Is the Earth large or small? Essay

Any information concerning the size of it of the priming is exchangeablely to refers to this aspect its description deep down the context of relativity. As genius of the planets in the solar arranging, the globe is puffy relative to its planetary counterparts. It is the largest and most great of the terrestrial planets (which include Mars, Venus, and Mercury) within the solar system. In addition, the commonwealth is also denser than the an new(prenominal)(prenominal) planets within its solar system. However, compargond with the non-terrestrial planets (Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune) the earth is precise small.In comparison with the insolate, the earth is tiny. The concourse of the earth is 5. 9736 X 1024 kg. This, compargond with the mass of the temperateness is 1. 99 X 1030 kg, which is 332,946 quantify that of the earth. On the size scales within the solar system, therefore, the earth might be considered medium sized. However, since the solarizelight is qu ite miniscule comp ard to other stars and to the physiologic bodies within and beyond the galaxy, the sizes of the earth on a universal scale approaches the infinitesimal. 2. What argon the major take issueences betwixt parallels and premier(a)s?Parallels or analogues differ from meridians primarily in the get offions in which they eat. small-arm parallels of all time run east-west, meridians run northwestward-south in a way that allows each to lose weight (cross) each parallel at a different angle. This is because meridians all run with the axes of the earth, and this ensures that they all converge upon the poles. The parallels or analogs run parallel to each other, and this ensures that they never control each other in their journeys well-nigh the earth.One effect that this difference (in parallelism) has on the two types of lines is that while parallels are always equidistant from the equator and poles at e objective smear on its circumference, meridians change th eir distances from each other the closer or further remote they are from the poles. Therefore, at the equator, the distance among any two addicted meridian will always be greater than at any other latitude on the earth. 3. why are erect rays of the Sun never comed poleward on the tropic lines? The temperatenesss erect rays are experienced only mingled with 23.5oN and 23. 5oS primarily as a extend of the topple of the earths axis. This tilt measures 23. 5 breaker points, so as the earth revolves around the sun, its poles tilt toward or away from the sun at this angle. During the summers (which alternate in the midst of opposing parts of the twelvemonth in for the northern and southern hemispheres), the poles are slant toward the sun. However, the angle this causes the earth to make with the sun ensures that the angles of the sun-rays seeting the earth are little than the 90 degrees which would constitute a direct hit.Because of this tilt, the rays of the sun are somet imes suitable to shine directly on much(prenominal) parts of the earth that always amongst the latitudes that remain in the direct street of the rays after the 23. 5o tilt. The further north or south of these latitudes unitary goes, the less of a direct contact the earth makes with the suns rays. In fact, the extreme of this is that very close to the poles at certain times of the year, the suns light is non seen at all. 4. On which day of the year do the vertical rays of the Sun let out the farthest north of the Equator?What is the latitude? Why? The days on which the suns vertical rays hit the earth at the angle farthest from the equator is approximately declination 22. This is known as the Winter Solstice, and describes the time when the Union Hemisphere experiences its shortest daytime time period (or longest night-time period). The latitude at which this occurs is the 23. 5oN, which invents the latitude of the Tropic of Cancer. This occurs primarily because of the ear ths axial tilt, which is about 23 degrees toward or away from the sun.At the time of the Northern Hemispheres Winter Solstice, the earth is tilted away from the sun, yet the suns bang from the earth at that time compensates for that tilt so that its rays hit at the spot farthest north that is possible at any given time. This spot occurs at 23o north of the equator. 5. excuse the implications of the statement, No affair is totally accurate. jibe to mapping standards held by the Unites States (and likely by other countries), maps bring forth to maintain the true within a given scale.For example, for scales where iodin (1) atomic number 49 on the map represents 24,000 just nowt againstes on land (or sea), the in verity level of the map should not exceed 1/50th of an inch in more than 10% of the points (USGS). These standards are base upon the premise or catch that no map mountain be completely accurate. However, what this means is that at twinkling scales on the ground or sea, it becomes out of the question to locate things with a large degree of accuracy. This can be seen more all the way when it is known that 1/50th of an inch on a 124,000 scale represents 40 feet (USGS).Therefore, in important expeditions that occupy map use, a user may expect to be ignorant concerning the admit lieu of a designated point within at least a 40-foot radius. 6. A globe can portray Earths go on more accurately than a map, but globes are rarely used. Why? Globes are more accurate than maps because, while the map distorts the latitude lines, the shapes of its landmasses and other features, these are unbroken in true to form on globes. However, globes are rarely used because of their 3-dimensional natures that make them more difficult to sweep than two-dimensional maps.The shapes made by the point of intersection of parallels and meridians are also less like simple geometrical shapes. Because of the way in which the latitude lines are portrayed on maps (as ve rtical and parallel, thereby creating the illusion of squares) these are usually more suited to calculations make by the lay person or navigator. These parallel latitudes represent not real latitude lines but what has been termed loxodromes (also known as rhumb lines). These rhumb lines essentially represent the constant bearing of a eye socket and calculations using these lines make it easier for navigators to determine the direction of their courses (Rosenberg). mathematical functions are also more intuitively like humans view the come up of the earth. From our perspective, it does not appear to be a sphere, but a large desperate area. Therefore, maps accord more to our everyday experience and are easier for humans to translate. 7. Distinguish amidst GPS and GIS. Provide ways in which these tools can be useful to physical geographers. The world(a) localization System or GPS is a system that facilitates the location of objects or areas on or around the earth based on a group of satellites which have been launched into the earths orbit at about 11,000 miles (Corvallis).This differs from a GIS, which is a geographical Information Systema database that holds the location of a large number of locations on the earth. The difference between the two lies in that while the GPS is the system for mapping an object, the GIS is the actual object that whose position is being mapped. The GPS system is of immense importance because of the level of accuracy it provides whether on the scales required by navigators or those required for geodesic positioning (ISSA).GIS allows geographers to be able to know, map, and locate specific regions or objects on the earths surface. It also allows them to chart paths from one location to the next by accurately calculating vectors that denote the relative distances and directions between given locations. The GPS continually expands the data open by embodying the technology that allows new places to be located and pin-pointed.Work s Cited Corvallis. Introdiction to the global Positioning System for GIS or TRAVERSE. CMTINC. com.Corvallis, OR Corvallis Microtechnology Incorporated. http//www. cmtinc. com/gpsbook/index. htm ISSA. The Global Information System. The International Strategic Studies Association. 2004. http//128. 121. 186. 47/ISSA/gis/index. htm Rosenberg, Matt. T. Peters Map vs. Mercator Map. About Geography. refreshed York New York Times Company. http//geography. about. com/library/weekly/aa030201b. htm USGS. Map Accuracy Standards. United States Geographical Survey. Reston U. S. discussion section of the Interior. 1999. http//erg. usgs. gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs17199. html