Planet Facts For Kids
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As a young child, the universe can be a fascinating place full of wonder and excitement. A great place to start exploring space is with our very own planet – Earth. In this article, you’ll learn some interesting facts about our planet!
Earth is the third planet from the sun and is the only planet known to support life. The atmosphere of Earth is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. The magnetic field of Earth protects it from harmful solar and cosmic rays by deflecting them.
The planet is named after an Old English word, ‘ertha,’ which means ground or soil. The Earth is the fifth largest planet in the solar system, with a diameter of 12,742 km. It’s also the densest planet in the solar system, with a mass of 5.97 trillion metric tons.
The Earth is divided into several layers. The outermost layer is called the crust, which is made up of plates that can move around. Beneath that is the mantle, and the innermost layer is the core. The inner core is solid and is composed mostly of iron, while the outer core is liquid.
Earth has one natural satellite, known as the moon. It’s the fifth-largest moon in the solar system, and the largest relative to the size of its host planet. The moon is responsible for causing the tides on Earth because of the gravitational pull it exerts on the oceans.
The Earth revolves around the sun once every 365.24 days, which is the same as one year. It takes 24 hours for the Earth to complete one rotation around its axis, which is why we have day and night.
The Earth’s tilt on its axis causes the seasons we experience. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it’s summer in that part of the world, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences winter. The opposite occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun.
In conclusion, there are lots of intriguing facts about our planet. The Earth is a remarkable place with a dynamic atmosphere and vast biodiversity. Learning about our planet can inspire awe and wonder in children, sparking an interest in science and the world beyond our immediate surroundings.