Term
| When all of the planets line up, the gravitational pull will cause an earthquake or disaster, or will cause the end of the world. |
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Definition
| The gravitational attractions of the planets, either individually or as a group are so small because of the distances between the planets that they cannot possibly have a significant destructive effect on one another or on the Earth and its inhabitants. |
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Term
| We could easily go to another planet and live. |
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Definition
| Traveling to another planet would require very large amounts of money, planning, and time, and would not be at all easy to do because of the expense and complexity of the operation. In addition, none of the other planets in our solar system is suitable to easily support life because of their temperatures, lack of a solid surface, lack of liquid water, and lack of a breathable atmosphere. |
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Term
| We could grow plants in the soil on Mars. |
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Definition
| • Very low temperatures and the lack of water should make Mars a hostile planet for any organism that has evolved in an Earth environment. The “soil”, on Mars is actually just regolith; it lacks organic matter and so would not support plant life. |
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Term
| Seasons are caused by the Earth’s distance from the Sun. |
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Definition
| Seasons are caused by the change in the angle of the Sun's rays on Earth, due to the tilt of the Earth. |
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Term
| The Moon's phases are caused by the shadow of the Earth on the Moon. |
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Definition
| • The Moon's phases are caused by the part of the Moon that reflects the Sun and seen from our position on Earth. |
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Term
| • The Earth is one entire, solid unbroken planet. The Earth’s upper layer is broken up into plates called lithospheric plates. |
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Definition
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• Parts of the Earth’s interior are liquid |
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