Questions and Answers
How long has Earth been existing?
4.543 billion years
What percentage of Earth's surface is made up of water?
The atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 0.03% carbon dioxide.
True
What layer of the atmosphere is where weather occurs?
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Earth's atmosphere provides significant insulation or shielding from the sun and from ______ meteorites.
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What is the term for the layer that absorbs ultraviolet light from the sun?
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What protects Earth from electromagnetic radiation coming from the sun?
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What is the process called through which plants and photosynthetic bacteria use light as their energy source?
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What is the outermost layer of the atmosphere?
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Insufficient or absence of nutrients can impede the synthesis of different ______ molecules.
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What is the term used for massive, irregularly shaped slabs of solid rock made up of the lithosphere?
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Study Notes
Characteristics of Earth Necessary to Support Life
- Earth is approximately 4.543 billion years old, formed by various geological and chemical processes.
Water
- Comprises 71% of Earth's surface, essential for biological processes.
- Functions as a universal solvent, facilitating reactions critical for life.
- Absence of water disrupts necessary biochemical reactions.
- Internal heating of Earth from radioactive decay contributes to geological activity, including volcanism.
Atmosphere
- Composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.03% carbon dioxide.
- Acts as an insulation layer, protecting against solar radiation and meteorite impacts.
- Greenhouse gases such as CO2, methane (CH4), and water vapor trap heat, maintaining a temperature conducive to life (around 60°F).
- The ozone layer (O3) protects against harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Layers of the Atmosphere
- Troposphere: Lowest layer; weather occurs here.
- Stratosphere: Contains the stratopause, which separates it from the troposphere; no weather occurs.
- Mesosphere: Meteors burn up here; slow down as they enter.
- Thermosphere: Absorbs ultraviolet light, leading to photoionization; includes the ionosphere for radio signal transmission.
- Exosphere: Outermost layer; consists of very thin air.
Energy
- Photosynthesis in plants and photosynthetic bacteria harnesses light energy.
- Earth is located in the Goldilocks zone, where conditions are just right for sustaining life.
Nutrients
- Essential for building and maintaining organisms' bodily structures.
- Lack of nutrients can disrupt the synthesis of biological molecules.
Tectonic Plates
- Also known as lithospheric plates; large slabs of solid rock that include continental and oceanic regions.
- Volcanism contributes to nutrient cycling, rejuvenating the supply of essential minerals for life.
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Description
Explore the essential features of Earth that make it capable of supporting life. This quiz covers the importance of water and the planet's heat sources, highlighting their roles in biological processes. Delve into the fascinating aspects of Earth that have contributed to its 4.543 billion years of existence.
