Our Home Planet
Earth is the third inner most planet. It is also the only known planet to be able to support life. Scientist estimate that there are approximately 5 million to 10 million species living on Earth. The Sun provides heat, light and energy. Without these factors life as we know it would not be able to survive on Earth.
Earth is the most dense planet and is the fifth-largest planet in our Solar System. It has a diameter of 12,756km and is made up of 3 layers and an atmosphere. Earth has such a strong gravitational pull that to escape it, an object has be moving at 39,976km per hour. The Earth has one natural satellite and that is the Moon. (scroll down for information on the moon)
Earth is the most dense planet and is the fifth-largest planet in our Solar System. It has a diameter of 12,756km and is made up of 3 layers and an atmosphere. Earth has such a strong gravitational pull that to escape it, an object has be moving at 39,976km per hour. The Earth has one natural satellite and that is the Moon. (scroll down for information on the moon)
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Name
Unlike all the other planets, Earth did not get its name from a Roman God or Goddess. The name 'Earth' is an old english word meaning 'ground'.
Temperature
The temperature on Earth can be wide ranging. In some parts of the world it can get as low as -88°C and reach 58°C. The lowest recorded temperature was on the continent of Antarctica in July of 1983 where it reached -89.2°C. In contrast, the hottest recorded temperature was 57.7°C in Africa, 1922.
Structure
Earth's structure consists of 4 layers, the inner core, outer core, mantle and the crust. Listen to this song and read along with the onscreen lyrics for a further explanation of Earth's structure:
Unlike all the other planets, Earth did not get its name from a Roman God or Goddess. The name 'Earth' is an old english word meaning 'ground'.
Temperature
The temperature on Earth can be wide ranging. In some parts of the world it can get as low as -88°C and reach 58°C. The lowest recorded temperature was on the continent of Antarctica in July of 1983 where it reached -89.2°C. In contrast, the hottest recorded temperature was 57.7°C in Africa, 1922.
Structure
Earth's structure consists of 4 layers, the inner core, outer core, mantle and the crust. Listen to this song and read along with the onscreen lyrics for a further explanation of Earth's structure:
Atmosphere
The Earth's atmosphere is made 4 layers and is an important part of why life is sustainable on Earth. The closest layer to Earth's surface is the Troposphere which makes up most of Earth's atmospheric mass. This is because it is in this layer that we find the majority of the water vapor and dust particles in our atmosphere.
The next layer is the Stratosphere and is the second most major layer of Earth's atmosphere. It is in this layer that aircrafts fly. The third layer from Earth is the Mesosphere which is followed by the Thermosphere. The Thermosphere is the outer most layer in our atmosphere. It is also the thickest at 320km thick and the temperature in this layer can reach up to 1,500°C.
Orbit
The Earth revolves around the Sun at a speed of about 30 km/sec. It takes 365.26 days to orbit the Sun once. Every 4 years Earth has a 'leap year,' this means it has 366 days. This is so that, instead of having .26 of a day each year, Earth has one full day every 4 years.
The Earth revolves around the Sun at a speed of about 30 km/sec. It takes 365.26 days to orbit the Sun once. Every 4 years Earth has a 'leap year,' this means it has 366 days. This is so that, instead of having .26 of a day each year, Earth has one full day every 4 years.
Seasons
There are 4 seasons on Earth, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. These seasons are caused by the Earth's tilted axis. It is tilted 23.45° from perpendicular. Because of this tilt, different parts of the globe are facing towards the Sun at different times of the year. This affects the amount of sunlight each receives. When it is Summer in Australia it is because the Southern Hemisphere is closest to the Sun. At this time the Northern Hemisphere is furtherest from the Sun and therefore it will be winter in Europe.
There are 4 seasons on Earth, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. These seasons are caused by the Earth's tilted axis. It is tilted 23.45° from perpendicular. Because of this tilt, different parts of the globe are facing towards the Sun at different times of the year. This affects the amount of sunlight each receives. When it is Summer in Australia it is because the Southern Hemisphere is closest to the Sun. At this time the Northern Hemisphere is furtherest from the Sun and therefore it will be winter in Europe.
