selected families as part of the â€Å"Computers for the Youth Initiative.† More importantly, community involvement had been considered for the development of its students, partnering with â€Å"FIAO (Italian-American Organizations)† for the sponsorship of student programs that takes place at the end of the day and during weekends. Significantly, collaboration in community settings does not end here, as f ormal links had been forged to promote initiatives on â€Å"Counseling in Schools, Creative Connections, and the Leadership† (â€Å"Seth Low,† 2010, p. 5). Such activities demonstrated the multi-dimensional approach that the school had employed, focusing on the environment factors, such as the family and community that shape their students’

Summer Trip in Florida Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summer Trip in Florida - Essay Example The main reason being, the state is usually less crowded. One may choose to go by airplane or by road which-though less fast- it would be more exciting. There are several options of enjoying oneself while on a summer vacation in Florida. To start with, one may plan to do water based activities such as kayaking down a river or even around the barrier islands, swimming with Dolphins, Sea Turtles as well as swimming with Manatees. In addition to these, one would get an opportunity do fishing either in the deep sea or top bass fishing. Diving is also found in Florida especially in Miami Beach's Underwater Wrecks among other renowned beaches. One may also get a chance to do canoeing in Florida especially in places like Florida Marinas, Dockside Dining where one would ride a canoe across Econlockhatchee River. There are also very luxury cruises found in Florida and still spice up ones trip. There are varieties of cruises that range from casino, dinner and themed cruises. Secondly, one may also have an option of seeing some wildlife and watching birds of the air as they sing their melodious songs. Despite the fact that there are not so many birds in the summer season, one may watch out for them with their infantile plumage only viewable during the summer seasons.

Stereotypes and Prejudice Essay Example for Free

Stereotypes and Prejudice Essay †¢What are the positive aspects of stereotypes, if any? Most stereotypes are negative and may cause much harm but there are positive stereotypes, which also have a negative impact because they influence prejudice. One positive thing that can be gained from stereotypes is self-motivation. â€Å"Still other researchers have conceptualized the benefits of stereotype use in more motivational terms, such as self-enhancement. † (Lambart, 1997, abstract, Para. 2) Negative comments can sometimes be used to reinforce our self-esteem and prove everyone wrong. From experience, I can say the statement is true, I am the oldest of three girls, and my father always had high aspirations for us, yet low expectations. Never truly believing in our capacity to complete higher education and maintain a decent job, he always said, â€Å"Hispanics are lazy and like the easy way out, we prefer money rather than obtaining a degree. † Rather than bringing me down, I set a goal to prove his beliefs are wrong, and I will be one Hispanic who succeeds. †¢What are the negative aspects of stereotypes? Stereotypes cause physical, mental, and emotional problems to most whom are offended. Emotional problems such as depression, low self-esteem, and losing the desire to succeed in life are a few of the negative aspects of stereotyping. Some suffer physical problems, which include self-mutilation caused by mental and emotional harm, and eating disorders. Some are extremely under weight to avoid stereotypes. The extent of the harm depends on how strong the person is, and their ability to surpass negative comments. †¢What can be done to prevent prejudice from occurring? Unlike categorization, prejudice is not human nature therefore we can control it. Prejudice is pre judgments that we make based on myths and hypothesis not facts. To prevent prejudice form occurring, we need to keep in mind we are all human beings, and have the right to be treated equal. Like the law states â€Å"Innocent until proven guilty,† We should first learn about the person, and find the reason toward their actions before we judge. We must keep in mind we all have the right to make mistakes and no one is free from them, but most important, we need to keep in mind that prejudiced comments hurt people in numerous ways, and we do not want to be part of their pain. I read a book â€Å"Thirteen Reasons Why† by Jay Asher, in which a teenage girl kills herself because of the prejudiced comments thirteen different people made about her. It took only 13 reasons for her to kill herself, because one comment itself didn’t hurt, but all 13 had a snowball effect and kept rolling, getting bigger every time, Once the snowball got to a certain size, she wasn’t able to take all the negative comments and decided to kill herself.

