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Our solar system is made up of planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and a star. Earth is the only planet in our solar system that can support life. It is in the perfect proximity to the sun, it has water, and its atmosphere has the right gasses for us to breathe. Earth is found in the inner solar system, and is the largest of the rocky planets. The Earth is 7,926 miles in diameter, and has a circumference of 24,901 miles. Water makes up about 70% of the Earth’s surface, while land makes up the other 30%. The Earth rotates counter clockwise on its axis. Earth’s axis is tilted at a 23.5 degree angle which is why we have seasons. Over the course of one year, or 365 days, Earth makes one revolution around the sun. Because the Earth is so dense, the gravity is just right to keep us from floating away. Earth’s atmosphere allows us to have weather and wind. Because of the moving tectonic plates and weathering, erosion, and deposition, Earth has landforms, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Our inactive volcanoes are known as extinct volcanoes. At the poles, Earth has frozen water in icebergs and glaciers. The moon is Earth’s only natural satellite. It has a diameter of 2159 miles and is much smaller than the Earth. It takes about 27.3 days to make one revolution around the Earth. The moon does not have an atmosphere, so it also does not have weathering, erosion, or deposition. This explains why the moon has so many more craters than Earth. The ones on Earth’s surface have been worn away over time. The moon does rotate on its axis and has hills and extinct volcanoes. The moon is also made up of rock and has frozen water, but no liquid water. The sun is a star at the center of our solar system. Its gravity holds the planets in their orbit. The sun’s diameter is about 110 times larger than the Earth’s. Temperatures on the sun are extremely hot starting at 5500 degrees Celsius. The sun rotates on its axis and follows an orbit around the galaxy. Gasses and a metal core make up the sun’s layers. It provides us with the warmth and solar energy we need to survive. Created by Elementary Ali ©2014

Use context clues to define the

! Atmosphere

____________ ____________ ____________ Revolution

____________ ____________ ____________ Rotation

____________ ____________ ____________ Satellite

____________ ____________ ____________

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Complete the triple Venn diagram with information from the reading.

Created by Elementary Ali ©2014