EARTH SCIENCE - QUARTER 1

LESSON 2:
ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE
OF THE EARTH
(THE SUBSYSTEM)

ROLAND D. GARCIA JR.

MA Bio-Ed
 OBJECTIVES

After going through this learning material, you are expected to:

Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems,

across whose boundaries matter and energy flow

S11ES-Ib-4

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 LESSON 1
THE SUBSYSTEMS
OF THE EARTH
EARTH
• The third planet in the Solar System
• According to radiometric dating, it is
said to be 4.56 billion years old
• Revolves the sun around 365-366 days
• The only planet to harbor life
Earth Science
• It is also called as “geoscience”. It is
the study of the Earth’s
characteristics and behavior.
Why is the Earth habitable?
• It has a right distance from the Sun
• It has a strong magnetic field that shields
us from the electromagnetic radiation
coming from the sun
• It is protected by the plate tectonics from
the very hot temperature of the Core
• It has the right chemical materials that
could support life (e.g. water)
• The presence of oxygen in the atmosphere
• Right atmospheric conditions
Light energy

Earth’s System as a Closed System

from the Sun

• Closed System – it means that the

something gets what it wants but neither it
returns it back.

• The Earth gets energy or heat from the

Sun but it returns only some of the energy
back to space.
Long wave energy
(heat) returned to space
Cycles
• It is one of the major themes of the Earth’s
subsystems
• It is the process wherein the material in
the Earth system was continuously
recycled in numerous overlapping cycles
EARTH is a complex system
of interrelating physical,
chemical and biological
process.
ACTIVITY 1
WHAT’S IN
Imagine walking along a rocky coast as a storm blows
in from the sea. The wind whips the ocean into
whitecaps, and waves crash onto the shore. Before
you have time to escape, blowing spray has soaked
your clothes. A hard rain begins as you scrambled
over the rocks to your car. During the adventure, you
have observed the spheres of the Earth.
 List down the terms that are used in the statement that
reflects to what made up the Earth. Categorize them based
on the following:

AIR WATER LAND WITH LIFE

 THE
SUBSYSTEMS
OF THE EARTH
The four subsystems of the Earth are:

1 ATMOSPHERE

2 BIOSPHERE

3 GEOSPHERE

4 HYDROSPHERE
BIOSPHERE HYDROSPHERE

GEOSPHERE ATMOSPHERE
1 ATMOSPHERE
the gaseous layer above the Earth’s surface
primarily composed of different gases such as
nitrogen and oxygen.
1 ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere supports life
because animals and oxygen,
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.
1 ATMOSPHERE
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%.
1 ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere plays a
vital role in Earth's
system by interacting
with the other spheres.
With the geosphere,
weathering and erosion,
powered by atmospheric
processes like wind and
rain, modify the Earth's
landforms. Volcanic
1 ATMOSPHERE
Volcanic eruptions from
the geosphere can also
impact the atmosphere
by releasing gases and
particles.
1 ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere's interaction with the biosphere
is essential for life. It provides the air that
organisms breathe, influences climate, and helps
shield life from harmful solar radiation.
Photosynthesizing organisms, like plants, in the
biosphere also contribute to the atmosphere by
releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide.
The atmosphere is
comprised of layers based
on temperature. These
layers are the troposphere,
stratosphere, mesosphere
and thermosphere.
A further region at about
500 km above the Earth's
surface is called the
EXOSPHERE.
2 BIOSPHERE
The biosphere is all about
life. It encompasses all
regions of the Earth where
life exists - from the
deepest parts of the
ocean, to the highest
mountains, from the
chilliest arctic regions to
the hottest deserts, and
everything in between.
2 BIOSPHERE
The biosphere interacts with the other spheres in
numerous ways. Plants grow in soil (part of the
geosphere). They take up carbon dioxide (part of
the atmosphere), and require water (part f the
hydrosphere) to photosynthesize. Animals breathe
in oxygen from the atmosphere and drink water
from the hydrosphere. The geosphere and
hydrosphere also provide habitats to a great
diversity of organisms.
 3 GEOSPHERE
– the solid part of the Earth that consists the entire planet
from the center of the core to the outer crust. It includes
core, mantle, and crust of the Earth.
 3 GEOSPHERE
• Lithosphere – it is a
part of the
geosphere that is
composed of the
solid, outermost
part of the
planet.
 3 GEOSPHERE
PLATE TECTONICS
• These are the rocky
parts of the
lithosphere that are
divided into numerous
plates due to the
drifting of the plates
as times goes by.
• Estimated to move
about 1-16 cm per year
3 GEOSPHERE
 3 GEOSPHERE
The geosphere interacts
with the other spheres in
many ways. For example, it
interacts with the
hydrosphere as rivers
shape valleys and create
sediment, or when heat
from the Earth's core
warms the bottom of
oceans.
 3 GEOSPHERE
. The interaction with the
atmosphere occurs when
volcanic eruptions from
the geosphere release
gases into the
atmosphere, influencing
climate.
 CRUST

