Figure 24.8: A compass; one end of the needle is pointing to the north. ( 11 )Review Questions
- When you watch a tall ship sail over the horizon of the Earth, you see the bottom part
of it disappear faster than the top part. With what you have learned about the shape
of the Earth, describe why this happens. - What are two reasons that Earth is able to support life?
- The planet Jupiter is gaseous and lacks a solid surface. How does this compare to
Earth? - Give one example of how Earth’s lithosphere and hydrosphere can interact, and can
exchange material. - How do mass and distance influence the force of gravity?
- Why are we able to use magnets to determine north-south directions on Earth?
Vocabulary
atmosphere The thin layer of air that surrounds the Earth.
biosphere All parts of the Earth that supports life.
gravity An attractive force that exists between all objects in the universe; gravity is re-
sponsible for planets orbiting the Sun, and for moons orbiting those planets.
hydrosphere The layer of Earth consisting of water.