Weekly module

Week 3
Earth Science Grade 11
King Thomas Learning Academy Inc.

Module 3 Suggested time allotment 60 minutes

EARTH: THE LIVING PLANET

LEARNING OUTCOME
Describe the characteristics of Earth that are necessary to support life.

Preliminary activity
Imagine that you have a garden. Get one plant that could fit in a pot but do not put soil when you
transfer it. Put the plant inside a box and leave it for one week. What do you think will happen to the plant?
How would you relate this scenario with the different characteristics of the Earth?

Review

Measured edge to edge, the universe as we know it stretches some 93 billion light-years across. That
unfathomable expanse contains 2 trillion galaxies, each shining with millions of stars and dotted with more
planets than you can imagine.

Are we alone in the universe? What’s your view, based on the evidence? Justify your answer

Glossary of terms
Let’s learn about it!

Content material:
Factors that make a Planet Habitable
1. Abundance of liquid water on Earth, hence the blue color. The Earth is a
habitable planet. Water - in the liquid form, turns out to be one of the most important
prerequisites for life as we know it.
2. Planets should have sufficient size to hold a significant atmosphere. The
composition of the atmosphere, specifically the amount of greenhouse gases,
influences the planet surface temperature.
3. The amount of solar radiation that a planet receives is primarily a function of distance from the sun.
Sunlight is essential for photosynthesis but some organisms are able to extract energy from other sources
(chemosynthetic organisms).
4. A system that will be able to constantly supply nutrients to organisms is important to sustain life. On
Earth, nutrients are cycled through the hydrologic cycle and plate tectonics (volcanism).
5. The greenhouse effect is not necessarily undesirable. It is run-away greenhouse effect which we would
like to avoid (e.g. Venus).
 Earth’s Atmosphere The atmosphere consists of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350
ppm carbon dioxide, and other components.
The table below shows the major components in the atmosphere and their relative concentrations.
The presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide permits life on Earth. Carbon dioxide is used by
photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to convert the energy from the sun to usable energy
through the process of photosynthesis. The oxygen makes it liveable for living organisms including humans
for respiration and for our cells to function.
Earth’s atmosphere also protects us from the sun’s radiation. Thirty percent of the radiation is
reflected away by the atmosphere, clouds, and the earth's surface. Another 25% is absorbed by the
atmosphere and clouds, and the remaining 45% is absorbed by the earth’s surface. Ozone or (O3) is
composed of three oxygen atoms. In the stratosphere, (O3) is abundant in the form of the ozone layer. This
layer absorbs the ultraviolet wavelengths, and the absorption of this radiation heats up the air.
Soil and Vegetation The soil is a mixture of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and organisms. It is
a living medium—a medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation. The soil promotes growth for plants by
providing nutrients, water, and as a substrate for anchorage of roots. In return, vegetation produces trees
and forests cover, ensures the water and nutrient cycle, and prevents soil and wind erosion. This mutual
relationship of the soil and vegetation makes our planet liveable.
Earth’s Hydrosphere The hydrosphere contains all the water on our planet including ice and vapor.
Nearly three-quarters of the earth’s surface is the sea and the ocean. The ocean houses many species of
marine life and diverse mineral resources. Other forms of water include river, streams, and lakes. Other
than being a water reservoir, these forms of water are all sources of fish and shellfish that we consume.
They also serve as thermostat and heat reservoir, especially the ocean. They also serve as ways for
transportation.

Refer to Table 2. For factors that make a planet habitable.

Q1. What are the factors that make a planet habitable? Briefly discuss each factor.
Q2. What is the consequence if there was not GHG effect?
Q5. What would be the consequence if the global magnetic field of the Earth suddenly weakens?

THE EARTH THAT SUPPORT LIFE

 Earth is one of the planets in the solar system. Living things, from the simplest microorganism to
most complex human beings, thrive on Earth.

 Earth possesses characteristics that make it capable of supporting life. Earth has water and
atmosphere, which both are essential to life.

 Plate tectonic also plays a role in recycling the molecules of different substances and distributing
them to all parts of the planet. Earth also its source of energy. Without energy, life cannot exist.

 Earth is one of the planets in the solar system. Living things, from the simplest microorganisms to
the most complex human beings, thrive on Earth.

Water is essential to life

 Water is also, perhaps, the most important ingredient for most cellular processes, such as the
metabolism of sugar and protein synthesis.
 Water is an effective solvent. It is oftentimes referred to as the universal solvent because it is
capable of dissolving many substances, and these substances are then easily absorbed by living
organism.

Earth’s atmosphere is also an important factor in making Earth ideal planet to host life.
 It contains gases that are essential for sustaining life.
 One of these gases is oxygen, which is constantly replenished into the atmosphere by plants.
 Earth’s atmosphere also contains a small amount of carbon dioxide, which helps to moderate the
planet’s temperature. It is also used by plants during photosynthesis to produce glucose.
 Nitrogen, another gas in the atmosphere, is an important part of DNA that carries genetic
instructions, and likewise, it is also found in amino acids, the building blocks of protein.

Energy is needed for life.

  Without energy, the processes of life would not happen. The source of Earth’s energy is the Sun.
 Because of the Earth’s ideal distance from the Sun, it receives the right amount of heat and light to
support life.
 Sunlight helps plants produce nutrients through photosynthesis. These nutrients provide energy to
living things.
 Some organisms rely on other sources of energy such as chemicals from deep water vents,
making it possible for life to exist even at the bottom of the ocean.

Earth’s composition.
Element oxygen alone found in earth’s crust. However, other life elements are found in atmosphere and
water. Make amino acids building blocks of protein. Other elements (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc.\

I need to explore

Research about the characteristics of other planets in the Solar System which make them unfit for
growth and life.
1. Does earth have a magnetic field to protect and support life?

1.
1. Explain factors that make a planet habitable.
2. Explain why the presence of liquid water is important to
life.

Essay: Answer the following questions. 5pts each.

1. What are the composition of planet earth?

2. What are the four elements vital for life?
3. Is earth’s orbit suitable?
4. What are the different factors that allow Earth to support life?
Prepared by:
Francia C. Bongat
Michael C. Sto Domingo