The Earth's Moon
The Moon is the biggest natural satellite relative to it's primary planet in the entire solar system. It is one quarter of the diameter of Earth. At first scientists thought the Moon flew past Earth and got caught in orbit by the Earth's gravitational pull. However, they then realised that because of the size of the Moon compared to the Earth it would have been strong enough to escape. The current theory for how the Moon came to orbit the Earth is called the 'giant impact hypothesis.'
Orbit
When you look at the sky and see the Moon, what you are actually viewing is called the 'Luna Near Side.' However, from Earth, we will only ever see that one side. This is caused by the Earth and the Moon spinning in a form of 'harmony.' The Moon does one rotation on its axis for every orbit it does around the Earth. Resulting in the Moon rotating by constantly looking at us.
The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth each year. Because the gravity of the Moon has an effect on the spin of the Earth, as the Moon gets further away, the spin of the Earth slows. This causes our days to because longer. Although, the Moon is only moving about 4cm from the Earth each year, resulting in the slow down of the Earth by 15 micro seconds a year. Thus, having no huge effect on the Earth in our life time.
Surface
The Moon's surface is full of millions of impact craters. Most of these craters where probably caused by asteroids, comets and meteorites. It has been hit by so many of these objects because it has no atmosphere to protect it. If the Moon did have an atmosphere most of these impact objects would burn up in it. Also because there is no atmosphere, there is no wind erosion. Therefore, there is nothing to wear away the craters, they will just remain as they are until impacted again. Additionally, recent exploration on the Moon indicates the likely existence of frozen ice at the poles.
Atmosphere
The moon has no atmosphere, thus, it is silent on the Moon. Sound waves need air to travel through and without an atmosphere there is no sound. The Moon's sky will always appear dark because it has no atmosphere to trap in the light energy from the Sun. This causes the moon to be cold, dry as an atmosphere is needed to keep in the heat from the Sun.
Phases of the moon
It takes our Moon about 29.5 days to complete all eight phases. This is known as a lunar month. The phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the Sun and the Earth. As the Moon makes its way around the Earth, we see the illuminated part of the Moon's surface at different angles. These are called 'phases of the Moon.' This video gives a further explanation of the Moon's phases and why and how the happen:
When you look at the sky and see the Moon, what you are actually viewing is called the 'Luna Near Side.' However, from Earth, we will only ever see that one side. This is caused by the Earth and the Moon spinning in a form of 'harmony.' The Moon does one rotation on its axis for every orbit it does around the Earth. Resulting in the Moon rotating by constantly looking at us.
The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth each year. Because the gravity of the Moon has an effect on the spin of the Earth, as the Moon gets further away, the spin of the Earth slows. This causes our days to because longer. Although, the Moon is only moving about 4cm from the Earth each year, resulting in the slow down of the Earth by 15 micro seconds a year. Thus, having no huge effect on the Earth in our life time.
Surface
The Moon's surface is full of millions of impact craters. Most of these craters where probably caused by asteroids, comets and meteorites. It has been hit by so many of these objects because it has no atmosphere to protect it. If the Moon did have an atmosphere most of these impact objects would burn up in it. Also because there is no atmosphere, there is no wind erosion. Therefore, there is nothing to wear away the craters, they will just remain as they are until impacted again. Additionally, recent exploration on the Moon indicates the likely existence of frozen ice at the poles.
Atmosphere
The moon has no atmosphere, thus, it is silent on the Moon. Sound waves need air to travel through and without an atmosphere there is no sound. The Moon's sky will always appear dark because it has no atmosphere to trap in the light energy from the Sun. This causes the moon to be cold, dry as an atmosphere is needed to keep in the heat from the Sun.
Phases of the moon
It takes our Moon about 29.5 days to complete all eight phases. This is known as a lunar month. The phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the Sun and the Earth. As the Moon makes its way around the Earth, we see the illuminated part of the Moon's surface at different angles. These are called 'phases of the Moon.' This video gives a further explanation of the Moon's phases and why and how the happen: