Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Earth Science
SY 2021-2022

Unit 1: Origin and Structure of the Earth

Lesson 1: Characteristics of Earth to Support Life

Introduction
What makes the Earth habitable? It is the right distance from the Sun, it is protected from
harmful solar radiation by its magnetic field, it is kept warm by an insulating atmosphere, and it has the
right chemical ingredients for life, including water and carbon.

Learning Objectives
After studying this module, you should be able to:

• describe the characteristics of Earth that are necessary to support life.

Pre-requisite Skills / Review

REVIEW: Solar System

THE SUN AND ITS PLANETS

• The Sun is at the center of a revolving system, trillions

of miles wide, consisting of eight planets, their
satellites, and numerous smaller asteroids, comets, and
meteoroids.
• An estimated 99.85 percent of the mass of our solar
system is contained within the Sun. The planets
account for most of the remaining 0.15 percent.
Starting from the Sun, the planets are Mercury, Venus,
Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

• planets fall into two groups, based on location, size and

density: the TERRESTRIAL (Earth-like) planets
(Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) and JOVIAN (Jupiter-
like) planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune).
• the four terrestrial planets are also known as inner planets,
and the four Jovian planets are known as the outer planets
or gas giants.

INTERNAL STRUCTURES

• After the formation of the Earth, segregation of materials formed its three layers, namely, the crust,
mantle and core, depending on their chemical composition. This type of chemical separation
occurred in the other planets as well.

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Terrestrial Planets

• The terrestrial planets are dense, having

relatively large cores of iron and nickel. The
outer cores of Earth and Mercury are liquid,
whereas the cores of Venus and Mars are thought
to be only partially molten. This difference is
attributable to Venus and Mars having lower
internal temperatures than those of Earth and
Mercury.
• Silicate minerals and other lighter compounds
make up the mantles of the terrestrial planets. Finally, the silicate crusts of terrestrial planets are
relatively thin compared to their mantles.
•
MOTIVATION:

Watch the videos below, and answer the following questions:

The Mysterious Event That Made Venus A Death Trap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dnWcHRi1CU&t=1s

Earth vs Mars - How Do They Compare - Space / Planet Comparison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxD7iYQHdqo&t=2s

1. Based on the videos, what are the unique characteristics of planets Venus, Earth and Mars?
2. Use the information given in the videos to compare and contrast the three planets.
3. Based on the videos, what makes Earth unique among the three planets?

Heuristic Reading Material:

Earth’s Characteristics:

1. What makes Earth differ from other terrestrial planets? Describe its features.
2. Describe the effects of gravity on Earth according to Newton’s Law of gravitation.
3. Identify the source of Earth’s magnetic field.
4. Differentiate the compositional zone of Earth’s interior.
5. Why does our weight change as we move above or below Earth's surface?

Reference:https://rhs.rocklinusd.org/subsites/Geology/documents/CHAPTER%202%20EARTH%20AS
%20A%20SYSTEM.pdf

Proceed to Page 3 to 7

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Lesson 1.1 – Features of Venus, Earth and Mars

Important Concepts to Understand:

a. Escape Velocity
- minimum speed an object needs to
escape a planet's pull of gravity.

b. Surface Pressure
- atmospheric pressure at a location on
the surface of the planet. It is
proportional to the mass of air above
the location.

c. Temperature If No Greenhouse Gases

Are Present:
- the temperature of the Earth would
be around 18°C lower without the
warming effect of greenhouse gases.

Take a look at the table above, study and compare

planets Venus, Earth and Mars.

Lesson 1.2 – Why is Earth Unique

WHY EARTH IS UNIQUE?

(What are the characteristics that make Earth unique among planets?)

A. There is only one place in the universe, as far as we know, that supports life—a modest-sized planet
called Earth that orbits an average-sized star, the Sun.
B. It is found in boiling mudpots and hot springs, in the deep abyss of the ocean, and even under the
Antarctic Ice Sheet.
C. Living space on our planet, however, is significantly limited when we consider the needs of
individual organisms, particularly humans. The global ocean covers 71 percent of Earth’s surface,
but only a few hundred meters below the water’s surface, pressures are so intense that humans
cannot survive without an atmospheric diving suit. In addition, many continental areas are too
steep, too high, or too cold for us to inhabit
TRIVIA

Did you know that….. Earth was not always as we find it today.

➢ Earth was not always as we find it today. During its formative years, our planet became hot enough
to support a magma ocean.
➢ It also survived a several-hundred-million-year period of extreme bombardment by asteroids.
➢ The oxygen-rich atmosphere that makes higher life-forms possible developed relatively recently.

