The Earth as a Planet | Jamb(UTME) Geography

The Earth in the Solar System

1. Solar System - The Sun and the celestial bodies that are bound to it by gravity, including the Earth.
2. Earth's Orbit - The Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one revolution every 365.25 days.
3. Planets - There are eight planets in the solar system, including Earth.
4. Earth's Position - Earth is the third planet from the Sun in the solar system.
5. Earth's Distance from the Sun - Earth is approximately 93 million miles away from the Sun.
6. Solar System Formation - The solar system formed around 4.6 billion years ago from a giant cloud of gas and dust.
7. Earth’s Axis - The Earth rotates on its axis, which is tilted at an angle of 23.5°.
8. Orbit Shape - Earth's orbit is elliptical, not perfectly circular.
9. Sunlight and the Earth - The Earth receives sunlight from the Sun, enabling life and weather patterns.
10. Planetary Motion - All planets in the solar system orbit the Sun in the same direction.
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Rotation and Revolution

11. Rotation - The Earth spins around its axis, completing one full rotation every 24 hours.
12. Day and Night - The rotation of the Earth causes the cycle of day and night.
13. Time Zones - Earth’s rotation leads to the division of time into different time zones around the world.
14. Axis Tilt - The Earth's axis tilt is responsible for seasonal variations in weather and climate.
15. Revolution - The Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one revolution every year (365.25 days).
16. Seasons - The tilt of Earth's axis during its revolution around the Sun causes the four seasons.
17. Solar Day - A solar day is the time it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation relative to the Sun.
18. Sidereal Day - A sidereal day is the time it takes for the Earth to rotate once relative to distant stars, approximately 23 hours and 56 minutes.
19. Leap Year - Every four years, a leap year adds an extra day to the calendar to account for the extra 0.25 days in the Earth's revolution.
20. Equinoxes - The points in the Earth's orbit where the day and night are equal in length, occurring in March and September.
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The Shape and Size of the Earth

21. Shape of the Earth - The Earth is not a perfect sphere; it is an oblate spheroid, slightly flattened at the poles.
22. Equatorial Bulge - The Earth is slightly wider at the equator due to its rotation.
23. Earth's Circumference - The Earth's circumference is approximately 40,075 kilometers around the equator.
24. Earth’s Diameter - The average diameter of the Earth is about 12,742 kilometers.
25. Proof of Earth's Shape - The curvature of the Earth can be observed during a sunset or the way ships disappear hull-first over the horizon.
26. Gravity - Gravity pulls towards the center of the Earth, causing the spherical shape.
27. Geoid - The shape of the Earth, accounting for gravitational variations, is known as a geoid.
28. Earth’s Volume - The Earth’s total volume is about 1 trillion cubic kilometers.
29. Polar Flattening - The Earth’s poles are flattened due to its rotation, making it an oblate spheroid.
30. Earth's Mass - The Earth has a mass of approximately 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg.
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Latitudes and Distances

31. Latitude - Latitude refers to the imaginary horizontal lines that run parallel to the equator, measuring distance north or south.
32. Equator - The equator is at 0° latitude and divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
33. Tropics - The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S) mark the latitudes where the Sun is directly overhead during solstices.
34. Arctic and Antarctic Circles - The Arctic Circle (66.5°N) and Antarctic Circle (66.5°S) mark the latitudes where the sun does not set during summer and does not rise during winter.
35. Distance Between Latitudes - Each degree of latitude is approximately 111 kilometers apart.
36. Latitude and Climate - Latitude affects the climate, with the equator being warmer and polar regions being colder.
37. Great Circles - The equator and all lines of latitude form great circles, representing the shortest distance between two points.
38. Hemisphere Division - Latitude divides the Earth into two hemispheres, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
39. Prime Meridian - The Prime Meridian at 0° longitude divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
40. Time Zones and Latitude - Latitude does not affect time zones; time zones are based on longitude.
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Longitudes and Time

41. Longitude - Longitude refers to the imaginary vertical lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole, measuring distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
42. Prime Meridian - The Prime Meridian is the zero-degree longitude line that runs through Greenwich, England.
43. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - GMT is the standard time at the Prime Meridian, used as a reference point for time worldwide.
44. International Date Line - The International Date Line, located at 180° longitude, marks where the date changes.
45. Time Calculation - The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, each corresponding to one hour of the day.
46. Longitude and Local Time - Local time can be calculated based on the longitude of a location, with each degree of longitude corresponding to a time difference of 4 minutes.
47. Eastern Hemisphere - Locations east of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) are in the Eastern Hemisphere.
48. Western Hemisphere - Locations west of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) are in the Western Hemisphere.
49. Time Zone Offset - Time in a given location is offset from GMT based on its longitude.
50. Longitude and Daylight Saving - Some countries adjust their clocks during daylight saving time, affecting the local time offset from GMT.
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Identifying the Relative Positions of the Planets in the Solar System

