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Earth & Space
Our planet and the universe: plate tectonics, weather, oceans, the solar system, stars and galaxies.
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Earth & Space on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu has 60 interactive topics. Each one has a plain-English explanation, a live animation you can control, key ideas to remember and a quick quiz. Earth science helps with weather forecasts, natural hazards, energy and climate planning.
The Solar System and Beyond
1The Solar SystemEight planets orbit the Sun along with moons, asteroids and comets.2The SunThe Sun is a star that fuses hydrogen into helium.3Inner PlanetsMercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are small and rocky.4Outer PlanetsJupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are giants.5Moons and RingsMoons orbit planets; rings are made of ice and dust.6Asteroids, Comets and MeteorsSmaller bodies are leftovers from the solar system's birth.7The Moon and Its PhasesThe Moon's phases come from our view of its sunlit half.8EclipsesEclipses occur when Sun, Moon and Earth align.9SeasonsSeasons come from Earth's 23.5° axial tilt, not distance from the Sun.10Day, Night and Time ZonesEarth's rotation produces day and night.11StarsStars are balls of hot plasma powered by fusion.12Life Cycle of StarsStars are born in nebulae and die as dwarfs, neutron stars or black holes.13The Hertzsprung–Russell DiagramThe HR diagram plots star brightness against temperature.14GalaxiesGalaxies are huge collections of stars, gas and dark matter.15The Big BangThe universe expanded from a hot dense state 13.8 billion years ago.16Black HolesBlack holes are regions where gravity is so strong that light can't escape.17Space ExplorationRockets, probes and telescopes explore the cosmos.18Exoplanets and the Search for LifeThousands of planets orbit other stars.19Light-Years and Cosmic DistancesA light-year is the distance light travels in one year.20Telescopes and AstronomyTelescopes collect light from faraway objects.Earth's Structure
21Layers of the EarthEarth has a crust, mantle, outer core and inner core.22Plate TectonicsEarth's lithosphere is split into plates that move slowly.23Plate BoundariesPlates diverge, converge or slide past each other.24Continental DriftWegener proposed that continents once formed Pangaea.25EarthquakesEarthquakes release energy when rocks suddenly slip along faults.26VolcanoesVolcanoes erupt when magma reaches the surface.27Rocks and the Rock CycleRocks are igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic and cycle between types.28MineralsMinerals are naturally occurring crystalline solids.29Weathering and ErosionWeathering breaks rock down; erosion carries pieces away.30Soil FormationSoil forms from weathered rock and organic matter.31Fossils and Dating RocksLayers and radioactive decay reveal rock ages.32Geological Time ScaleEarth's 4.6 billion year history is divided into eras.Weather and Climate
33The AtmosphereEarth's atmosphere has layers from troposphere to exosphere.34Weather vs ClimateWeather is short-term; climate is the long-term average.35Air Pressure and WindAir flows from high to low pressure.36Clouds and PrecipitationClouds form when air rises, cools and condenses.37Humidity and Dew PointHumidity measures water vapor in air.38Fronts and Air MassesWeather changes where air masses of different temperature meet.39Storms and HurricanesStrong storms draw energy from warm moist air.40Reading Weather MapsIsobars, symbols and fronts show what's coming.41Global Wind PatternsTrade winds, westerlies and jet streams move heat around the globe.42Ocean Currents and ClimateCurrents carry heat and shape climates.43Climate ZonesTropical, temperate and polar zones differ by temperature and rainfall.44Global Warming and Climate ChangeGreenhouse gases from human activity are warming Earth.45The Ozone LayerOzone shields us from UV radiation.46Natural Hazards and PreparednessFloods, droughts and wildfires are natural hazards.Oceans, Resources and Environment
47The World's OceansOceans cover 71% of Earth and regulate climate.48Ocean Floor FeaturesThe sea floor has ridges, trenches and abyssal plains.49Tides and WavesMoon and wind drive tides and waves.50Ocean Salinity and Water PropertiesSeawater is about 3.5% salt.51Marine Life ZonesLight and depth determine ocean habitats.52Freshwater and GroundwaterOnly 3% of water is fresh and most is frozen.53Rivers and WatershedsRivers carry water and sediment downhill.54Glaciers and Ice AgesGlaciers carve valleys and record climate.55Fossil FuelsCoal, oil and gas form from ancient life over millions of years.56Renewable EnergySolar, wind, hydro and geothermal renew naturally.57Nuclear EnergyNuclear fission provides low-carbon electricity.58Mineral Resources and MiningMetals and minerals come from ore deposits.59Waste, Pollution and RecyclingWaste can pollute land, air and water.60Sustainable DevelopmentMeeting today's needs without harming future generations.No topics match.
Frequently asked questions
What topics are in Earth & Space?
There are 60 topics, including The Solar System, The Sun, Inner Planets, Outer Planets, Moons and Rings, and more.
Who is Earth & Space on LearnViz for?
High school students who want to understand earth & space visually, teachers who want a quick classroom demonstration, and parents helping with homework.
Do I have to study the topics in order?
No. The list follows the order of the course, but every topic has its own page, so you can start wherever you need help.
How do I track my progress?
Open a topic and press “Mark as learned”. This subject page then shows how many topics you have completed. Progress is saved in your own browser.
How is Earth & Space used in real life?
Earth science helps with weather forecasts, natural hazards, energy and climate planning.