Upload
mark-mcginley
View
1.235
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The EarthA Very Basic Intro
Dr. Mark A. McGinleyHonors College and Department of Biological
SciencesTexas Tech University
The Earthviewed from the Apollo spacecraft
Universe
Solar System
• There are around 100,000,000,000 (one hundred billion) galaxies in the universe
• One, the galaxy surrounding the star known as the sun, is known as the solar system
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=SolarSys
Solar System
NASA
Fun Facts- Earth’s Orbit• Orbit around the sun-
149,598,262 km• Orbit circumference-
939,887,974 km• Average orbit velocity-
107,218 km/h
Fun Facts- Earth
• Mean radius- 6,371.00 km• Equatorial circumference- 40,030.2 km• Volume- 1,083,206,916,846 km3
• Mass- 5.9722 x 1024 kg• Surface Area- 510,064,472 km2
Third “Rock” From the Sun?
Earth is not just a rock!!
• Surrounded by gas– Atmosphere
• 71% of surface covered by water• Center of the earth is not solid
The Atmosphere
The Oceans
The Earth Is Not All Solid Rock
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?• Why is there “day” and “night”?• Why does the sun rise in the east and set in
the west?• Why is the day length not the same
everywhere on the planet?
The Earth Rotates on Its Axis?
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
• Why are there seasons?• Why is it hotter in the summer than in the
winter?
Rotation of the Earth Around the Sun
Key Question
• So far, the only place in the universe where we know life is found if the Earth
• What characteristics of Earth allow life to exist?