MANTLE

OUTER CORE

INNER CORE
 4 HYDROSPHERE

– the water part of the Earth

that includes oceans and
glaciers.
4 HYDROSPHERE
EARTH is the
only planet in
the solar
system that
is known to
contain
water in all
three phases
 4 HYDROSPHERE
The hydrosphere includes all
the water on, above, and
below the surface of the
Earth. This encompasses
oceans, which make up the
majority of the hydrosphere,
as well as rivers, lakes,
groundwater, ice, and even
the water vapor in the
atmosphere.
 4 HYDROSPHERE
The hydrosphere interacts extensively with the other
spheres. For example, it interacts with the geosphere in
processes such as erosion and deposition, which can
create or alter landforms over time. Similarly, ocean
currents, a component of the hydrosphere, can impact
the geosphere by distributing heat across the planet,
influencing the climate.
 4 HYDROSPHERE

EVAPORATION
• It is the first major step in the hydrological cycle
• The sun is the major driving force of this process for it
will heat the water and it will become water vapor
• It involves the molecular change of water from liquid to
gas
 4 HYDROSPHERE

TRANSPIRATION
• It is a type of water movement that is typically
happening in plants
• The sun absorbs the water from the aerial parts of a
plant (e.g. leaves) and it will evaporate and become
water vapor
• If there are many leaves in the plant, it would lose more
water because it has a bigger surface area.
 4 HYDROSPHERE

CONDENSATION
• It is the reverse process of the evaporation
• It is happening when the evaporated water vapor
cooled down to its dew point
• It is usually when the clouds are formed
 4 HYDROSPHERE

PRECIPITATION
• It is the water released from the condensed clouds
• It is the primary connection in the water cycle that
provides for the delivery of the atmospheric water to
the Earth.
 4 HYDROSPHERE

PRECIPITATION
• It is the process by which precipitation (water) was
absorbed by the soil and moves into the rocks and
usually replenishes the groundwater system.
ACTIVITY 2
WHAT I CAN DO
 The human population has increased rapidly since
the 1700’s. For most of human history, there were
fewer than half-billion people on Earth. In mid- 2009,
6.7 billion people inhabited our planet. Because of
these, extensive pollution is everywhere. As a
student, what can you do to save not only a
particular system, but the Earth itself? Write your
answer in the table.
 MY ENVIRONMENTAL “TO DO” LIST
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ACTIVITY 3
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
 CONNECT ME SPHERES
Procedure:

Analyze the interactions of the

spheres after the onslaught of
Taal Volcano.

1. What sphere caused the

event?
2. What are the effects of the
event on one or more spheres?
3. What is the global implication
of the event?
ASSESSMENT
1. Earth includes beach grasses, forms of life in the sea, on
land, and even in the air. Which term best describes the
statement?

A. atmosphere
B. biosphere
C. geosphere
D. hydrosphere
2. Which system of the Earth is considered as the largest
component of the Earth?

A. atmosphere
B. biosphere
C. geosphere
D. hydrosphere
3. Life is supported by oxygen and carbon dioxide. Which
subsystem will best describe the statement?

A. atmosphere
B. biosphere
C. geosphere
D. hydrosphere
4. Relationship between the complex communities of
individual organism is seen in the different systems of the
Earth. What do you call the unit in nature?

A. ecosystem
B. complexity
C. ground
D. system
5. All of earth’s cycles and spheres are interconnected. Why
is this so?

A. because they are interconnected

B. because Earth is where we live in
C. because Earth is the only living planet
D. because every organism has its own function in the Earth
6. What is an example of a connection between atmosphere
and geosphere?

A. water
B. nitrogen
C. mountains
D. volcanic eruption release gas
7. Which among the choices is an example of a connection
between atmosphere and hydrosphere?

A. lakes
B. Rain
C. rivers
D. rocks
8. From the given choices, which is an example of a
connection between biosphere connecting to
atmosphere?

A. Animals eat plants.

B. Animals drink water.
C. Animals lie in caves.
D. Plants produce oxygen.
9. Among the choices, which clearly gives an example of
connection between hydrosphere and geosphere?

A. boats transporting goods

B. fish swimming in water
C. water evaporating to make clouds
D. waves eroding rocks on beach
10. All living things, including land and sea made up the Earth.
Which term best described the statement?

A. geosphere
B. ozone layer
C. atmosphere
D. biosphere
11. When nitrogen is returned to the soil when dead plants
decompose is an interaction that occurs in what system?

A. biosphere and atmosphere

B. geosphere and atmosphere
C. biosphere and geosphere
D. atmosphere and geosphere
12. Carbon dioxide dissolving from the air into the ocean is an
interaction that occurs in which system?

A. atmosphere and hydrosphere

B. atmosphere and atmosphere
C. atmosphere and geosphere
D. atmosphere and biosphere
13. The atmosphere of the Earth is composed of ___ oxygen
and _____ nitrogen and other gases.

A. 0% and 100%
B. 21% and 78%
C. 78% and 21%
D. 50% and 50%
14. A thin layer of solid rock that makes up the outermost
part of the Earth is visible to which part of geosphere?

A. core
B. crust
C. mantle
D. biosphere
15. Ozone plays an important function in every single
organism on Earth. To what sphere does ozone layer
belong?

A. atmosphere
B. biosphere
C. geosphere
D. hydrosphere
ADDITIONAL
ACTIVITIES
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

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 MAKING A FOLDABLE

Bond Paper (Size: A4)

Pentel Pen WHAT
Pair of Scissors YOU NEED
Crayon

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 WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

1. Make a 4 door
foldable.
2. Cut one of the doors
in half and label the
doors like the
picture
 WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

3. Write the definition

of the sphere on the
back of the tab, and
draw an image of
the sphere on the
bottom as shown
THANK YOU!