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The Universe - The Solar System

Grade 4ICSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

The Solar System consists of the Sun, eight planets, their moons, and other celestial bodies like asteroids and comets orbiting the Sun.

The Sun is a massive star made of hot gases, primarily Hydrogen (HH) and Helium (HeHe), providing light and heat energy.

The eight planets in increasing order of distance from the Sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Earth is called the 'Blue Planet' because approximately 71%71\% of its surface is covered with water (H2OH_2O).

Rotation is the spinning of Earth on its own axis from West to East, which takes 2424 hours and causes day and night.

Revolution is the movement of Earth around the Sun in a fixed elliptical path called an orbit, taking 36514365 \frac{1}{4} days to complete.

The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of 23.523.5^\circ, which, along with revolution, causes the change in seasons.

The Moon is the Earth's only natural satellite and takes about 27.327.3 days to orbit the Earth.

📐Formulae

1 Rotation=24 hours1 \text{ Rotation} = 24 \text{ hours}

1 Revolution=36514 days1 \text{ Revolution} = 365 \frac{1}{4} \text{ days}

Earth’s Tilt=23.5\text{Earth's Tilt} = 23.5^\circ

Composition of Earth’s Surface=71% Water+29% Land\text{Composition of Earth's Surface} = 71\% \text{ Water} + 29\% \text{ Land}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

If the Earth takes 36514365 \frac{1}{4} days for one revolution, how many days are there in a Leap Year?

Solution:

366366 days

Explanation:

The extra 14\frac{1}{4} day from four consecutive years is added together (14×4=1\frac{1}{4} \times 4 = 1 full day) to create an extra day in February every four years.

Problem 2:

Which planet is known as the 'Red Planet' and why?

Solution:

Mars

Explanation:

Mars appears red because its surface is covered in iron oxide (Fe2O3Fe_2O_3), commonly known as rust.

Problem 3:

Explain why we see different phases of the Moon.

Solution:

Due to the Moon's revolution around Earth.

Explanation:

As the Moon orbits the Earth, different portions of its sunlit side are visible from Earth. One complete cycle of phases takes approximately 29.529.5 days.

The Solar System - Revision Notes & Key Formulas | ICSE Class 4 Science