EARTH AS THE ONLY

HABITABLE PLANET

Week 1 – Modules 1-3

OBJECTIVES

1. identify the characteristics

of the Earth that supports
life; and
2. expound how the
characteristics of the Earth
sustain the needs of living
organism.
The solar system is composed of the Sun and the eight
planets revolving around it. Among those eight planets,
only one can sustain life: Earth.

 Earth is the third planet from the Sun and is the largest
of the terrestrial planets.
 HISTORY OF THE EARTH

 The history of Earth covers approximately 4

billion years (4,567,000,000 years), from
Earth’s formation out of the solar nebula to
the present.
 Earth formed as part of the birth of the
solar system: what eventually became the
solar system initially existed as a large,
rotating cloud of dust and gas.
 It was composed of hydrogen and helium
produced in the Big Bang, as well as heavier
elements produced by stars long gone.
What makes the
Earth
habitable?
 A SPECIAL PLANET: THE HABITABLE
EARTH

 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. The processes that
shape the Earth and its environment constantly
cycle elements through the planet. This cycling
sustains life and leads to the formation of the
mineral and energy resources that are the
foundation of modern technological society.
 EARTH: A HABITABLE PLANET
Factors that make a Not Enough of the Just Right Too Much of the Situation in the
Planet Habitable Factor Factor Solar System

Temperature Low temperatures Life seems to be At about 125oC, Surface: only the
influences how cause chemicals to limited to a protein and Earth’s surface is
quickly atoms and react slowly, which temperature range carbohydrate in this
molecules move. interferes with the of -15oC to 115oC. molecules, and the temperature range.
reactions In this range, genetic material Sub-surface: the
necessary for life. liquid water can (e.g., DNA and interior of the solid
It can also cause still exist under RNA) start to planets and moons
the freezing of certain conditions. break apart. Also, may be in this
water, making high temperatures temperature range.
liquid water cause the quick
unavailable. evaporation of
water.

Atmosphere Small planets and Earth and Venus Venus’s Of the solid planets
moons have are the right size atmosphere is 100 and moons, only
insufficient gravity to 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 gasses, atmospheres.
escape to space, about 100 miles making the surface Mars’ atmosphere
leaving the planet thick. It keeps the too hot for life. The is about 1/100th
or moon without surface warm and four giant planets that of Earth’s, too
an insulating protects it from are completely small for
blanket or a radiation and made of gas. significant
protective shield. small- to medium insulation or
 Factors that Not Enough of the Just Right Too Much of the Situation in the
make a Planet Factor Factor Solar System
Habitable
Energy 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 planets get too much
few of the chemicals chemical energy, makes a planet too sunlight for life. The
that provide energy cells can run the hot or if there are outer planets get too
to cells, such as iron chemical reactions too many harmful little.
or sulfur, organisms necessary for life. rays, such as Sub-surface: Most
die ultraviolet. Too solid planets and
many energy-rich moons have energy-
chemicals is not a rich chemicals.
problem
Nutrients used Without chemicals to All solid planets Too many Surface: Earth has a
to build and make proteins and and moons have the nutrients are not a water cycle, an
maintain an carbohydrates, same general problem. However, atmosphere, and
organism’s organisms cannot chemical makeup, too active a volcanoes to
body. grow. Planets so nutrients are circulation system, circulate nutrients.
without systems to present. Those with such as the Venus, Titan, Io,
deliver nutrients to a water cycle or constant and Mars have
its organisms (e.g., a volcanic activity volcanism on nutrients and ways
water cycle or can transport and Jupiter’s moon, Io, to circulate them to
volcanic activity) replenish the or the churning organisms.
cannot support life. chemicals required atmospheres of the Sub-surface: Any
Also, when nutrients by living gas planets, planet or moon with
are spread so thin organisms. interferes with an sub-surface water or
that they are hard to organism’s ability molten rock can
obtain, such as on a to get enough circulate and
gas planet, life nutrients. replenish nutrients
cannot exist. for organisms
 Earth 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. These
are reasons why planet earth is a unique one: (1)
It has liquid water; (2) Plate Tectonics; and (3) It
has atmosphere that shelters it from the worst of
the sun’s rays.

