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- Earth is the third planet from the Sun and is the largest of the four terrestrial planets namely Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars (Order of the planets from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (the dwarf planet)).
- The existence of water in the liquid phase on Earth is due to the temperature span that exists on the Earth: 0 – 100 degree Celsius. Water boils at 100 degree Celsius, thus converting it into gas and making it unusable for consumption by living beings including humans, animals, and birds, etc.
- Earth is the only place in the solar system where water can be present in all the three states – solid, liquid and gas.
- We are all traveling around the Sun at an average velocity of 107,182 kilometers per hour. And at the same time, we are also spinning with an enormous speed – that could be 1000 miles per hour depending on your position on Earth.
- Namesake. The name Earth is at least 1,000 years old. All of the planets, except for Earth, were named after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. However, the name Earth is a Germanic word, which simply means “the ground.”
- Potential for Life. Earth has a very hospitable temperature and mix of chemicals that have made life abundant here. Most notably, Earth is unique in that most of our planet is covered in liquid water, since the temperature allows liquid water to exist for extended periods of time.
- Size and Distance. With an equatorial diameter of 7926 miles (12,760 kilometers), Earth is the biggest of the terrestrial planets and the fifth largest planet in our solar system.
- Orbit and Rotation. As Earth orbits the Sun, it completes one rotation every 23.9 hours. It takes 365.25 days to complete one trip around the Sun. That extra quarter of a day presents a challenge to our calendar system, which counts one year as 365 days.
- We're the third rock from the sun. Our home, Earth, is the third planet from the sun and the only world known to support an atmosphere with free oxygen, oceans of liquid water on the surface and life.
- Earth is squashed. Earth is not a perfect sphere. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as Earth spins, gravity points toward the center of our planet (assuming for explanation's sake that Earth is a perfect sphere), and a centrifugal force pushes outward.
- The planet has a waistline. Gravity pushes extra masses of water and earth into a bulge, or "spare tire" around our planet. At the equator, the circumference of the globe is 24,901 miles (40,075 kilometers), according to Space.com.
- Earth is on the move. You may feel like you're standing still, but you're constantly moving — fast. Depending on where you are on the globe, you could be spinning with the planet at just over 1,000 miles per hour, according to Space.com.
Learn about the Earth's formation, rotation, magnetic field, moon, density, and more. Discover some surprising facts about the Blue Planet, such as its irregular shape, its co-orbital satellites, and its water distribution.
- Earth Is Not A Perfect Sphere.
- The Circumference of Earth Is 24,901 Miles.
- Earth Has An Uneven Gravitational Field.
- Earth Is A Terrestrial Planet.
- Melting Glaciers Have An Impact on Earth's shape.
- The Planet Is Constantly spinning.
- Earth Is About 4.54 Billion Years old.
- Earth's Gravity Is Uneven too.
- Earth's Continents Were Once Known as Rodinia.
- Pangea Came to Be 250 Million Years ago.
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Yes, we've all been taught that the Earth is not flat, but it may shock you to learn that it's not perfectly spherical either. As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)points out, Earth spins while gravity pushes toward the center and a centrifugal force, perpendicular to Earth's axis, pushes out. This results in a bit of a tilt...
That's 40,075 kilometers and here's how it works: According to Space.com, gravity is constantly pushing bodies of water and earth into a kind of "spare tire" shape (remember: not a perfect sphere).
The surface of Earth is rocky and bumpy, so it can't have an even gravitational field. It would, however, if it was perfectly spherical. Instead, Earth has lots of gravity anomalies—both positive and negative.
It's also known as a telluric or rocky planet. A terrestrial planet simply refers to a planet that's mostly composed of silicate rocks or metals. Other terrestrial planets in our Solar System include Mercury, Venus and Mars.
That "spare tire" around Earth—or as some experts call it, the "waistline"—may be a direct result of melting glaciers that are an impact of climate change.
It may be hard to wrap your brain around, but here on Earth, we're constantly spinning. According to Space.com, Earth spins as fast as 1,000 miles per hour but it depends where you're standing on the planet. At the equator, you'd be moving the fastest; at either the North or the South Pole, you would—surprisingly—not be moving at all.
That's a lot of birthdays! The National Center for Science Educationhas been able to determine this approximate age by dating rocks and meteorites that have been found here.
Not a perfect sphere and not perfect gravity, either. Earth's uneven shape means that its mass is distributed unevenly as well, which means that the gravity has to be uneven to boot. Certain areas of Earth have gravitational anomalies—lower gravity than other regions. One such place is the Hudson Bay of Canada.
We know—you've heard of Pangea; not Rodinia. But hear us out a second—800 million years ago, the tectonic plates of Earth came all together, uniting each of the continents and it was called Rodinia. It eventually broke apart and re-collided, which resulted in the formation of the Appalachian Mountains in North America and the Ural Mountains in Russ...
After Rodinia came Pangea. The separated continents came together again—this time called Pangea. In this version of Earth's continents, there was one universal ocean. After 50 million years of Pangea, it broke apart again, this time into two masses known as Gondwanaland and Laurasia. It broke apart a final time into the seven continents and oceans ...
Learn more about our planet with these 75 fascinating facts about Earth, from its shape and gravity to its continents and climate. Discover how Earth has changed over time and how it differs from other planets in our Solar System.
Learn 10 fascinating facts about the Earth, such as its age, shape, atmosphere, seasons, and life. Find out how Earth orbits the sun, spins on its axis, and protects us from meteors and strong rays.
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Oct 24, 2018 · Learn about the Earth's space, shape, rotation, density, and more in this list of 50 facts. Discover how Earth is a fast-moving spacecraft, the farthest photo of Earth, and the most expensive object ever constructed.
