The Earth

The Earth is home for all living beings. It is the only planet known to support life. The Earth is covered by layers of air called atmosphere.
A. The Origin of the Earth

The Earth was formed about 4.6 billion years ago. The Earth and the other planets were formed by joining together and hardening of dust, debris, rock particles and gases. These materials collided repeatedly and gradually got bigger and became the Earth.

B. Shape of the Earth

The Earth was considered to be flat until scientists proved that the Earth is spherical in shape. The Sun rises and sets at different times at different places due to spherical shape of the Earth.
It is slightly flat at the top and bottom, and is bulged in the middle. This shape of the Earth is called oblate spheroid. Latitude and Longitude

Latitude is an imaginary line drawn on the map from east to west. The lines of latitude are parallel to each other. There are 90˚ latitudes in north and 90˚in the south. Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle are the important lines of latitude. Latitudes are used to locate the places on the Earth.

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​The Earth