Essay --

There were many great composers during the late baroque period, each with their own distinct talents. Each composer played a key role in shaping the baroque period. Arcangelo Corelli was one of those important composers that influenced many people during his time. He lived in Italy from 1653 to 1713. He was a composer, teacher, and a violinist. Corelli was an influential person in the baroque period; â€Å"History has remembered him with such titles as ‘Founder of Modern Violin Technique,’ the ‘World's First Great Violinist,’ and the ‘Father of the Concerto Grosso.’† (Arcangelo Corelli: A Concise Biography). Little was known about Corelli’s early life. Arcangelo Corelli was born in Fusignano, Italy. His mother, Santa Raffini, named him after his father who had passed away a month before he was conceived. Corelli’s mother had to raise five children, including Arcangelo, by herself. However, she was well of because she owned land and was fairly wealthy. When he was thirteen, he began learning about music from Leonardo Brugnol. Corelli studied about the violin at Bologna. Eventually, at age... Essay -- There were many great composers during the late baroque period, each with their own distinct talents. Each composer played a key role in shaping the baroque period. Arcangelo Corelli was one of those important composers that influenced many people during his time. He lived in Italy from 1653 to 1713. He was a composer, teacher, and a violinist. Corelli was an influential person in the baroque period; â€Å"History has remembered him with such titles as ‘Founder of Modern Violin Technique,’ the ‘World's First Great Violinist,’ and the ‘Father of the Concerto Grosso.’† (Arcangelo Corelli: A Concise Biography). Little was known about Corelli’s early life. Arcangelo Corelli was born in Fusignano, Italy. His mother, Santa Raffini, named him after his father who had passed away a month before he was conceived. Corelli’s mother had to raise five children, including Arcangelo, by herself. However, she was well of because she owned land and was fairly wealthy. When he was thirteen, he began learning about music from Leonardo Brugnol. Corelli studied about the violin at Bologna. Eventually, at age...

