Solstices At two points throughout the year, the tilt of the Earth’s axis reaches its maximum angle compared to the Sun, and begins to move back the other direction. This usually happens around June 21st and December 21st. These days are known as solstices. On these solstices, the rays of the Sun shine directly on […]
Seasons are as old as the earth. We tell time by them, plan our calendar around them and look forward to the changes they bring. But where do seasons come from? Does everyone have seasons? How do they vary in different parts of the world? Seasons are created by two very important events – the […]
The many lifeforms living on the Earth are in large part dependent on heat and light from the Sun. By converting hydrogen into helium, the Sun generates an enormous amount of energy every second of every day. Although there are small variations in the intensity of this energy, for the most part, the heat and […]
Now that we understand the shape and size of our planet, let’s consider the difficult challenge of measuring and describing points thereon. How, for example, do we tell someone who lives on the other side of the Earth where another object is located? Suppose that we are in an unfamiliar land and we need […]
While compared to the rest of the Universe, the Earth is tiny, but to us its size is quite impressive. Because the Earth is so large compared to the lifeforms that live on it, it is difficult for those lifeforms to study and understand it. A small hedgehog lives his life carefully going from one […]
Where did the Earth come from? This is an important question. A question that helps us understand our own origin as a race of sentient, thinking beings. Did the Earth always exist? Has our planet spent eternity orbiting the Sun, quietly unchanging? Has the Earth always looked like it does today, with the same mountains, […]
Do you know where you live? With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to forget that the human family lives on a small blue planet named Earth. All around us we see trees, animals, cars, buildings, farms, factories, stores, and other natural and man-made structures. With all of these every day […]
If you’d like to see how erosion works, try this experiment. You will need: A large rock 2-3 colors of acrylic paint Bag of potting soil or dirt Watering can Stand the rock in its tallest position. Paint the rock in three layers, one in each color. Let the rock dry. In your yard, stand […]
Once rocks have been broken down by weathering and by mass wasting, the final fate of all materials is to be carried away to another location by erosion. The most influential force in erosion is water. Water’s ability to move materials from one location to another, along with the fact that it is found everywhere […]
What do you get if you mix erosion, volcanoes, a hot and dry climate and the Colorado River? If you’re really lucky and have a lot of time – at least a million years – you get the Grand Canyon. Located in Arizona, this huge hole in the ground shows the Earth – right down […]
