REVIEWER IN EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

Origin and Structure of the Earth

(Planet Earth)

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The Sun
The Earth orbits around the Sun, which is the closest star to the Earth, and why it looks so big.
It is 93 million miles away from the Earth.
Mercury
Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System, right next to the Sun. A year is only 88 days, so one day
lasts a long time! It has water and ice with a solid surface.
Venus
Venus is the brightest planet in the Solar System. One day on Venus is longer than an Earth year! Venus is
unique in that it spins clockwise, opposite to all the other planets!
Earth
The Earth is the only planet known to have life. It has 70% of its surface covered in water. At the Earth's
core, it is as hot as the surface of the Sun!
Mars
Known as the red planet because of the iron in the soil, Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun. Mars
can have dust storms surrounding the entire planet and lasting months!
Jupiter
The largest planet in the Solar System, by far! It is also the fastest spinning planet. The great red spot-on
Jupiter is like a massive storm. Jupiter has 4 rings and up to 80 moons.
Saturn
Saturn may be huge, but it can float on water! It is most famous for its beautiful rings, made up of ice and
rock. Some rings are the size of a house!
Uranus
The 7th planet from the Sun, Uranus is the coldest planet in the Solar System. Once every 84 Earth years,
Uranus will make its trip around the Sun.
Neptune
Neptune is the smallest of the gas giants. One year on Neptune lasts 165 Earth Years! Pluto was once its
neighbor in the Solar System but is now classified as a dwarf planet.
 Earth: A Habitable Planet
Factors that make a planet habitable
Factors that make Situation in the
Not Enough of the Too Much of the
a Just Right Solar
Factor Factor
Planet Habitable System
Low temperatures Life seems to be At about 125 °C, Surface: only the
cause chemicals to limited to a protein and Earth’s surface is
react slowly, which temperature range carbohydrate in this temperature
interferes with the of -15 °C to 115 molecules, and the range. Sub-
Temperature reactions °C. In this range, genetic material surface: the
influences how necessary for life. It liquid water can (e.g., DNA and interior of the solid
quickly atoms and can also cause the still exist under RNA) start to break planets and moons
molecules move. freezing of water, certain conditions. apart. Also, high may be in this
making liquid temperatures temperature
water unavailable. cause the quick range.
evaporation of
water.
Small planets and Earth and Venus Venus’s Of the solid planets
moons have are the right size to atmosphere is 100 and moons, only
insufficient gravity hold a sufficient times thicker than Earth, Venus, and
to hold an atmosphere. Earth’s. It is made Titan have
atmosphere. The Earth’s almost entirely of significant
gas molecules atmosphere is greenhouse atmospheres.
Atmosphere escape to space, about 100 miles gasses, making the Mars’ atmosphere
leaving the planet thick. It keeps the surface too hot for is about 1/100th
or moon without an surface warm and life. The four giant that of Earth’s, too
insulating blanket protects it from planets are small for
or a protective radiation and completely made significant
shield. small- to medium- of gas. insulation or
sized meteorites. shielding.
When there is too With a steady input Light energy is a Surface: The inner
little sunlight or too of either light or problem if it makes planets get too
few of the chemical energy, a planet too hot or much sunlight for
chemicals that cells can run the if there are too life. The outer
provide energy to chemical reactions many harmful rays, planets get too
Energy
cells, such as iron necessary for life. such as ultraviolet. little. Sub-surface:
or sulfur, Too many energy- Most solid planets
organisms die. rich chemicals is and moons have
not a problem energy-rich
chemicals.
Without chemicals All solid planets Too many Surface: Earth has
to make proteins and moons have nutrients are not a a water cycle, an
and the same general problem. However, atmosphere, and
carbohydrates, chemical makeup, too active a volcanoes to
Nutrients used to organisms cannot so nutrients are circulation system, circulate nutrients.
build and maintain grow. Planets present. Those such as the Venus, Titan, Io,
an organism’s without systems to with a water cycle constant and Mars have
body. deliver nutrients to or volcanic activity volcanism on nutrients and ways
its organisms (e.g., can transport and Jupiter’s moon, Io, to circulate them
a water cycle or replenish the or the churning to organisms. Sub-
volcanic activity) chemicals required atmospheres of surface: Any planet
cannot support the gas planets, or moon with sub-
 life. Also, when by living interferes with an surface water or
nutrients are organisms. organism’s ability molten rock can
spread so thin that to get enough circulate and
they are hard to nutrients. replenish nutrients
obtain, such as on for organisms
a gas planet, life
cannot exist.

Earth
It is the only place in the known universe confirmed to host life and is the only one known for sure to have
liquid water in the surface.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANET EARTH

1. It has liquid water
2. Plate Tectonics
3. It has atmosphere that shelters it from the worst of the sun’s rays.

It is the only planet in the solar system that has a large amount of liquid water.
About 70% of the surface of the Earth is covered by liquid or frozen water. Because of this, Earth is
sometimes called “blue planet.”

Planet Earth is habitable because:

It has the right distance from the sun. It is kept warm by an insulating atmosphere, and it has the
right chemical ingredients for life including water and carbon. It can provide water, oxygen, useful
biological products for human, and has suitable weather and climate.

SIMILARITIES OF EARTH, VENUS, AND MARS

They all are terrestrial planets, made of solid rocks and silicates
They all have an atmosphere
They all almost have the same time to rotate on their axes
Earth and Mars both have water
They all have carbon dioxide
All have landforms.

DIFFERENCES OF EARTH, VENUS, AND MARS

Venus has no water
Venus and Mars don’t have oxygen
Earth has life forms.

PREPARED BY:

MA’AM SHIELA L. CAYA

EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE SUBJECT TEACHER