Earth's Characteristics and Resources

• Earth and Space includes:
  • Earth's Characteristics and Resources
  • Climate and Seasons
  • The Solar System

Earth's Characteristics

• Earth is unique, compared to other planets.
• Factors contribute to changes in climate and seasons throughout the year.
• Eight planets exist in Earth's solar system, and their features greatly differ.

Earth's Characteristics and Resources

• Earth is the only planet in the Solar System with liquid water on its surface.
• Scientists use advanced techniques to discover what lies beneath Earth's surface.
• Five layers comprise the Earth: the crust, the upper mantle, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core.

The Crust

• The crust:
  • The top and thinnest layer of Earth
  • Consists of solid, cool rock
  • A hard shell
• The crust looks different in different places, some have mountains, oceans, lakes and hills, while others don't.
• The crust is not one continuous piece; it consists of pieces that overlap to cover the entire planet.

Earth's Surface

• The land varies from sandy, hot, dry deserts to lush, green rainforests to freezing lands of snow and ice.
• Mountains exist on Earth
• Humans constructed towns and cities
• Human population growth also covers more of the planet.

The Upper and Lower Mantle

• The mantle is the largest layer of the Earth, located between the crust and the outer core.
• The mantle has two parts: the upper and lower mantle.
• The upper mantle is solid rock, made of igneous rocks.
• Igneous means the rock was formed when liquid magma cooled and became solid.
• Some scientists think the lower mantle is a churning mass of magma, molten rock, and solid rock.
• Magma is extremely hot, semi-liquid.
• When magma rises to the surface of the Earth through a volcanic eruption, it is called lava.

The Outer Core

• The outer core makes up about 30% of the Earth's mass.
• Temperatures in the outer core range from 4440°C to 6100°C
• The outer core is a super-heated liquid made of iron and nickel.
• Convection of liquid metals in the outer core creates Earth's magnetic field, making life on Earth possible.

The Inner Core

• The inner core is comprised of the same metals as the outer core (iron and nickel).
• The inner core is a solid, unlike the outer core's liquid state.
• The inner core's temperature can reach up to 5,500°C.
• The inner core is like the engine room of the Earth, because of its immense heat energy.

Earth's Movement

• The Earth moves in two ways in space:
  • Rotation
  • Revolve

Earth's Rotation

• Rotation (Spin) takes 24 hours
• Revolution (Orbit) takes 365.25 days
• An imaginary line called the axis goes through the center of the Earth.
• The axis extends from north to south.
• The axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees.
• The Earth takes 24 hours, or 1 day, to complete one rotation on its axis.
• Daytime occurs when the side of the Earth faces the Sun.
• Night-time occurs when the side of the Earth faces away from the Sun.

The Sun

• The Sun rotates on its axis.
• Earth's rotation makes the Sun appear to move across the sky.
• The Sun rises in the east.
• The Sun sets in the west.

Time Zones

• Time in different countries varies around the world.
• When it is night time, people in some countries are starting their day.
• People are at work and school if it isn't night-time in other countries.
• The Earth is divided into 24 time zones by imaginary lines.

Earth's Revolution

• The Earth revolves around the Sun.
• A single revolution around the sun takes about 365 days, or 1 year.
• The path Earth travels around the sun defines Earth's Orbit.
• The orbit has an elliptical shape.

Climate and Seasons

• Seasons form from the combination of the Earth's revolution and the tilt of the axis.
• When the northern hemisphere tilts away from the Sun, it experiences winter.
• Conversely, the other hemisphere experiences summer.

The Solar System

• The Solar System contains eight planets orbiting the Sun.
• The Sun is a star providing light and heat.
• The eight planets do not give out light.
• Earth's Moon is a natural satellite.
• The planets' names and order: "My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Noodles."

The Sun

• The Sun is at the center of our solar system.
• Eight planets rotate around the Sun.
• The sun is not a planet, it is a star.

Mercury

• Mercury is the first planet in our solar system.
• Mercury is closest to the sun.
• Mercury is the smallest planet.
• Many craters are on the surface of Mercury.

Venus

• Venus is the second planet in our solar system.
• Venus is rocky
• Venus is almost the same size as Earth.
• Venus can be seen at night from Earth.
• Venus is called the Morning Star.

Earth

• Earth is the third planet in our solar system.
• Earth is where we live.
• Rivers and oceans on Earth allow plants and animals to survive.

The Moon

• Earth has one moon.
• Humans have stepped foot on the Moon and Earth.

Mars

• Mars is the fourth planet in our solar system.
• Mars is known as the red planet.
• Mars is the second smallest planet in our solar system.
• Mars has many volcanoes but they no longer erupt.

Jupiter

• Jupiter is the fifth planet in our solar system.
• Jupiter is the largest planet.
• Jupiter is a gas giant consisting mostly of gas and liquid.

Saturn

• Saturn is the sixth planet in our solar system.
• Saturn is the second largest planet.
• Saturn is a pale yellow color and has a ring around the planet.
• Saturn's ring is made of ice, dust and rocks.
• Saturn has 146 moons.

Uranus

• Uranus is the seventh planet in our solar system.
• Uranus is light blue.
• Uranus has 27 small moons.
• Uranus is very cold and windy.

Neptune

• Neptune is the eighth and final planet in our solar system.
• Neptune is the fourth largest planet.
• Neptune is dark blue.
• Neptune has 14 moons.

Galaxy

• A galaxy is a collection of stars and planetary systems, gas, and dust, held together by gravity.
• Our solar system resides in the Milky Way galaxy.

Space Exploration

• Many satellites and spacecraft take photos and measurements and send them back to us.
• This helps us learn about the planet, weather, and oceans
• A satellite is an object in space that orbits a bigger object. The Moon is a natural satellite of Earth.