EARTH IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Students will be able to know about the evolution of the universe.
• Students will be able to identify different constituents of the universe.
• Students will be able to conclude Earth as a unique planet.
KEYWORDS
• Celestial bodies
• Constellation
• Satellite
• Asteroids
• Meteorite
UNIVERSE
The sun, the moon, and stars are called celestial
bodies.
They are a part of the universe.
The universe is believed to be formed with a big
explosion, known as the BIG Bang theory.
STAR
Some celestial bodies which
are made up of hot gases and
produce their heat and light
are called stars.
The sun is a star.
CONSTELLATIONS
• The group of stars that appears to
form a pattern in the sky is called
constellations.
• There are 88 constellations in the
sky.
• The two stars at the end of the
constellations are called pointers.
• They always point towards the Pole
star.
• Eg: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Big
Dipper, Orion
SOLAR SYSTEM
The sun, eight planets, satellites, and some other
celestial bodies known as asteroids and meteoroids
form the solar system with the sun as its head.
SUN
• The sun is in the centre of the
solar system.
• The sun is the ultimate source
of heat and light for the solar
system
• Due to the distance of the Earth
from the sun (150 million km),
we do not feel the heat of the
sun.
• Light from the sun takes about
eight minutes to reach the
Earth’s surface.
PLANETS
The word ‘Planet” is derived from the Greek word Planets, meaning wanderer.
Based on their distance from the sun they are as follows:
• All these planets do not have their own heat and light but
reflect the light of the sun.
• All the eight planets of the solar system move around the sun
in fixed paths. These paths are elongated. They are called
orbits.
• While revolving planets also rotate on their axis.
• Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are close to the sun. They
are made up of rocks and are called terrestrial planets’ inner
planets.
EARTH’S SHAPE
It is spherical in shape.
Flattened at the poles
Bulging from the Equator
Atmosphere provides
Temperature is
a protection from the
neither too hot nor
harmful ultraviolet
too cold.
rays of the sun.
LIFE ON EARTH
¾ surface of the
The soil of the Earth
earth is covered
is suitable for
with water.
growing crops and
Therefore it looks
support other living
blue from the
organisms.
space. That is why
it is called as blue
planet.
SATELLITES
The word satellite derived from the Latin word “satellites meaning ‘ A
companion or an attendant’.
Satellites are celestial objects that revolve around the planets.
They do not have their heat and light but reflect the light from the sun.
Eg: Moon is the natural satellite of The Earth.
MOON
Natural satellite of our Earth
It reflects the light of the sun.
The moon takes about 28 days and 8
hours to revolve around the Earth. It takes
the same time to complete one spin.
Therefore only one side of the moon is
visible to us.
PHASES OF MOON
ASTEROIDS
Asteroids are tiny bodies that revolve around the sun in their
orbits.
They are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Ceres is the largest asteroid.
METEORS
• Meteors are small pieces of rocks that revolve
around the sun.
• The chunks that fall on the surface of the Earth are
called Meteorites
• When a meteor reaches the Earth without being
completely burnt, it creates a hollow in the ground
called a Crater.
COMETS
• comets are masses of ice, dust, and gases that revolve around the
sun.
• It appears like a bright star with a long tail.
1. Which planet is furthest from the sun?
2. Which is the Earth’s satellite?
3. Which is the third nearest planet to the sun?
4. The term blue planet indicates the presence of :
5. Asteroids are found between the orbits of which
planets?
