Download Orbit- the curved path of a planet around the Sun

Study Notes for Earth Science
You will need to know these facts so you can apply them when you do your Building Stamina pages.
Sun:
 The Sun is the center of our universe.
 All planets orbit the Sun because it has the most mass and the greatest
gravitational pull.
 The Sun’s energy is called solar energy.
 The Sun provides light and heat for our planet.
 It takes the Earth 365 days to orbit the Sun.
 The Sun’s energy causes plants to grow.
 The Sun’s energy produces weather on Earth.
 The Sun’s energy causes wind.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Order of planets:
 Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune,Pluto
(My Very Excited Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas)
 The farther away a planet is from the Sun, the longer it takes for it to orbit
the Sun.
 The curved path of a planet around the Sun is its orbit.
 Gravity is the force that keeps the planets orbiting the Sun.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Moon:
 The moon has no atmosphere.
 The moon has no air to breathe.
 The moon has a weaker gravitational pull (1/6 less) than the Earth because it
has less mass.
 The moon orbits the Earth, not the Sun.
 The moon’s gravitational pull causes high and low tides on Earth.
 A lunar cycle is the length of time it takes the moon to orbit the Earth (28
days).
The moon does not produce light! It reflects the Sun’s light.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Phases (shapes) of the Moon:
 New Moon: the side of the moon that faces Earth is not being lighted by the
Sun because the moon is between the Sun and the Earth
 Full Moon: the side of the moon that faces the Earth is being completely lit by
the Sun
 Gibbous and Crescent: the side of the moon that faces Earth is partially lit
Characteristics of Weather:
 Temperature
 Precipitation
 Wind speed
 Humidity
 Air pressure
An air mass is similar to the land it forms over. Example: Air masses formed over
the Arctic are cold and dry. Air masses formed over the Gulf of Mexico are warm
and moist.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Landforms:
 Mountains
 Volcanoes
 Canyons
 Plains
Continents are the largest landmasses on Earth.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Types of Rock:
1. Igneous- formed from cooled lava or magma; newest rock
2. Metamorphic- formed from great heat and pressure; oldest rock
3. Sedimentary- formed when layers of sediment are pressed together
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Earth’s Atmosphere:
 Gases in the atmosphere: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor
 “Greenhouse gases” : carbon dioxide and water vapor
 The atmosphere protects the Earth from overheating.
Water Cycle:
 Evaporation- Sun heats lakes,oceans, and rivers so water vapor is created.
 Condensation- Water vapor cools and comes together to form clouds.
 Precipitation- Rain, hail, sleet, or snow that falls from the clouds.