The planet Earth is located third from the Sun in the solar system. It is the densest planet in the Solar System and has a powerful magnetic field. If you are looking for facts about the Earth for kids, you are at the right place. The Earth is believed to be 4.5 billion years old (1). Interestingly, it is the only planet not named after a god. Also, the Earth is the only known planet that supports life, and about 70% of its surface is covered with water. This planet also has valleys, mountains, canyons, plains, rivers, and celestial landforms. Keep reading as we have combined some fascinating facts about Earth to help your children understand the planet better and share them with their friends.
Information About The Earth For Kids
All the planets in our solar system, except Earth, are named after either a Greek or a Roman god. There are many assumptions behind the origin of the name Earth. One is that it could be a combination of old English and German words ’eor(th)e’ or ’ertha’ and ’erde’ respectively, meaning ‘ground.’ This name is believed to be around 1,000 years old (2). In the olden days, astronomers belived that the Earth was at the center of the universe and that the Sun, the Moon, and other planets revolved around it. Until the 1500s, it was also believed that the Earth was stationary and never moved. It was the Polish mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus who made the heliocentric model of the solar system with the Sun at the center and the Earth and other planets revolving around it (3). Scientists believe that the Earth took form when its gravity started attracting dust and swirling gas. The Earth revolves around the Sun every 23.9 hours and completes encircling the Sun in 365.23 days. The Earth’s axis is tilted 23.4 degrees. This tilt is the reason behind the different seasons we experience in a year.
Surface And Structure Of The Earth
A terrestrial planet, the Earth comprises several layers. The uppermost rocky layer is known as its crust, followed by the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core (4). Each of the layers exhibits different chemical composition and physical state. The composition of the outer crust is as follows (5):
Oxygen 46% Silicon 27.7% Aluminum 8.1% Iron 5% Calcium 3.6%
Meanwhile, the central core of the Earth constitutes iron and nickel. Radius, Volume, And Mass Of Earth According to NASA,
the Earth’s radius measures around 3,959 miles (6,371km), while its diameter is approximately 6.73 x 1011 cubic miles (1.083 x 1012km3). the Earth’s surface area measures 1.97 x 108 square miles (5.1 x 108km2) with a volume of 6.73 x 1011 cubic miles (1.083 x 1012km3). the Earth’s mass is 6.6 sextillion tons (5.9722 x 1024kg) (6).
