Characteristics of Earth Necessary to Support Life PDF

EARTH SCIENCE ❑ The name for all the sciences that collectively seek to understand Earth and its neighbors in space. ❑ It includes geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Characteristics of the Earth that are...

EARTH SCIENCE ❑ The name for all the sciences that collectively seek to understand Earth and its neighbors in space. ❑ It includes geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Characteristics of the Earth that are Necessary to Support Life CALAMBA CITY INTEGRATED SCIENCE SCHOOL Chipeco Avenue, Brgy. 3, Calamba City, Laguna 4027 EARTH as Planet of Life ❑ Third planet from the sun in the solar system. ❑ Exists for 4.5+ billion years ❑ One of the “terrestrial planets” but the only one known to cater life. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success EARTH as Planet of Life ❑ Most of the cell’s processes require energy from the Sun which is the main source of energy. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Photo from: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov  How come Earth can support life while the other planets cannot? Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Goldilocks and the Three Bears Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success What makes Earth just right? It’s place in the solar system as the 3rd planet from the Sun! - if it’s closer to the Sun, it will be too hot - it it’s farther from the Sun, it will be too cold Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success  What are some conditions that are “just right” on Earth to allow life to exist? Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Factors that make Earth habitable 1. Temperature - influences how quickly or slowly atoms move (low temp: slow reaction; high temp: breakdown of molecules)  Most living things are limited to a temperature range of -15oC to 115oC.  Earth’s temperature ranges from -88oC to 58oC. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Factors that make Earth habitable 2. Liquid water – plays an important role on biological processes - Earth’s temperature range allow water to exist in liquid form - Only Earth has different forms of water (so far) Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Factors that make Earth habitable 3. Right atmospheric conditions - Earth’s atmosphere (100 miles thick) contains greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 that can trap heat and prevent the planet from freezing - Presence of ozone layer → shields the Earth’s surface from harmful UV radiation Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Factors that make Earth habitable 3. Right atmospheric conditions – atmosphere provides significant insulation from the sun and impact of small to medium-sized meteorites. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Factors that make Earth habitable 3. Right atmospheric conditions – Earth has the right size to hold a sufficient-sized atmosphere (pull of gravity); smaller planets: thinner atmosphere; bigger planets: thicker atmosphere. - Presence of O2 is needed by most of the organisms to sustain life. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Factors that make Earth habitable 4. Energy – living things use different forms of energy to perform different life processes - Earth is at the right distance from Sun to receive sufficient amount of solar energy; too close to sun: too much of energy; too far from the sun: too little of energy Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Factors that make Earth habitable 5. Nutrients – presence of nutrients on Earth essential in building and maintaining an organism’s body - presence of volcanoes, cycle of water and atmosphere, contribute to the flow of nutrients within earth’s systems - too much volcanic activity: may interfere with organism’s ability to acquire nutrients Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success What Makes Earth Habitable? ✓ Temperature range. ✓ Presence of liquid water. ✓ Composition of its Atmosphere. ✓ Size and distance from the Sun. ✓ Active nutrient cycling. Calibrating through Commitment and Integrity, Soaring high in Success Thank you! CALAMBA CITY INTEGRATED SCIENCE SCHOOL Chipeco Avenue, Brgy. 3, Calamba City, Laguna 4027