1. THE EARTH, A PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.<br />• The Earth is the third closest planet to the sun.<br />• The distance between the Earth and the sun is 150 million km.<br />• The Earth is the fifth largest planet in the solar system. Its surface is about 510 million km (70% water / 30% land).<br />• The Earth is a sphere, but it is slightly flattened at the poles.<br />• The Earth may be represented as a sphere crossed by an imaginary line through the two poles.<br />• Another imaginary line, the Equator, is placed at the same distance from both poles and divides the Earth into the northern and the southern hemispheres.<br />• The temperature on the Earth´s surface is moderate due to its distance from the sun.<br />• There is an atmosphere that protects the Earth from the sun rays.<br />• The presence of liquid water on the surface. People, animals and plants can live thanks to water.<br />THE EARTH´S MOVEMENTS<br />1. ROTATION: THE EARTH SPINS ON ITS AXIS<br />It takes the Earth 24 hours to make one complete turn on its axis.<br />•It is daytime for us when our part of the planet is facing the Sun.<br />•It is night-time for us when our part of the planet is facing away from the Sun.<br />2. REVOLUTION: THE EARTH REVOLVES AROUND THE SUN<br />• The Earth takes 365 days to orbit the Sun, this period is called a year<br />• The Earth's axis is tilted slightly compared to the way it orbits the Sun.<br />THE SEASONS<br />The seasons are due to the tilt of the Earth´s axis<br />The Spring Equinox (about March 21):<br />•1st day of spring<br />•Every place on Earth has 12 hours day light<br />•Sun is directly over the Equator at 12 noon.<br />The Summer Solstice (about June 21):<br />• 1st day of summer<br />• Longest day of the year<br />• Sun is over tropic of Cancer<br />• Sun does not set above arctic circle<br />The Autumnal Equinox (about September 21):<br />•1st day of Autum.<br />•Every place on Earth has 12 hours day light<br />•Sun is directly over equator at 12 noon. <br />The Winter Solstice (about December 21):<br />• 1st day of winter<br />• shortest day of the year<br />• Sun is over tropic of Capricorn<br />ESPECIFIC VOCABULARY OF THE UNIT<br />Vía Láctea<br />Sistema Solar<br />Ecuador<br />Meridiano cero<br />Movimiento de rotación<br />Movimiento de traslación<br />Equinocio<br />Solsticio<br />Coordenadas geográficas<br />Latitud<br />Longitud<br />Huso horario<br />Corteza<br />Manto<br />Núcleo<br />Litosfera<br />Placa tectónica<br />Relieve<br />Ciclo del agua<br />Evaporación<br />Condensación<br />Precipitación<br />Caudal<br />Cauce<br />Cuenca hidrográfica<br />Vertiente hidrográfica<br />Río<br />Lago<br />Agua subterranea<br />Glaciar<br />Océano<br />Mar<br />Temperatura<br />Precipitaciones<br />Viento<br />Presión atmosférica<br />Alta presión<br />Baja presión<br />Climograma<br />