Earth equator tropics poles [dropdown information]

To understand the Earth a little better we need to introduce a few more details. To do this we need it upright again.

The Earth is round like a ball [a sphere]. If we cut this sphere in half sideways we create two halves of a sphere. These are called hemispheres.

The top half is called the Northern Hemisphere and the bottom half the Southern Hemisphere.

So we have a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere. The imaginary line which separates them is called the Equator. It encircles the Earth.

At the very top of the Northern Hemisphere (looking from above) is the North Pole and this is encircled by another imaginary line called the Arctic Circle.

At the very bottom of the Southern Hemisphere (looking from below) is the South Pole and this is encircled by another imaginary line called the Antarctic Circle.

Between the Equator and the Arctic Circle is another imaginary line called the Tropic of Cancer.

Between the Equator and the Antarctic Circle is another imaginary line called the Tropic of Capricorn.

So we have 2 Tropics, 1 Equator and 2 Poles.

A final animation includes all of the imaginary lines.

So what should you have learned?.....

That the Earth is a sphere divided into parts by imaginary lines.
Through the middle west to east is the Equator.
There is a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere.
There is a North Pole within the Arctic Circle.
There is a South Pole within the Antartic Circle.
That between the Equator and the Arctic Circle is the Tropic of Cancer.
That between the Equator and the Antarctic Circle is the Tropic of Capricorn.

Click on each of the sentences to see a picture to help you with your understanding. Click again to hide the picture.