JSS 1: Solar system - The Earth in space

 A solar system is a system of stars, planets, moons, and other objects, bound together by gravitational orbit. 

The solar system is divided into two parts: 

1. Inner parts 

2. Outer parts 

The inner parts consist of the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

The outer parts consist of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

The two parts are separated by an asteroid belt.

                        Solar system 

                The Earth in space 

The Earth is the third planet in the solar system that supports life. It has one natural satellite called the moon. The moon takes about one month to orbit the Earth.

                   Parts of the Earth

     The three major parts of the earth 

1. Lithosphere: The solid part

2. Hydrosphere: The liquid part

3. Atmosphere: The gaseous part 

The top of the lithosphere is a layer of rocks called the Earth's crust. Below the earth's crust is the mantle which contains denser rock. About 71% of the earth's surface is covered by water (Hydrosphere). The atmosphere is a blanket of gases around the earth.

Rotation and revolution of the earth 

1. Rotation of the earth: This is the movement of the earth around its axis. It takes about 24 hours for the Earth to rotate about its axis.

The Earth rotates around the Sun from west to east in the anticlockwise direction.

2. Revolution of the Earth:  This is the movement of the earth around the sun.

Earth revolves in orbit around the Sun in 365 days, 6 hours, and 9 minutes. The 6 hours and 9 minutes add up to about an extra day every fourth year, which is designated a leap year, with the extra day added as February 29th.

Effects of rotation and revolution of the earth 

1. Day and night 

2. Seasons of the year 

3. Eclipse and shadow 

4. Climate