The corresponding world consumption for oil during

In 2004, the world production of oil was estimated at just over 29. 7 Bbl. The corresponding world consumption for oil during the same period was estimated at 29. 6 Bbl of oil, leaving a surplus of just under 0. 1 Bbl at the end of the year. In the United States, one of largest consumer markets for oil and oil products, from the first week in September 2004 to the first week in September 2005, gasoline prices increased by a staggering $1. 22 per gallon to $3. 12 before dropping to $2. 25 on November 21, 2005. These figures are quite staggering considering that contracts for crude changed hands at 10 USD/barrel in 1999 (Bilgen and Kaygusuz 2004). With the emergence of China in the global market and its increasing demand for oil, it is projected that unless oil companies are able to increase the world production by investing investment in oil and natural-gas production oil prices could increase exponentially over the next ten (10) years. Since oil remains the main energy source in most countries, the demand for oil will remain constant despite the changes in the price of oil (Case, 1999). While theoretically it is expected that there will be a greater demand for oil if the price decreases, it is important to factor in the fact that more governments around the world are implementing energy saving policies as well as trying to reduce to dependence on oil as an energy source by developing alternative sources of energy (hybrid cars, solar power, hydroelectric power) (Simmons, 2005). Given the volatility of oil supply and prices coupled with the harmful effects that fossil fuels have on the environment, it is important to discuss the pros and cons of alternative sources of energy. The most popular and arguably most powerful source of energy today is the sun. Solar energy has been touted as the solution to the world’s energy problems. Being free and efficient, solar energy is a viable replacement for the energy that fossil fuels provide and as a primary source of energy it is renewable (Serra 2006). One drawback, however, is the fact that current technology to harness the sun’s rays is expensive and cannot be availed of by many, especially those in developing countries. On top of this, in order for enough solar energy to be a viable source of alternative energy there has to be an ample supply of it (Serra 2006). This means that a large area which is constantly sunny is the ideal place for the proper utilization of solar energy. There is a lot of promise in this field, however, and soon, as the technology for this improves, solar energy may indeed shed light on the energy problems of the world. Another form of alternative energy that is free and renewable is wind energy. In places that are particularly breezy and have no constant sunlight, harnessing wind energy is a very effective source of clean and renewable energy (Bilgen and Kaygusuz 2004). It has been shown in studies that when the wind is strong it can provide up to 20% of a country’s energy needs (Serra 2006). Aside from the energy that it can provide, it also promises clean and efficient energy as there are no harmful effluents that are produced and it does not require as much space as solar energy. One problem, however, is the fact that wind may not always be constant (Serra 2006). When the wind slows down to a certain speed it also can no longer be harnessed. This being said, life would certainly be a breeze if the world was able to improve the harnessing of wind energy. To water-down the need for fossil fuels, the world can also resort to hydroelectric energy. Using the natural flow of water and gravity, hydroelectric energy is one of the most widely used alternative energy sources in the world (Bilgen and Kaygusuz 2004). With the amount of energy that can be produced, hydroelectric energy produces no waste material and no pollution (Serra 2006). The downside to this form of energy, however, is the fact that the construction and maintenance for hydroelectric power dams is expensive. While there are developments in micro hydro technology, hydroelectric dams can also displace several communities, destroy forest resources and kill other fishes and aquatic life in the area (Serra 2006). This means that while hydroelectric power is certainly a very viable solution to the energy problems of the world there must be several things that should be sorted out and improved for it to be useful as the world’s main energy source. Another alternative energy source that is making waves is the energy that can be harnessed from tidal energy. Similar in function to hydroelectric energy, this type of energy uses turbines that harness the rise and fall of the tides. The natural flow of the oceans currents is harnessed in order to produce energy (Serra 2006). However, due to the peculiarity of the energy source, it cannot be located just anywhere. There are very few sites that are feasible for the location of tidal energy plants and it also poses a threat to local fishing and fisheries (Bilgen and Kaygusuz 2004). Also because tides only occur at certain times of the day it is not as efficient as the other energy types. One of the largest growing sources of alternative energy is biomass. Since this form of alternative energy has a two-fold advantage, reduction of waste and generation of energy, it seems to be the best solution to the world’s energy problems Bilgen and Kaygusuz 2004). Taking animal waste, agricultural crops, grains, wood, mill residues, forest, and aquatics, biomass plants ferment these wastes to generate gases that are then burned to create energy Bilgen and Kaygusuz 2004). The obvious downside to this, however, is that there are harmful effluents that are released. While it indeed captures the gases that are produced, it also releases energy from the burning. The Life in the lap of luxury is indeed a very convenient life but as it is it will be a lifestyle that will be nearly impossible to sustain. It is wonderful to take advantage of all of the technological advancements that are available today but one must always ask whether or not the tradeoff is worth, a moment of pleasure that could be disastrous for this generation and the next. References Serra, J. â€Å"Alternative Fuel Resource Development†, Clean and Green Fuels Fund, (2006). Bilgen, S. and K. Kaygusuz (2004), Renewable Energy for a Clean and Sustainable Future, Energy Sources 26, 1119. Jeff Tester and Ron DiPippo (2007-06-07). â€Å"The Future of Geothermal Energy† (PDF). US Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. http://www1. eere. energy. gov/geothermal/pdfs/structure_outcome. pdf. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.

Causes And Consequences Of The Great Depression - 2847 Words

Essay Description: In this essay I will be discussing the statement of do our perspectives of events and people change over time in relation to the Great Depression in Australia. This essay covers the causes, consequences and what the media, historians and people thought. My personal opinion is also included. The Great depression of was a period of economic crisis and business lows throughout the world . It roughly began with the stock market crash of 1929 and spiraled out of control from then onward throughout 1930. Poverty, unemployment, bank failures, social impacts and political consequences were a few of the many downfalls to the depression. But the Great depression was not all doom and gloom as we are discovering. It was also a period of joy and pleasure where people felt as though they had a purpose. As we get further away from that time our perspectives are starting to change as we uncover more information. It’s not what it first seems. There are many various causes of the Great Depression but historians believe the greatest contributor was the stock market crash of 1929 . On Black Tuesday October 29 stockholders lost more than 40 billion dollars , everyone panicked and sold their shares all at once leading to a massive collapse. This affected everyone all around the world. With the stock market crashing, people feared further economic woes so they stopped purchasing goods. As you could predict the reduction in items produced led to a reduction in the workforceShow MoreRelatedObesity Is A Serious Epidemic Disease865 Words   |  4 PagesObesity also known as overweight is a serious epidemic disease that can cause harm to the systems of the body including the heart. Parent. Obesity is the biggest threat to humanity in the United State of America and something has to be done weatherwise our future generation is at stake. Main point: Health. 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