Oxford University Press Espaa S.A.

, 2012
Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2012
UNIT 1 PLANET EARTH

CONTENTS
1- PLANET EARTH
2- MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH: ROTATION AND REVOLUTION
3- LINES AND GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
4- TIME ZONES
5- REPRESENTATION OF THE EARTH



Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2012
LESSON OBJECTIVES:

1- Learn about the Earths structure.
2- Identify and locate continents and oceans
3- Recognise the main continental relief forms and explain their formation (Earths
internal forces and external agents)
4- Describe the distribution of the continental waters, their origin and forms
5- Recognise the relief forms in coastal areas and on the ocean floor.
6- Identify the origins of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and learn about the
consequences of both phenomena
7- Draw and/or interpret maps, drawings, photographs, texts, charts related to the unit
content
8- Understand the consequences of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes on peoples lives



Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2012
PLANET EARTH

FACTS ABOUT THE EARTH:
3RD PLANET FROM THE SUN
510 KM2
30% LAND AND 70% WATER
THE BLUE PLANET
ITS AN IMPERFECT SPHERE (FLAT AT THE POLES)
2 HEMISPHERES DIVIDED BY THE EQUATOR
SPECIAL CONDITIONS THAT MAKE LIFE POSSIBLE
SURFACE TEMPERATURE
PRESENCE OF LIQUID WATER (USEFUL FOR PEOPLE, ANIMALS, PLANTS)
THE ATMOSPHERE PROTECTS US FROM SOLAR RADIATION

Planet Earth
Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2012
MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH

TWO MOVEMENTS
ROTATION: ON ITS OWN AXIS, WEST-->EAST DIRECTION; 24 HS
CONSEQUENCE: Succession of days and nights
REVOLUTION: AROUND THE SUN, WEST-->EAST DIRECTION; 365 DAYS, 6 HS
(LEAP YEAR (366 days) EVERY 4 YEARS: 6 HS x 4 years: 24hs 1 extra day: 366
days)
CONSEQUENCE: Eclipses; the 4 seasons (thanks to the inclination of Earths
axis)
SOLSTICES: Summer: Suns rays strike vertically in one hemisphere
(High temperature, many hours of light) Winter in the opposite
hemisphere (Low temperatures, few hours of light)
EQUINOXES Spring/autumn: Suns rays strike at an angle (mild
temperatures, days and night of similar length)


Rotation
How long does it take the Earth to make a complete rotation?
What is the main consequence of rotation? Why does this
happen?
Revolution
How long does it take the Earth to complete one revolution?
What is the main consequence of revolution?
Parallels: They go from 0 to 90 south and north
Important parallels: the Equator, Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn,
Artic and Antarctic Circles.
Meridians: They go from 0 to 180 east and west from Greenwich
Important Meridians: Meridian 0 or Greenwich
Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2012
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES

LATITUDE: Distance between any point on the Earths surface and parallel 0





LONGITUDE: Distance between any point on the Earths surface and meridian 0


Latitude
What is latitude?
What units to do we use to measure latitude?
Longitude
What is longitude?
What is its maximum value?
Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2012
TIME ZONES

THEY ARE SET TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICIAL TIME IN EVERY COUNTRY
The Earths sphere (360) into equal sections of 15 (24 x 15=360)
Each time zone equals one hour (Reference: GMT: Greenwich Mean Time)

International Date Line
Oxford University Press Espaa S.A., 2012
MAPS

A REPRESENTATION ON A PLANE OF PART OF THE EARTHS SURFACE
CARTOGRAPHY IS THE ART OF MAKING MAPS
MAP SCALE:
PROPORTION BETWEEN AN AREA REPRESENTED ON A MAP AND ITS REAL SIZE
SMALL-SCALE MAPS: REPRESENT LARGE AREAS WITH LITTLE DETAIL
EXAMPLE: A WORLD MAP
LARGE-SCALE MAPS: REPRESENT SMALL AREAS WITH MORE DETAIL
A MAP OF A PROVINCE
TWO TYPES OF SCALES
NUMERICAL: EX: 1/50000
LINEAR/GRAPHIC:

Map scale
What is map scale?
What is the scale of this map?