EARTH AS THE RIGHT PLANET

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➢ If Earth were considerably larger

(more massive), its force of gravity
would be proportionately greater. Like
the giant planets, Earth would have
retained a thick, hostile atmosphere
consisting of ammonia and methane,
and possibly hydrogen and helium.
➢ If Earth were much smaller, oxygen,
water vapor, and other volatiles would
escape into space and be lost forever.
Thus, like the Moon and Mercury, both
of which lack atmospheres, Earth
would be void of life.
➢ If Earth did not have a rigid lithosphere
overlaying a weak asthenosphere, plate
tectonics would not operate. The
continental crust (Earth’s “highlands”) would not have formed without the recycling of plates.
Consequently, the entire planet would likely be covered by an ocean a few kilometers deep. As
author Bill Bryson so aptly stated, “There might be life in that lonesome ocean, but there certainly
wouldn’t be baseball.”1
➢ Most surprisingly, perhaps, is the fact that if our planet did not have a molten metallic core, most
of the lifeforms on Earth would not exist. Fundamentally, without the flow of iron in the core, Earth
could not support a magnetic field. It is the magnetic field that prevents lethal cosmic rays from
showering Earth’s surface and from stripping away our atmosphere.

EARTH IN THE RIGHT PLANET

One of the primary factors that determine whether a planet is sui table for higher life-forms is its location
in the solar system. The following scenarios substantiate Earth’s advantageous position:

➢ If Earth were about 10 percent closer to the Sun, our atmosphere would be more like that of Venus
and consist mainly of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. As a result, Earth’s surface temperature
would be too hot to support higher life-forms.
➢ If Earth were about 10 percent farther from the Sun, the problem would be reversed—it would be
too cold. The oceans would freeze over, and Earth’s active water cycle would not exist. Without
liquid water, all life would perish.
➢ Earth is near a star of modest size. Stars like the Sun have a life span of roughly 10 billion years.
During most of this time, radiant energy is emitted at a fairly constant level. Giant stars, on the
other hand, consume their nuclear fuel at very high rates and “burn out” in a few hundred million
years. Therefore, Earth’s proximity to a modest-sized star allowed enough time for the evolution
of humans, who first appeared on this planet only a few million years ago

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EARTH AT THE RIGHT TIME

The last, but certainly not the least,

fortuitous factor for Earth is timing. The
first organisms to inhabit Earth were
extremely primitive and came into
existence roughly 3.8 billion years ago.
From that point in Earth’s history,
innumerable changes occurred—life-
forms came and went, and there were
many changes in the physical environment
of our planet. Consider two of the many timely Earth-altering events:

✓ Earth’s atmosphere has developed over time. Earth’s primitive atmosphere is thought to have been
composed mostly of methane, water vapor, ammonia, and carbon dioxide—but no free oxygen.
Fortunately, microorganisms evolved that released oxygen into the atmosphere through the process
of photosynthesis. About 2.5 billion years ago, an atmosphere with free oxygen came into
existence. The result was the evolution of the ancestors of the vast array of organisms that occupy
Earth today.

✓ About 65 million years ago, our planet was struck by an asteroid 10 kilometers (6 miles) in
diameter. This impact likely caused a mass extinction during which nearly three quarters of all
plant and animal species were obliterated— including dinosaurs. Although this may not seem
fortuitous, the extinction of dinosaurs opened new habitats for small mammals that survived the
impact. These habitats, along with evolutionary forces, led to the development of many large
mammals that occupy our modern world. Without this event, mammals may not have evolved
beyond the small rodent-like creatures that live in burrows.

Lesson 1.3 – Factors that make a Planet Habitable

(What are the characteristics of Earth to support life?)

a. TEMPERATURE

TOO MUCH
NOT ENOUGH JUST RIGHT

Low temperatures cause: Life seems to be limited to At about 125oC, protein and carbohydrate
a temperature range of - molecules, and the genetic material (e.g.,
Chemicals to react slowly,
15oC to 115oC. In this DNA and RNA) start to break apart.
which interferes with the
range, liquid water can still Also, high temperatures cause the quick
reactions necessary for life.
exist under certain evaporation of water.
conditions.
It can also cause the
freezing of water, making
liquid water unavailable.

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Situation in the Solar System:

Surface: only the Earth’s surface is in this temperature range.

Sub-surface: the interior of the solid planets and moons may be in this temperature range

b. ATMOSPHRERE

TOO MUCH
NOT ENOUGH JUST RIGHT

Small planets and moons Earth and Venus are the Venus’s atmosphere is 100 times thicker
have insufficient gravity to right size to hold a than Earth’s. It is made almost entirely of
hold an atmosphere. The sufficient-sized greenhouse gasses, making the surface
gas molecules escape to atmosphere. Earth’s too hot for life. The four giant planets are
space, leaving the planet or atmosphere is about 100 completely made of gas.
moon without an insulating miles thick. It keeps the
blanket or a protective surface warm & protects it
shield. from radiation & small- to
medium-sized meteorites.

Situation:

Of the solid planets and moons, only Earth, Venus, & Titan have significant atmospheres.
Mars’ atmosphere is about 1/100th that of Earth’s, too small for significant insulation or shielding

c. ENERGY

TOO MUCH
NOT ENOUGH JUST RIGHT

When there is too little sunlight With a steady input of either light energy is a problem if it
or too few of the chemicals that light or chemical energy, cells makes a planet too hot or if
provide energy to cells, such as can run the chemical reactions there are too many harmful
iron or sulfur, organisms die. necessary for life. rays, such as ultraviolet. Too
many energy-rich chemicals is
not a problem.

