Earth and Space: Characteristics and Resources

• Earth and Space involves earth characteristics and resources, climates and seasons and our solar system.
• Earth is unique compared to other planets
• Factors contribute to climate and seasonal changes
• Our solar system contains eight planets, each with differing features

Earth's Characteristics and Resources

• Of the solar system planets, only earth has liquid water on its surface.
• Scientists use advanced techniques to understand what lies beneath Earth's surface.
• Earth consists of five layers: the crust, upper mantle, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
• The crust is made of solid, cool rock and the thinnest layer; it is a hard shell.
• Mountains, oceans, lakes, and hills contribute to the crust's variance.
• The crust isn't one continuous piece - it consists of overlapping pieces.
• Earth's surface varies from sandy, hot deserts to green rainforests and icy lands.
• Human constructed towns and cities cover more of the planet as the population grows.
• The mantle is the largest layer of earth and located between the crust and outer core
• The Mantle is divided into the upper and lower mantle and the upper mantle is solid rock and made of igneous rocks formed by liquid magma.
• Some scientists believe the lower mantle is a churning mass of magma (molten and solid rock)
• Magma rises to Earth's surface through volcanic eruptions, becoming lava.
• The outer core makes up about 30% of Earth's mass with a temperature between 4440°C to 6100°C.
• The super-heated liquid is comprised of iron and nickel.
• Convection of liquid metals in the outer core creates Earth's magnetic field.
• The inner core is comprised of same metals as the outer core (iron and nickel).
• The inner core is a solid with temperatures up to 5,500°C.
• It is Earth's engine room with immense heat energy.

Earth's Movement

• Earth moves in two ways, by rotation(spin) which takes 24 hours, and revolution(orbit) which takes 365.25 days.
• An imaginary axis runs through the center of Earth, extending from north to south.
• The axis has a tilt of 23.5 degrees.
• Every 24 hours, Earth completes one rotation on its axis.
• The side of Earth facing the Sun experiences daytime, while the opposite side experiences night.
• The Sun rotates on its axis, rises in the east and sets in the west.
• Earth's rotation gives the illusion that the sun moves across the sky.
• Earth is divided into 24 time zones by imaginary lines.

Earth's Revolution

• Earth revolves around the sun approximately every 365 days, or 1 year.
• The path of Earth around the sun is called Earth's orbit.
• Earth's orbit has an elliptical shape.

Climate and Seasons

• Seasons are created as a result of the the earth's revolution and the axis tilt.
• When the northern hemisphere tilts away from the Sun, those regions experience winter.
• When the northern hemisphere tilts towards the Sun, those regions experience summer.

The Solar System

• Eight planets orbit the Sun.
• The Sun is a star emitting light and heat.
• The planets do not emit light.
• The Moon is Earth's natural satellite.
• Planets' order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
• The Sun is at the centre of the solar system, and is a big star, not a planet.

Planets of the Solar System

• Mercury is the closest planet the sun and the smallest planet in the solar system.
• It is the first planet from the Sun.
• Mercury's surface contains many craters.
• Venus is the second planet and almost the same size as Earth.
• It is a rocky planet visible at night from Earth and is sometimes called the Morning star.
• Earth is the third planet in the solar system, where humans live
• Earth contains rivers and oceans, which makes it possible for plants and animals to survive.
• Planet Earth has one moon.
• The Moon and Earth are the only two places in space to have been stepped on by humans.
• Mars is the fourth planet, also known as the red planet.
• Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system.
• Mars has many now-inactive volcanoes.
• Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in our solar system.
• It's known as a gas giant comprised mostly of gas and liquid.
• Saturn is the sixth planet and second largest.
• Saturn is pale yellow and has rings made mostly of ice, dust, and rocks.
• Saturn has 146 moons.
• Uranus is the seventh planet is light blue and very cold and windy.
• It has 27 small moons.
• Neptune is the eighth and final planet, a dark blue planet.
• It is the fourth largest planet, with 14 moons.

Galaxy and Space Exploration

• A galaxy is a collection of stars, planetary systems, gas and dust held together by gravity.
• Earth's solar system is located in the Milky Way galaxy.
• Satellites and spacecraft take measurements and photos high above Earth to send back.
• Satellites help us learn about the planet's weather and oceans.
• A satellite is an object orbiting a bigger object in space; Earth's Moon serves as a natural satellite.