51. Mercury’s Position - Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
52. Venus’s Position - Venus is the second planet from the Sun, often called Earth's "sister planet."
53. Earth’s Position - Earth is the third planet from the Sun.
54. Mars’s Position - Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, known for its reddish appearance.
55. Jupiter’s Position - Jupiter is the fifth planet and the largest in the solar system.
56. Saturn’s Position - Saturn, the sixth planet, is known for its prominent ring system.
57. Uranus’s Position - Uranus is the seventh planet and has a unique sideways rotation.
58. Neptune’s Position - Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun.
59. Pluto’s Position - Pluto, classified as a dwarf planet, lies beyond Neptune in the solar system.
60. Asteroid Belt - The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter and contains many small objects.
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Effects of the Rotation and Revolution of the Earth

61. Day and Night Cycle - The rotation of the Earth on its axis causes the alternating cycle of day and night.
62. Seasons - Earth's revolution around the Sun, combined with its axial tilt, creates the four seasons.
63. Time Zones - The Earth’s rotation causes different time zones to exist around the world.
64. Coriolis Effect - The rotation of the Earth affects the direction of winds and ocean currents.
65. Solar Angle - The Earth's revolution and axial tilt affect the angle at which sunlight reaches different parts of the Earth, influencing temperature.
66. Day Length Variation - The length of day changes throughout the year due to Earth’s axial tilt.
67. Precession - Earth's rotation axis slowly shifts over time, affecting its position relative to the stars.
68. Solstices - The solstices occur when the Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn, marking the longest and shortest days of the year.
69. Equinoxes - The equinoxes occur when the Sun is directly above the equator, resulting in equal lengths of day and night.
70. Climate Zones - Earth’s axial tilt, in combination with its revolution, causes different climate zones to develop.
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Proof for the Shape and Size of the Earth

71. Earth’s Shadow - During a lunar eclipse, the Earth’s shadow is round, providing evidence of its spherical shape.
72. Airplane Flights - Long-distance airplane travel takes into account Earth’s curvature when plotting flight paths.
73. Horizon Curvature - As ships or buildings move away, they disappear bottom-first, indicating Earth’s curvature.
74. Satellite Images - Modern satellite images show the Earth as a round object from space.
75. Gravity Variations - Gravity measurements from different latitudes show the Earth’s oblate shape.
76. Time Zones - The existence of time zones supports the idea of a spherical Earth.
77. Star Position Changes - As one moves north or south, the positions of the stars change, which is consistent with a curved Earth.
78. Eratosthenes' Measurement - Ancient Greek scientist Eratosthenes calculated the Earth's circumference by measuring shadow angles at different locations.
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Differentiate Between Latitudes and Longitudes

79. Latitude Lines - Latitude lines run horizontally and measure the distance north or south of the equator.
80. Longitude Lines - Longitude lines run vertically and measure the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
81. Latitude Range - Latitude ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.
82. Longitude Range - Longitude ranges from 0° at the Prime Meridian to 180° east or west.
83. Equator vs. Prime Meridian - The equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, while the Prime Meridian divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
84. Geographical Coordinates - Coordinates use both latitude and longitude to pinpoint exact locations on Earth.
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Relate Lines of Latitude to Calculation of Distance

85. Distance Between Latitudes - The distance between each degree of latitude is approximately 111 kilometers.
86. Measuring Distance - To measure the distance between two locations using latitude, multiply the difference in degrees by 111 km.
87. Nautical Miles - In navigation, distances are often measured in nautical miles, with one nautical mile equal to one minute of latitude.
88. Great Circle Route - The shortest distance between two points on Earth’s surface is along a great circle, which follows lines of latitude and longitude.
89. Latitude and Air Travel - Airplane routes often follow lines of latitude to minimize travel distance and time.
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Relate Lines of Longitude to Calculation of Time

90. Time Calculation - Each degree of longitude corresponds to a time difference of 4 minutes.
91. GMT and Longitude - Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the time at the Prime Meridian, used to calculate the time at other longitudes.
92. International Date Line - Crossing the International Date Line results in a day change, due to the Earth’s rotation and longitude system.
93. Time Zones - Longitude determines time zones, where each zone represents a one-hour difference from GMT.
94. Local Time - To calculate local time based on longitude, determine how many degrees east or west of GMT a location is.
95. Time Zones and Political Boundaries - Time zone boundaries often follow political borders rather than strict lines of longitude.
96. Longitude and Solar Time - Solar time is based on the Earth’s rotation and its position relative to the Sun along lines of longitude.
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Additional Key Points

97. Longitude and Longitude Calculations - The accurate determination of longitude was historically challenging due to the lack of precise timekeeping.
98. Earth's Rotation Effects on Time - The Earth's rotation causes time to progress westward across the planet.
99. Geodetic Surveying - Surveying techniques use both latitude and longitude to map out and measure large areas.
100. Modern Mapping - Modern technology, such as GPS, combines latitude and longitude to provide accurate location data.

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