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Hi there! I am Studyfin. Today we will explore how our Earth, the Sun, and the Moon move together in space!
The Sun sits at the center of our solar system. The Earth travels in a big circle around the Sun. This path is called an orbit. It takes one whole year for Earth to go around the Sun once.
The Moon is much smaller than the Earth. It orbits around the Earth in a small circle. It takes about one month for the Moon to go all the way around the Earth.
Let us look at how they all move at the same time. The Earth spins like a toy top while it orbits the giant Sun. At the same time, the little Moon loops around the spinning Earth.
Sally wants to make a model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. She has a large yellow ball, a medium blue ball, and a tiny gray ball. Explain how she should move her model to show their real orbits.
- First, place the large yellow ball in the very middle. This ball represents the Sun.
- Next, hold the medium blue ball. This is the Earth. Walk in a big circle all the way around the yellow Sun.
- Then, have a friend hold the tiny gray ball. This is the Moon. Your friend must walk in small circles around your blue Earth.
- Finally, make sure the Moon circles the Earth while the Earth circles the Sun. This shows how all three objects move together in space.
