🌍 Earth Basics

Earth has seven commonly recognized continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia (Oceania).

Earth has five major ocean basins: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic.

The Equator (0° latitude) divides Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passes through Greenwich, London, and is a reference for measuring longitude.

Lines of latitude run east–west and measure distance north or south of the Equator.

Lines of longitude run from pole to pole and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

The Tropic of Cancer is at about 23.5°N latitude, marking the northern edge of the tropics.

The Tropic of Capricorn is at about 23.5°S latitude, marking the southern edge of the tropics.

The Arctic Circle is at about 66.5°N latitude, where at least one day per year has 24 hours of daylight.

The Antarctic Circle is at about 66.5°S latitude, where at least one day per year has 24 hours of daylight.

Tectonic plates move slowly over time, shaping mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes along plate boundaries.

Earth's circumference at the Equator is approximately 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles).

Earth's axis is tilted at about 23.5 degrees, causing seasons as the planet orbits the Sun.

The International Date Line is an imaginary line where the calendar date changes.

Earth's magnetic field protects the planet from harmful solar radiation.

The lithosphere is Earth's rigid outer layer, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Continental drift theory explains how continents have moved over geological time.

The Ring of Fire is a zone around the Pacific Ocean with frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Earth's rotation causes day and night, with one complete rotation taking approximately 24 hours.

Earth's revolution around the Sun takes approximately 365.25 days, requiring leap years.

The four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) result from Earth's axial tilt and orbit around the Sun.