Facts about the Earth
Learn all about our amazing planet…
Earth, our wonderful world! But how much do you know about the planet we call home? Let’s find out with our fascinating facts about the Earth…
Facts about the Earth
- 1) Earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system. Its name comes from the the old English and Germanic words meaning ‘the ground’.
- 2) Our amazing planet has been around for quite some time. By researching our planet’s rocks, scientists have calculated the Earth to be around 4.5 billion years old!
- 3) Like all the planets, Earth orbits (travels around) around the sun. And it does so at some serious speed –– around 30 kilometres per second, in fact! It takes 365 days (one year) for the Earth to complete one full orbit.
- 4) Have you ever wondered why we have different seasons? We’ll tell you –– it’s because the Earth is tilted 23.4 degrees on its ‘axis’, an imaginary line straight through the middle of the planet form the North Pole to the South Pole. This means that different parts of the globe are tilted towards the sun at different times of the year (or at different times during its orbit).
- 5) Not only does Earth zoom through space, it also spins on its axis. The result? We have daytime and nighttime! As the planet rotates, the side facing the sun receives daylight and the the other is in darkness.
- 6) People often think of Earth as a gigantic sphere. But, in fact, its shape is more like a squished ball that bulges out at the equator –– an imaginary line around the middle of the planet, exactly between the North Pole and the South Pole.
- 7) This ‘bulge’ is caused by the Earth’s spin and the effect of ‘gravity‘. Gravity is an invisible force that attracts objects towards each other. It’s this force that pulls things towards the Earth and stops us floating off into space!
- 8) The Earth’s diameter (distance straight through the middle) measures a huge 12,800 kilometres, making it the fifth largest planet in the solar system. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are even bigger!
- 9) Earth is the only planet in our solar system known to support life. This is because it has two very important things that living creatures need to survive –– lots of oxygen and lots of water! Its distance from the sun means it’s not too hot and not too cold for creatures to live on, too.
- 10) Earth’s ‘atmosphere’ is also hugely important for sustaining life. The atmosphere is a huge blanket of gases – mostly oxygen and nitrogen – wrapped around Earth, protecting our planet from the sun’s strong rays. At the same time, the atmosphere helps keep the Earth’s temperature comfortable for living beings – and it protects us from meteors, too!
What did you think about our facts about the Earth? Leave a comment below and let us know!
More Like Space
Universe Facts
Check out 10 top facts about our universe!
The Phases of the Moon
Why does the Moon ‘change shape’ each night?
Space Junk!
20 seriously strange things you’ll find in space…
Facts about Mars
How much do you know about the Red Planet?
LEAVE A COMMENT
THANK YOU
Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.
WELL DONE,
YOUR COMMENT
HAS BEEN ADDED!
COMMENTS
I never knew that the Earth is 4.5 billon years old!
loved it
cool
I learned so much
I've learned so much from these facts. They taught me so much.
Wow!
these facts are very interesting! I have learnt new things!
Very good fact
Cool
help the earth
it going to help me ALOT
omg sooo good
nice
cool
Cool
That's good
It's definitely going to help me on my assignment!
NICE FACTS
Awesome,
This was cool and fun to read
nice
Cool
Cool!
Wow...
Cool!
this is awesome
hi
hi
GREAT!
caint wait
great
it is so intresting i thank
Nice Facts
Awesome!
cool
cool
neil A backwards is alien
hey i like this
i lerand alot
These facts are amazing!!!
all planets are like close to each other
Wow
Wow
Hi
wow it very cool
thats was alot
awesome
awesome
Really helped thanks
cool
thanks for this
epic
thank you for these fun facts
cool
Very helpful! Thanks
Cool
Cool
cool
these are cute
Thank you so much for helping me with my space project,i found lots of interesting facts!
I really thank you for teaching young children what earth/space is so I thank you for helping up
i lava my look
This is a rlly good website for young children to learn all about earth and space thank you so much:)
hi
Thank you for these facts about the Earth.
it.s cool and sub to lil exteme
Very interesting.
Can't wait!
awesome helped me so much.
lol
WOW I learned a lot!
Nice and interesting facts
Lol
Nice
Nice
Wow Cool
WOW
its good
Wow the facts are very cool and yesterday (31 July) was my 7th birthday but today I am having a day off for my first day of being 7.
nice
what happens if the sun dies
this was amazing and helped me a lot thx!!!
Cool
Wow
Cool
good
wow
I Loved it so much
CUSTOMIZE YOUR AVATAR