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Earth's Revolution — Reading Comprehension

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MS-ESS1-1

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This middle school science passage explores the science behind Earth's revolution around the Sun, closely aligned with NGSS standard MS-ESS1-1. Students will learn how and why Earth travels in an elliptical orbit, the forces involved, and the observable evidence that supports our understanding of this process. The text discusses the balance between gravity and motion, key quantitative facts (such as orbital distance and speed), and the effects on what we see in the night sky, including constellations and zodiac signs. The passage also touches on historical debates about Earth's position in the solar system and explains scientific methods for gathering evidence. Activities include comprehension questions, writing prompts, a glossary, simplified and Spanish versions, and interactive graphic organizers. Passage and activities are audio integrated for accessibility. Perfect for grades 6–8 science classrooms.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Revolution vs Rotation: Two Types of Motion — Earth takes 365 days to complete one revolution.

Earth's revolution is the movement of our planet as it travels around the Sun. This process is fundamental for understanding why we experience changing seasons and why different constellations appear in the night sky throughout the year. Scientists have studied Earth's path and gathered evidence to explain how this revolution works and why it happens.

How Earth Orbits the Sun

Earth does not move in a perfect circle around the Sun. Instead, its path is an ellipse, which is a slightly stretched oval shape. At its closest point to the Sun, called perihelion, Earth is about 147 million kilometers away, occurring in early January. At its farthest point, called aphelion, Earth is about 152 million kilometers away, which happens in early July. The average speed of Earth during this journey is about 30 kilometers per second (around 67,000 miles per hour). Despite this incredible speed, we do not feel Earth's motion because everything on the planet—including the atmosphere—moves at the same speed.

The Forces Behind Revolution

Earth's revolution is the result of a balance between two factors: the gravitational pull of the Sun and Earth's own forward motion, which is called inertia. Gravity acts like a tether, pulling Earth toward the Sun, while inertia keeps Earth moving forward in its path. The result is that Earth follows a curved, elliptical orbit instead of falling into the Sun or flying off into space. If you looked down at the solar system from above, you would see Earth moving in a counter-clockwise direction around the Sun.

Evidence for Earth’s Revolution

Scientists have several ways to demonstrate that Earth is truly orbiting the Sun. One method is called parallax. As Earth moves, the position of nearby stars appears to shift slightly compared to distant stars. Another is the aberration of starlight, where the direction of incoming starlight changes due to Earth’s motion. These observations can only be explained if Earth is in motion around the Sun. The shifting appearance of constellations also provides evidence; we can only see some constellations during certain times of the year because of our planet’s changing position.

Connections to History and Science

For centuries, people believed in a geocentric model, where Earth was thought to be at the center of the universe. This changed with the work of scientists like Copernicus, who proposed the heliocentric model, placing the Sun at the center. The revolution of Earth is a critical part of this model and helps explain many observable phenomena, from the changing length of days to the cycle of zodiac constellations along the ecliptic—the apparent path the Sun traces across the sky.

Understanding Earth's revolution helps us make sense of time, calendars, and our place within the solar system. It connects directly to broader principles in science, including motion, gravity, and the use of evidence to test ideas.

Interesting Fact: Because it takes about 365.25 days for Earth to complete one revolution, we add a leap day every four years to keep our calendar in sync with Earth's orbit.

What is the shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun?

EllipsePerfect circleTriangleSquare

How long does it take Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun?

About 30 daysAbout 365.25 daysAbout 12 hoursAbout 100 years

What is the term for the point when Earth is closest to the Sun?

AphelionEclipticPerihelionParallax

What two forces keep Earth moving in its orbit?

Magnetism and gravityInertia and gravityWind and waterElectricity and inertia

Which word best describes the force that keeps Earth attracted to the Sun?

GravityFrictionMagnetismEcliptic

In the context of the passage, what does 'inertia' mean?

The force that pulls Earth to the SunThe path of the orbitThe tendency to keep moving forwardThe shape of the orbit