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The Diameter of Earth — Reading Comprehension

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This science reading passage explains the diameter of Earth, describing it as about 12,742 kilometers or 7,918 miles across. Students learn how scientists measure Earth’s diameter to understand its size and layers, like the crust, mantle, and core. It explains why Earth has stronger gravity than the Moon, and how its diameter helps support air, water, and life on the planet. This text supports reading comprehension while building science knowledge about Earth’s shape, size, and features, making it great for upper elementary learners.

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What is Diameter?
Diameter is the distance straight through something from one side to the other, passing through the center. For Earth, the diameter is like drawing an invisible line from one edge, through the very middle of the planet, to the other edge. Imagine measuring straight across the middle of a huge basketball—that's how we measure Earth's diameter.

How Big is Earth's Diameter?
Earth's average diameter is about 7,918 miles (or 12,742 kilometers). But Earth is not perfectly round. It is a little bit wider at the equator because it spins! The widest part, called the equatorial diameter, is about 7,926 miles. The distance from the North Pole to the South Pole, called the polar diameter, is a little shorter—about 7,900 miles. The difference, about 26 miles, happens because Earth bulges at the equator.

Understanding Earth's Size
If you could dig a tunnel straight through Earth and drive 60 miles per hour without stopping, it would take you about 5.5 days to get to the other side! Earth's circumference—the distance around the middle—is about 24,901 miles. This means Earth is much bigger than it looks. In fact, you could fit about 109 Earths across the diameter of the Sun!

How Do We Know Earth's Diameter?
Over 2,000 years ago, a Greek scientist named Eratosthenes used shadows and math to estimate Earth's size. Today, scientists use satellites and GPS to measure Earth's diameter very accurately. This information helps us with maps, navigation, and even weather predictions!

Earth Compared to Other Planets
Earth is the largest rocky planet in our solar system, but it is much smaller than the giant planets like Jupiter. Jupiter's diameter is about 11 times bigger than Earth's!

Why Does Earth's Size Matter?
Earth's diameter affects its gravity, how much air it can hold, and the conditions for life. The size of our planet helps make Earth a place where plants, animals, and people can live.

Interesting Fact:
If you could shrink Earth down to the size of a soccer ball, the difference between the equator and pole would be less than the thickness of a piece of paper!

What is Earth's average diameter?

7,918 miles24,901 miles11,000 miles3,959 miles

What makes Earth wider at the equator?

GravitySpinningMountainsOceans

Who first calculated Earth's size?

Isaac NewtonEratosthenesGalileoCopernicus

What tool do scientists use today to measure Earth?

SatellitesTape measureTelescopesBalloons

How does Earth's diameter affect life?

It controls gravity and airIt changes colorsIt makes earthquakesIt causes rain

What is Earth's circumference?

7,900 miles24,901 miles7,926 miles12,742 miles

Earth is perfectly round. True or false?

TrueFalse

What does 'diameter' mean?

The distance through the centerThe size of a countryThe weight of EarthThe speed Earth spins

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