PHYS 0834 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Tropical Year, Coriolis Force, Ecliptic
12 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Earth rotates counterclockwise on axis (if viewed above n. pole) Meridian: line that goes from n to s through zenith, imaginary. Horizon: where the sky meets the ground. We arbitrary patterns seen among the stars. No star rises or sets: all are circumpolar. Celestial sphere: projection of earth"s axis and equator on to space. Latitude: angle to the horizon from a pole (when it"s above the horizon) Relative motion: the difference in motions between one frame and another. Coriolis effect: as air masses move toward or away from one another, their relative motion becomes apparent. Feel faster as you go through a pole. The sun is seen against different constellations- the zodiac. Axis is not perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. Angle of sunlight is closer to perpendicular in the summer. Polaris is close to the celestial north pole. Total: moon completely blocks the sun"s light.
