Translational Movement: what is it and why is it important?
Hello, Happy friends! Today we’re going to learn about our planet, Earth, and how it orbits the Sun. All the planets in the solar system do this, and this very important movement is called… orbital motion!Thanks to this movement, we have the four seasons here on Earth. Would you like to find out more? Keep reading!
How long does it take for the Earth to orbit the Sun?
Do you know how long it takes the Earth to complete one full orbit round the Sun? That’s right! It takes 365 days and 6 hours – in other words, a whole year!
The Four Seasons of the Year and Their Months
A year has 12 months and is divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each of these seasons lasts approximately three months and has a different climate. Let’s find out what each season is like.
Spring
Spring brings the return of fine weather. There are rainy days and sunny days. The countryside comes alive with flowers and life, and many animals take the opportunity to have their young. Just like the moose calves, wild boar piglets and ducklings that are born in spring! It’s a magical time, full of colour.
Autumn
When autumn arrives, it starts to get colder. The leaves on the trees change colour, turning yellow, orange and red. Little by little, they begin to fall from the trees and cover the ground like a carpet of leaves. It’s the perfect time to have a go at crunching them underfoot!
Summer
Summer is the warmest season of the year, and the days are longer than the nights. As it’s hot, we’re on holiday and we make the most of it by having a brilliant time at the beach, in the countryside or anywhere else that’s fun. It’s the perfect time to play and enjoy the sun!
Winter
After autumn comes winter, the coldest season of the year. In winter, the nights are longer than the days and, in many places, the countryside is covered in snow. Lots of people love winter… Brrr! It’s so cold!
Let’s go over what we’ve learnt, Happy friends:
- It takes the Earth 365 days and 6 hours to complete one full orbit around the Sun. That’s what we call a year!
- Throughout the year, we have four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
- Each season lasts approximately three months and has a different climate.
- The Earth’s movement around the Sun is called orbital motion.
And that’s how our planet changes throughout the year. Fascinating!
