The Mass of the Earth — Reading Comprehension

Earth is our home planet and one of eight planets in the solar system. It has a huge amount of mass, which means it has a lot of matter. The mass of Earth is about 6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms (that’s 6 followed by 24 zeros!). This enormous mass is what gives Earth its strong gravity, which pulls everything toward its center and keeps us from floating away.

Because of Earth’s great mass and gravity, it can hold on to its atmosphere, the blanket of air we breathe. It can also hold water in oceans, lakes, and rivers. This is one reason life is possible on Earth. If Earth had much less mass, its gravity would be too weak to hold the atmosphere, and living things would not survive.

Earth’s mass also affects how it moves in space. It orbits around the Sun in a stable path because of its size and gravity. Other objects, like the Moon, also stay in orbit around Earth thanks to its strong pull. Scientists study Earth’s mass to understand weather, tides, and even earthquakes, since mass helps determine how energy moves through the planet.

Knowing about Earth’s mass is important as explains how gravity works and how objects move in space. When students learn about mass, they better understand why we stay on the ground, why the Moon orbits Earth, and how Earth stays in its place around the Sun.

Earth’s mass makes it the perfect place for life. With its gravity, air, and water, our planet supports millions of living things, making it one of the most amazing objects in the solar system.

: Earth is the fifth largest planet in the solar system, after Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune!

What is mass?

What gives Earth strong gravity?

What does Earth’s gravity help keep in place?

Why is Earth’s mass important for life?

Which NGSS standard does this passage connect to?

What would happen if Earth had less mass?

What is the main idea of the passage?

If a planet has more mass than Earth, what could you predict about its gravity?