ACTIVITY 1

Origin and Structure of the Earth

 1 Guide Questions

My Environmental “To
CONTENT 2
Do” List
 What are Factors that make a
planet habitable?
Yes, the conditions for temperature and
pressure must allow for the existence of
solid, liquid, and gas phases. It is at the
proper distance from the Sun, has a
magnetic field that shields it from solar
radiation, has an insulating atmosphere
that keeps it warm, and contains the
correct chemistry for life, including
carbon and water.
Compering Earth
 Earth and Mercury
As a terrestrial planet, Mercury is similar to Earth in that
its silicate minerals and metals are divided into a solid
metal core and a silicate crust and mantle. These
elements break down more quickly on Mercury than on
Earth. While the majority of the minerals on Earth are
silicates, Mercury is made up of 70% metallic and 30%
silicate elements. Like Earth, Mercury is thought to have
an interior made of molten iron that is encased in a
silicate mantle. Earth's core, mantle, and crust are 3478
km, 2800 km, and up to 100 km thick, compared to
Mercury's 1,800 km, 600 km, and 100–300 km
thicknesses, respectively.
 Earth and Venus
For good reason, Venus is frequently referred to as
"Earth's Twin" (or "sister planet"). There are enough
parallels between Earth and Venus, despite some very
obvious differences, not the least of which being their
radically different atmospheres, that many scientists
believe the two are closely related. In essence, it is
thought that they once resembled each other greatly
before diverging in their evolutionary paths. Venus and
Earth are both terrestrial planets with similar sizes and
compositions that are situated in the habitable zone of
the sun (also known as the "Goldilocks Zone"). But that's
about all they have in common. Let's examine each of
their traits individually to determine how they differ and
how they are similar.
 Earth and Mars
Given that both Earth and Mars are terrestrial planets,
their fundamental makeups are identical. This means that
both are distinguished between an inner, dense metallic
core and an outer, less dense mantle and crust (like
silicate rock). The fact that Earth is denser than Mars, at
5.514 g/cm3 versus 3.93 g/cm3 (or 0.71 Earths), suggests
that Mars' core region has more lighter elements than
Earth.
 Earth and Saturn
Let's first examine Saturn's physical attributes. About 9.5
times larger than the diameter of the Earth, Saturn's
equatorial diameter is 120,536 km. Saturn's volume is 764
times larger than Earth's, while its surface area is 83 times
larger. In other words, Saturn has enough room to
accommodate 764 planets the size of Earth. Last but not
least, Saturn has 95 times the mass of the Earth. The
density of Saturn and the Earth is an intriguing point of
comparison. In the Solar System, Saturn is the least dense
planet while Earth is the densest. Saturn has a density of
0.687 g/cm3, compared to Earth's 5.52 g/cm3. Earth is
therefore eight times as dense as Saturn.
 Earth and Uranus
Compared to Earth, Uranus is significantly different.
Because it is a gas giant and has gas on its surface, you
couldn't even stand on it. Uranus is much, much colder
than Earth since it is so much farther from the Sun.
Additionally, Uranus has significantly varied seasons due
to its peculiar rotation in regard to the Sun. Parts of
Uranus would receive up to 42 years of sunlight, followed
by 42 years of darkness.
 Earth and Neptune
Despite being part of the same solar system, Earth and
Neptune are quite different planets. Unlike Neptune,
which is a strange planet on the extreme reaches of the
solar system, Earth is home to life. The two planets'
differences are brought out by comparison. Both Earth
and Neptune have elliptical, rather than fully circular,
orbits around the sun. Neptune takes 165 Earth years to
complete its orbit, compared to Earth's yearly cycle
around the sun.
What four subsystems of the Earth?
All of the land masses, water resources,
living things, and gases on planet Earth
are divided into four overlapping
subsystems. The term "spheres" refers to
these four subsystems. The atmosphere
(atmosphere), water (hydrosphere), land
(geosphere), and living things (biosphere)
are the four spheres that make up the
Earth's systems (biosphere).
Describe the characteristics of four subsystems of the
Earth.
The upper mantle, the crust, and the stiff outer
layer of the Earth make up the Lithosphere.
Biosphere, the areas where life is found. Water
can be found in the Hydrosphere in the forms of
solid (Antarctica), liquid (oceans), and gas (the
atmosphere). The Atmosphere, which covers the
whole surface of the planet and stretches from
below sea level to a distance of 10,000 kilometers,
is further broken down into a number of smaller
spheres.
 My Environmental “To Do” List
To Do List Process
Consume less. The next time I'm tempted to buy or accept
something that is not necessary, I'll consider whether
it will actually improve my life. Refusing to accept
unnecessary stuff into my life can help you save
money and lessen the amount of clutter in my home.
If not, it's okay to just say, "No, thanks!"

Buy local. It's crucial for me to consider the route my

belongings take to reach me. The environmental cost
of all that packaging and the fuel required for delivery
is significant. Instead of opting for two-day shipping,
consider visiting our neighborhood farmers market
for fresh, package-free food, dining at a farm-to-table
establishment, and purchasing from local artists,
garment makers, and merchants.