The Earth and Beyond.ppt

But what do we know about the Sun? The Sun is 150 million kilometres away from us. It has a massive diameter of 1,393,000 km. Our Sun was probably formed from a large cloud of gas about 5,000 million years ago. The moon orbits the Earth... So, when the Sun ‘rises’ in Great Britain, on the other side of the world, it’s about to ‘set’. Why does the moon appear to change shape? * The Earth and Beyond The Sun is the star at the centre of our solar system. The nine planets orbit the sun. Here is a useful mnemonic to help remember their order: My Very Easy Method Just Shows Us the Names of Planets. Sun Earth moon ...as the Earth orbits the Sun. As the Earth orbits around the Sun, it also spins on its own axis; which is tipped, like a globe’s. At any time, half of the Earth faces the sun and therefore receives light. The other half faces away from the Sun, and so receives very little light. This part is in night. This part is in day. What causes the Earth’s seasons? As the Earth orbits the Sun, when its axis tips towards the Sun, the weather gets warmer. When it tips away, the weather gets colder, causing the Earth’s seasons. winter here summer here summer here winter here autumn here spring here spring here autumn here In the northern hemisphere: In the southern hemisphere: The Earth rotates on its axis at c 900 miles an hour! As it rotates, the Earth is also orbiting the Sun at a speed of c 67,500 miles an hour! But, don’t worry! Thanks to the Earth’s gravity and atmosphere, we won’t fall off. Great Britain New Zealand Now, with your partner, discuss these ideas about the moon: I think the moon is a light source? I think it keeps changing shape? It’s some sort of a cycle! Earth moon It takes the moon 28 days to orbit the Earth. For 27 days out of this cycle, the Sun cannot shine on the whole of the surface, facing the Earth. The light from the Sun can only shine on the whole surface for one night in each cycle: a full moon. On one night, no