For this homework activity, please follow the link to NASA’s Solar System Exploration interactive map. You can rotate the solar system and zoom in and out, as well as click on any objects. There are also links at the top for more information about objects in our solar system.
Solar System Exploration (Links to an external site.)
Please EXPLORE this map! Double click on any planet to zoom to that view point. Examine Earth’s position, rotation, revolution, moon, etc.
Then, in the space provided, please write a 300-400 word reflection. Thoughtfully discuss the relevance of studying the universe (and especially) solar system to geography. Here are some prompts that might help you get started, or you can write on your own.
How does Earth’s position and movement in the solar system contribute to the processes that happen on its surface? Consider climate, seasons, tides
How does Earth’s composition result from solar system formation, and how might this be used to predict our future?Radioactive heat of Earth
Resources for human use – energy, minerals
Fate of water on the surface
Plate tectonics and volcanism
Compare Earth to other planets – what can we learn from studying the processes elsewhere?Potential for life
Habitability for humans
Repeated similarity in the organization of matter at different scales
Significance of forces (gravity, magnetism, etc.)