Situation:.

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Surface: the inner planets get too much sunlight for life. The outer planets get too little.
Sub-surface: Most solid planets & moons have energy-rich chemicals.

d. NUTRIENTS USED TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN AN ORGANISMS BODY

TOO MUCH
NOT ENOUGH JUST RIGHT

Without chemicals to make All solid planets & moons Too many nutrients are not a problem.
proteins & carbohydrates, have the same general However, too active a circulation system,
organisms cannot grow. chemical makeup, so such as the constant volcanism on
Planets without systems to nutrients are present. Those Jupiter’s moon, Io, or the churning
deliver nutrients to its with a water cycle or atmospheres of the gas planets, interferes
organisms (e.g., a water volcanic activity can with an organism’s ability to get enough
cycle or volcanic activity) transport and replenish the nutrients.
cannot support life. Also, chemicals required by
when nutrients are spread living organisms.
so thin that they are hard to
obtain, such as on a gas
planet, life cannot exist.

Situation:

Surface: Earth has a water cycle, an atmosphere, and volcanoes to circulate nutrients. Venus, Titan, Io,
and Mars have nutrients and ways to circulate them to organisms.

Sub-surface: Any planet or moon with sub-surface water or molten rock can circulate and replenish
nutrients for organisms

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Key Concepts

❖ Escape Velocity- minimum speed an object needs to escape a planet's pull of gravity.
❖ Surface Pressure- atmospheric pressure at a location on the surface of the planet. It is
proportional to the mass of air above the location.
❖ Temperature If No Greenhouse Gases Are Present: the temperature of the Earth would be
around 18°C lower without the warming effect of greenhouse gases.
❖ Atmosphere is a layer or a set of layers of gases surrounding a planet or other material body,
that is held in place by the gravity of that body.
❖ Temperature is the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object, especially as
expressed according to a comparative scale and shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch.
❖ Energy is power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources, especially to
provide light and heat or to work machines.

Learning Activity

Video Analysis

Kindly watch the video below entitled “End of the Habitable Zone” and answer the following
questions:

The End of the Habitable Zone | Space Time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwGeCfWc100

1. What is the “goldilocks zone”?

2. How does the life cycle of Sun affect the life in Earth
3. Do you think we can live in Mars? Why? Why not?

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Enrichment Activity
Directions: Read each item carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer.
Multiple Choice

1. Which could possibly happen if Earth is located farther from the sun and not in the
Goldilocks Zone?
a. Quick evaporation of water.
b. Proteins will start to denature.
c. Chemical reaction will happen slowly.
d. Liquid water can still exist under certain conditions.
2. Which characteristic of Earth allows the recycling of material and generates a magnetic field
that protects us from radiation?

a. distance from the sun

b. existence of liquid water
c. presence of molten core
d. occurrence of the atmosphere
3. Which refers to the atmospheric pressure at a location on the surface of the planet and is
proportion to the mass of air above the location?
a. density
b. escape velocity
c. gravity
d. surface pressure
4. Which refers to the minimum speed an object needs to get away from a planet’s pull of
gravity?
a. Density
b. Gravity
c. escape velocity
d. surface pressure
5. What could possibly happen if the Earth’s temperature is colder than usual?
a. Quick evaporation of water.
b. Proteins will start to denature.
c. Chemical reaction will happen slowly.
d. Liquid water can still exist under certain conditions.
6. Which is NOT a factor that made Earth habitable?
a. atmosphere
b. energy
c. exogenic processes
d. temperature
7. Which does NOT show the uniqueness of the Earth to support life?
a. Its molten metallic core.
b. Its location around a giant star.
c. Its lithosphere is lying over a weak asthenosphere.
d. It contains the right amount of mass making its gravity at a right amount.
8. Which shows the uniqueness of the Earth to support life?
a. existence of core
b. accumulation of gas from the sun
c. presence of the global magnetic field
d. production of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
9. What could possibly happen if Earth is at least 10% closer to the sun?
a. There is no effect at all.
b. There will be variations in the mean temperature.
c. Earth’s surface temperature would be too hot to support higher life-forms.
d. The oceans would freeze over, and Earth’s active water cycle would not exist.
10. Which is NOT a factor that makes Earth habitable?
a. atmosphere
b. energy
c. rotation
d. temperature

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Enrichment Activity

Answer the following questions:

1. In what way is Earth unique among the planets of our solar system?
2. Explain why Earth is just the right size.
3. Why is Earth’s molten, metallic core important to humans living today?

Tutorial Videos

TedEd - How a single-celled organism almost wiped out life on Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2xx-aeZ4w&t=2s

What's So Special About Earth? | Unveiled:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTTXzdqzMi4

TedEd - Where did Earth’s water come from?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwtO04EXgUE&t=9s

TedEd - What a planet needs to sustain life?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RTkZaX1cH0

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