Earth’s Movements through the Solar System.

The Earth and all the other planets are forced to move around the Sun in a predictable pattern. This is called an orbit. The gravitational pull from the Sun keeps all the planets revolving in either a circular or elliptical orbit. An elliptical orbit is more stretched out like an oval shape. Each planet moves at different speeds around the Sun to create day, night and years.

Planet Earth moves in two different ways Planet Earth moves in two different ways. It rotates around an axis point and revolves around the Sun. One rotation is 24 hours and one revolution is 365 days. Earth rotating around its axis once is considered one day. Earth revolving around the Sun once is considered one year.

Different locations on Earth can experience different times of day or night at the same moment. This happens because as the Earth rotates, some locations end up facing the Sun while other locations are turned away from the Sun. At position X in North America it would be considered 12 noon, while at position Y in Africa it would be considered 12 midnight.

The Earth does not sit straight up and down in space The Earth does not sit straight up and down in space. Instead it is tilted on an axis. Earth's axis is an imaginary pole going right through the center of Earth from "top" to "bottom." Earth spins around this pole, making one complete turn each day. That is why we have day and night. Earth has seasons because its axis doesn't stand up straight.

Sometimes it is the North Pole tilting toward the sun (around June) and sometimes it is the South Pole tilting toward the sun (around December). It is summer in June in the Northern Hemisphere because the sun's rays hit that part of Earth more directly than at any other time of the year. It is winter in December in the Northern Hemisphere, because that is when it is the South Pole's turn to be tilted toward the sun. winter summer Earth, winter in the Southern Hemisphere

Latitude means how far north or south of the equator a place is located. The latitude of locations on Earth influence how much sunlight will shine there. The equator gets the most direct sunlight and is the hottest place on Earth. The Arctic and Antarctic circles get the most indirect sunlight and are the coldest places on Earth.

The flashlight on the left is an example of direct light The flashlight on the left is an example of direct light. The light is concentrated in a small area and will create the most heat energy. The flashlight on the right is an example of indirect light. The light is spread out across a larger area and will create much less heat energy.