Earth and Life Science - The Earth and The Universe PDF

Earth and Life Science The Earth and The Universe Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs): Recognize the uniqueness of Earth, being the only planet in the solar system with properties necessary to support life. Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundarie...

Earth and Life Science The Earth and The Universe Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs): Recognize the uniqueness of Earth, being the only planet in the solar system with properties necessary to support life. Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flow. Identify common rock-forming minerals using their physical and chemical properties. Classify rocks into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic Describe where the Earth’s internal heat comes from. Describe the changes in mineral components and texture of rocks due to changes in pressure and temperature (metamorphism). Describe how rocks behave under different types of stress such as compression, pulling apart, and shearing. Explain how the movement of plates leads to the formation of folds and faults Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  The Universe is the totality of space and time, matter, and energy. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION Life on Earth What are the unique characteristics of earth that allows the existence of life? Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION All the planets in the Solar System share the same origin with Earth- as dust particles that combined through accretion. How come Earth, as far as we know, is the only planet that can sustain life? Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Everything that happened since the beginning of time is essential to the existence of life on Earth. The expansion and cooling of the universe, the creation of heavier elements from supernovas, or the smallest and seemingly inconsequential processes on the planet are all significant to the existence of life on Earth. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION Motions of Earth -The solar system model places the sun at the center with the terrestrial and Jovian planets revolving it. The motions of the sun and planets happen simultaneously. Earth's motion is evidenced by the daily rotation and the yearly revolution. -Earth’s rotation is the amount of time that it take to turn once on its axis. -Axis is an imaginary line about which a body rotates. Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees. Two different kinds of rotation: 1. Sidereal Day – the amount it takes for earth to turn on its axis. 2. Solar Day – the amount of time it takes for the sun to return to the same spot. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION Motions of Earth The simultaneous motions of earth make it possible to support life. As earth rotates around the sun, a flow of energy is received through solar radiation. Biologically, only photosynthetic organisms are capable of harnessing and converting radiant energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. Physiologically, all organisms respond to stimulus. Each organism is equipped with a unique structure, such as the human skin, that responds to sunlight. Melanin is a brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and the iris of the eyes in animals. When produced, melanin serves as protection. Meteorologically, Earth's weather and climate is driven by solar radiation. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Since the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees on its axis as it revolves the sun in an elliptical orbit, the angle but which light is received on Earth varies. This result in changes in weather, ecology, and daytime called season. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  How Is Life Supported On Earth? Water Existence of Atmosphere Ability to maintain Heat Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Water The presence of water allowed the first photosynthetic organisms to thrive. Organisms such as cyanobacteria used sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce biomass and oxygen, an essential component of the atmosphere. These single-celled organisms would then evolve into the organisms present today. 1. Water released through volcanism 2. Water from the icy meteors from the outer regions of the Solar System which bombarded Earth. It is also important to note that Earth’s distance from the sun, called habitable zone, allows Earth to hold water in its liquid form. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Ability To Maintain Heat The heat that drives the different systems necessary to support life on Earth comes from two sources: from Earth and from the Sun. Heat coming from Earth is caused by the radiogenic heat from the radioactive decay of materials in the core and mantle and extruded via active tectonic activities, such as volcanism and plate movement. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Existence Of Atmosphere Benefits of Earth's atmosphere Oxygen allows humans and animals to breathe. The atmosphere protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Makes the climate and temperature of Earth consistent. The atmosphere spreads out and scatters light from the Sun. Protects us from micro meteorite collisions from space. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION Factors that Makes the Planet Habitable The right amount of the following factors makes the planet Habitable like Earth. 1. Temperature - Influences how quickly atoms & molecules move 2. Water - Dissolves & transports chemicals within and to and from a cell 3. Atmosphere - Traps heat, shields the surface from harmful radiation, and provides chemicals needed for life, such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide. 4. Energy - Organisms use light or chemical energy to run their life processes. 5. Nutrients - Used to build and maintain an organism’s body. 6. Magnetic Field - a planet requires a rapidly rotating magnetic field to protect it from flares from nearby stars and from harmful radiation Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION EARTH’S SYSTEM THE EARTH’S SYSTEM Earth science looks at the entire planet as a system of interacting parts called subsystems. It focuses on the processes and changes within and among these parts. Each subsystem can be studied separately, but ultimately, they are dependent on and connected with the other subsystems. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Atmosphere Biosphere Geosphere Academy of St. Joseph Hydrosphere INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Geosphere The geosphere refers to the solid Earth. It is composed of naturally-occurring solid aggregate of minerals, organic material, or natural glass called rocks, and loose particles of rocks blanketing the surface of Earth called regolith. Geosphere also includes geologic landforms such as mountains and hills. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Hydrosphere The hydrosphere is the totality of Earth's water, including the permanently frozen parts called cryosphere. The cryosphere includes the polar ice caps, glaciers, and permafrost. The water in the atmosphere is considered separate from that in the hydrosphere, but they are ultimately interconnected. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Atmosphere The atmosphere is the mixture of gases that surround the planet such as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. The air in the atmosphere is generally composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and t he remaining 1/10 percent is made up of different trace gases. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION  Atmosphere The atmosphere has five distinct layers that are determined by the changes in temperature that happen with increasing altitude. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere are divided into five different layers as: Exosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere Troposphere The troposphere is the lowest layer in the atmosphere. It extends upward to about 10 km above sea level starting from ground level. The lowest part of the troposphere is called the boundary layer and the topmost layer is called the tropopause. The troposphere contains 75% of all air in the atmosphere. Most clouds appear in this layer because 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere is found here. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere Stratosphere The stratosphere is a layer of the atmosphere that surrounds the Earth. As it absorbs energy from incoming ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, ozone, an uncommon form of oxygen molecule that is relatively abundant in the stratosphere, heats this layer. Above the troposphere lies the stratosphere which extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 km (31 miles) above the ground. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere Mesosphere Above the stratosphere is the mesosphere and it extends to a height of about 85 km (53 miles) from the ground. Here, the temperature grows colder as you rise up through the mesosphere. The coldest parts of our atmosphere are located in this layer and can reach –90°C. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere Thermosphere Thermosphere lies above the mesosphere and this is a region where the temperature increases as you go higher up. The temperature increase is caused due to the absorption of energetic ultraviolet and X-ray radiation from the sun. However, the air in this layer is so thin that it would feel freezing cold to us! Satellites orbit Earth within the thermosphere. Temperatures in the upper thermosphere can range from about 500° C to 2,000° C or higher. The aurora, the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, occur Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION in the thermosphere.. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere Exosphere Exosphere is the final frontier of the Earth’s gaseous envelope. The air in the exosphere is constantly but gradually leaking out of the Earth’s atmosphere into outer space. There is no clear cut upper boundary where the exosphere finally fades away into space. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere Ionosphere The ionosphere isn’t a distinct layer unlike other layers in the atmosphere. The ionosphere is a series of regions in parts of the mesosphere and thermosphere where high- energy radiation from the Sun has knocked electrons loose from their parent atoms and molecules. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION. Layers of Earth’s atmosphere Summary of Layers of Atmosphere Temperature Important Region Altitude Range (km) Range(0oC) Characteristics Weather occurs Troposphere 0-11 15 to -56 here The ozone layer is Stratosphere 11-50 -56 to -2 present here Meteors burn in Mesosphere 50-85 -2 to -92 this layer Thermosphere 85-800 -92 to 1200 Auroras occur here Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION These four subsystems are closely linked through the biogeochemical cycles which, as the term implies, involves biological, geological, and chemical factors. Academy of St. Joseph INTEGRITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXCELLENCE EVANGELIZATION