Tag Archives: Earth

Potato

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Potato

Potatoes are a very interesting plants with a oval shape.

  • Potatoes are grown underground, in the soil and are categorised as a tuber.
  • Potatoes mostly contain a carbohydrate called starch.
  • The potato is believed to be first grown by the Incas.
  • There are over 100 different types of potato.
  • Potatoes come in a variety of colours including brown, green, yellow, red and purple.

Washed white potato, Ten Random Facts, Stub

  • Stubs, or newly harvested potatoes, can shoot and grow into a new potato plant.
  • Potatoes were the first vegetable to be grown in space.
  • When food was short in World War I and II, potatoes were commonly eaten as they were easily grown.
  • Potato plants are usually sprayed with chemicals after harvest, to kill remaining foliage.
  • Potatoes are rich in fibre and vitamins and contain barely no fat.
Bibliography:
Bentley, J 2005, Potatoes, Chrysalis Children’s Books, United Kingdom

Dragonfly

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Dragonfly

Zoom, zoom ancient, little dragons.

  • Dragonflies belong to the insect group called Odonata species, and are close relatives to damselflies which also belong to this group. They are found worldwide, except in Antarctica.
  • Adult dragonflies have large eyes, a long abdomen body and two pairs of large, transparent wings.  They usually rest with their wings spread out.
  • Dragonfly wings can beat in opposite directions, allowing the dragonfly to hover and fly backwards as well as fly forwards.  They zoom through the air and can fly at speeds of 58 km/h (36 mph).
  • Dragonfly adults lay their eggs by dropping them on water.  The eggs hatch into dragonfly nymphs which have good legs, eyes and jaws and live underwater.

Dragonfly resting, Wings spread, Ten Random Facts

  • In Spring or Summer, a mature nymph climbs out of the water and moults wings and becomes an adult dragonfly.
  • The markings of a female are normally different to a male’s markings.
  • Adult dragonflies have larger eyes and are more colourful than dragonfly nymphs.
  • Adult dragonflies eat insects and small water creatures and us their feet to capture prey.
  • Dragonfly nymphs hunt small water creatures and fish using stealth, ambushing and stalking techniques.  When its prey is close enough, the nymph shoots out a harpoon like mask that stabs and reels in the prey.
  • Dragonflies are threatened due to the drainage of wetlands were they lay eggs and nymphs survive.
Bibliography:
Burnie, D 2005, E.Explore Insect, Dorling Kindersley, Great Britian

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Magnet

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Magnet

Attracting and repulsing – that is a magnet’s main properties.

  • Magnets attract certain materials which are iron, nickel and cobalt (all of these make steel, therefore making steel magnetic).
  • There are 3 types of magnets – permanent, which won’t lose it’s magnetic force; temporary, which can lose it’s magnetic force when jolted; and natural magnets, which is a naturally made magnet.  Some magnets are stronger than others.
  • The magnetic domains inside a steel object must be lined up to make the object magnetic. If the domains aren’t lined up, the domains will point in different directions, and won’t be magnetic.
  • The Chinese discovered a natural magnet, called magnetite/lodestone.
  • Putting a strong magnet near a device with a magnet in it (like a TV or PC) could destroy the device.

Horse shoe magnet, Metalic, Steel, Ten Random Facts, Free Digital Photos

Magnet
Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti/ Free Digital Photos
  • If you spread iron filings over a piece of paper which is over a magnet the filings move into the shape of the magnet’s magnetic field.
  • Magnets have north and south poles.  If a north pole meets a north pole, or vise versa, one magnet will be pushed away and this is called repulsion, and if a north and south pole meet, they attract.
  • Maglev is short for the magnetic levatation which can suspend things in the air.
  • Earth is a one gigantic magnet which traps solar flares from the sun in it’s magnetic field.
  • Loggerhead turtles have magnetite/lodestone in their brains, and use these magnets to navigate back to their birthplace to lay eggs.
Bibliography:
Carmi, R 2001, Amazing Magnetism, Scholastic, New York

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Uluru

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Uluru

One hot rock formation, more fascinating than these facts!

  • Uluru is a famous, mostly sandstone rock in Northern Territory, Central Australia.
  • The traditional owners of Uluru are the Pitjantjatjara and the Anangu Anangu.
  • Uluru is also known as Ayers Rock, named after Sir Henry Ayers.
  • There has been approximately 150 bird, 46 mammal, 73 reptile and 400 plant and flora species sited at or near Uluru.
  • It is possible to climb Uluru but it is requested that you refrain from doing so by the indigenous Australians due to spiritual and safety reasons.

Uluru Sunset, Sedimentry Rock, World Heritage, Orange, Igneous Australians, Ayers Rock, Aboriginals, Northern Territory Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Uluru is a world heritage site and as a result, attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year.
  • Uluru is 348 meters high (1142 feet) and is 863 meters (2831 feet) above sea level.
  • The average rainfall at Uluru is 284.6 ml (11.2 inches) yearly.
  • The average temperature at Uluru is 37.8°C (100°F).
  •  35 deaths have occurred from climbing Uluru, and many injuries sustained due to harsh landscape and climates.
Bibliography:
Uluru 31 October 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru>

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Dandelion

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Dandelion

Yellow or 0range, pretty and lovely. That is what a dandelion is!

  • Dandelions are native to Eurasia and North America.
  • The leaves of a dandelion are 5-25 cms long and can grow longer.
  • A dandelion flower is yellowy-orange colour and opens in the day and closes at night.
  • A dandelion has hair-like seeds that float like a parachute.
  • There are 34 macro species, 2000 microspecies and 60 classified species.

Yellow dandelions, weeds, Ten Random Facts

  • Dandelions have been used as food and herbs throughout history, although some people have allergic reactions when they consume or touch them.
  • A dandelion is a good type of weed since it adds minerals and nitrogen to the soil and attracts pollinating insects.
  • The leaves of a dandelion contain vitamins A, C and K and contain calcium, potassium, iron and manganese.
  • Dandelions has been used in medicine in Europe, North America and China. The medicine helps cure infections, bile or liver problems.
  • Four dandelions appear on the West Virginia emblem, White Sulphur Springs.
Bibliography:
Taraxacum 11 October 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum>

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Diamond

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Diamond

Ooooooooh – pretty! Well, pretty if polished and cut. Polished and cut facts coming right up!

  • Diamond is one of the rarest and prettiest stones in the world.
  • Diamonds are made from carbon.
  • Diamond is the hardest natural material ever discovered.  The hardness results from the strong carbon atom arrangement.
  • Originally, the main diamond producers were India, Africa and Brazil but currently, Australia and Russia have the greatest supplies and mine more diamonds than any other country in the world.
  • Diamond is normally found in rivers or in a type of rock called kimberlite.Blue cut polished diamond, Ten Random Facts, Free Digital Photos
Polished, Cut Diamond
Image courtesy of Anusorn P Nachol/ Free Digital Photos
  • Diamonds are bought and sold using a measurement called carats, which is equal to 0.2 grams.
  • Before kimberlite was discovered, diamond was often dug out from the sand.
  • Now people use x-rays to separate diamond from kimberlite rock.
  • 75%-80% of people’s engagement rings contain a diamond.
  • Nearly 80% of the diamonds that are mined are used for tools or other equipment since they are not suitable to be used as gemstones.
Bibliography:
Diamond 12 October 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond>
Herbert, S 1980, Diamonds, Wayland Publishers Limited, England

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