Curriculum
Science — First Preparatory
Unit 1: Matter
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Unit 2: Forces
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Unit 3: Life
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Text lesson
The Earth and the Solar System
The Earth and the Solar System
The Earth as a unique planet
The Earth as a unique planet
- The Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and it is the only planet known to have large amounts of liquid water on its surface.
- This is why it has the conditions suitable for life as we know it.
- The Earth has two main motions:
- Rotation on its axis the Earth turns once around its axis every 24 hours, from west to east. This causes day and night, and makes the Sun appear to rise in the east.
- Revolution around the Sun the Earth goes once around the Sun in about 365 and a quarter days. This is one year. That is why we add one day every four years, in a leap year.
- The seasons change because the Earth’s axis is tilted by about 23.5 degrees.
- Each hemisphere receives the Sun’s rays at a different angle and for a different length of daylight at different times of the year.
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