 Earth 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. It can provide water, oxygen, useful
biological products for human, and has suitable
weather and climate.
 Earth, Venus, and Mars may have
similarities: (1) They all are terrestrial
planets, made of solid rocks and silicates;
(2) They all have an atmosphere; (3) They
all almost have the same time to rotate
on their axes; (4) Earth and Mars both
have water; (5) They all have carbon
dioxide; and (6 All have landforms.
 Earth, Venus, and Mars have differences:
(1) Venus has no water; (2) Venus and
Mars don’t have oxygen; and (3) Earth
has life forms.
Origin and Structure of the
Earth (Subsystem)
 OBJECTIVES
 1. determine the four subsystems of the
Earth;
 2. describe the characteristics of each
subsystem; 3. trace the flow of matter
and energy in the Earth’s subsystems;
and
 4. express one’s internalized role as
steward of the four subsystems
concerning the flow of matter and
energy.
 SUBSYSTEM OF THE EARTH
1. Atmosphere
it is the gaseous layer above the Earth’s surface,
primarily composed of 78% nitrogen and 21%
oxygen. Other gases like argon, carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, ozone, and other inert gases
made the remaining 1%. The atmosphere
supports life because animals, and plants need
both carbon dioxide and oxygen. In addition, the
atmosphere supports life indirectly by
regulating climate. Air acts as both a blanket
and a filter, retaining heat at night and
shielding from direct solar radiation during the
day.
SUBSYSTEM OF THE EARTH
 SUBSYSTEM OF THE EARTH
2. Biosphere
the zone of Earth where all forms of
life exist: in the sea, on land, and in
water. It is sometimes called as the
large ecosystem. This is the zone
that life inhabits. Biosphere is a
very thin layer of the earth’s
surface.
 SUBSYSTEM OF THE EARTH
3. Geosphere
the solid Earth, consisting of
the entire planet from the
center of the core to the outer
crust. It includes the core,
mantle, and crust of the
Earth.
SUBSYSTEM OF THE EARTH
 SUBSYSTEM OF THE EARTH
4. Hydrosphere
the water part of the Earth
which circulates among
oceans, continents, glaciers,
and atmosphere. Oceans
cover 71% of the Earth and
contain 97.5% of its water.
 SUBSYSTEM OF THE EARTH
 Earth is a complex system made up of many smaller
systems through which matter and energy are continuously
cycled. Energy and matter flow through Earth’s spheres:
geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Energy flows through the atmosphere mostly by convection.
 How does matter and energy flow across the four
subsystems of the Earth? The Earth consists of four
subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy
flows, the atmosphere (air), biosphere (living things),
hydrosphere (water), and geosphere (land). The atmosphere
provides the geosphere with heat and energy needed for
rock breakdown and erosion. The biosphere receives gases,
heat, and sunlight (energy) from the atmosphere. It
receives water from the hydrosphere and a living medium
from the geo-sphere.
Minerals
 OBJECTIVES
1. identify the examples of
minerals;
2. explain the different
characteristics of minerals;
3. differentiate minerals based
on their properties; and
4. develop awareness on the
importance of minerals around
us.
 WHAT ARE MINERALS?

Minerals are the building

blocks of rocks.
Mineralogists use the
criteria to determine
whether a material is
classified as a mineral or
not.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
 1. naturally occurring- a product of Earth’s
natural processes.
 2. inorganic- it must be product of Earth’s
physical processes.
 3. homogeneous solid- minerals should have
definite volume and rigid shape.
 4. definite chemical composition—represented
by a chemical formula.
 5. orderly crystalline structure- atoms of
minerals are arranged in an orderly and
repeating pattern.
 PROPERTIES OF MINERALS

 To identify minerals, mineralogists observe

the following properties:

 a. Color - mineral’s color may change depending on the

surface.
 b. Streak - color of mineral in powdered form.
 c. Hardness - minerals resistance to scratching.
 d. Cleavage - mineral’s resistance to being broken and
fracture
 e. Crystalline structure or habit
 f. Diaphaneity/amount of transparency - ability to
allow light to pass through it. This is affected by chemical
makeup of the mineral sample.
 PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
 h. Tenacity - describes the minerals reaction to
stress.
 Brittleness- a mineral turns into powder.

 Malleability a mineral can be flattened by pounding

with a hammer.
 Ductility- A mineral can be stretched into wire.
Flexible but inelastic-Minerals are bent but they
remain in the new position.
 Flexible and elastic- Minerals are bent, and they
bring back to their original position.
 Sectility- ability of minerals to be sliced by a knife.