The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. Earth
The planet on which we live—the third planet from the sun . 1 ‡ The Earth was formed at the same time as the sun, about 4.6 billion years ago. 2 ‡ It consists of an inner core made of iron and nickel, an outer core of liquid metal, a mantle , and, on the outside, a crust . 3 ‡ The surface of the solid Earth is in a state of constant change as the rock is moved around by the processes of plate tectonics . 4 ‡ On the Earth’s surface, the oceans and the continents form the stage on which the evolution of life takes place. The atmosphere above the surface circulates, producing the daily weather . 5
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
