Earth in Space
What planet do we live on?
We live on the planet Earth.
What is the Moon?
The Moon is Earth’s natural satellite.
How many planets are in our solar system?
There are eight planets in our solar system.
What is a star?
A star is a huge ball of hot gas that produces its own light and energy.
What tool helps scientists observe space from Earth?
Scientists use telescopes to observe space.
What causes day and night on Earth?
Day and night are caused by Earth rotating on its axis.
What causes the phases of the Moon?
The phases of the Moon are caused by the Moon orbiting Earth and reflecting sunlight.
Name the four inner (rocky) planets.
The four inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Why does the Sun appear larger than other stars?
The Sun appears larger than other stars because it is much closer to Earth.
What makes things fall to the ground instead of floating on earth?
Gravity
If earth did not rotate, would we have day and night?
No, we would not have day and night.
Why do we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth?
We always see the same side of the Moon because it rotates at the same rate that it revolves around Earth.
What is an asteroid belt?
The asteroid belt is a region of space that contains many asteroids.
What is a galaxy?
A galaxy is a large group of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity.
How is a telescope different from a satellite?
A telescope is used to observe space, while a satellite orbits Earth to collect data.
Which direction does earth turn when seen from above the North Pole?
Counterclockwise
How does the Sun provide energy to Earth?
The Sun provides energy to Earth in the form of light and heat.
Why are gas giants different from rocky planets?
Gas giants are much larger than rocky planets and are mostly made of gas.
What galaxy do we live in?
We live in the Milky Way galaxy.
If you drop a marble and a paper ball at the same time, which hits the ground first?
They would hit at the same time. Gravity is the same.
Explain the difference between Earth’s rotation and Earth’s revolution.
Rotation is Earth spinning on its axis, while revolution is Earth moving around the Sun.
Explain how the Sun, Earth, and Moon work together during an eclipse.
An eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up and one blocks the light of another.
Compare inner and outer planets using at least two characteristics.
Inner planets are small and rocky, while outer planets are large and made mostly of gas or ice.
How does distance affect how stars appear from Earth?
Stars that are farther away appear smaller and dimmer than stars that are closer.
Explain how technology helps scientists study space more accurately.
Technology helps scientists collect better data, take clearer images, and study space more accurately.