CONCEPTS for DAY 1

Earth and Its Neighboring Planets

Differences between Venus, Earth, and Mars
1. Venus, Earth, and Mars are part of the inner terrestrial or rocky planets. Their composition
and densities are not too different from each other.
2. Venus is considered Earth’s twin planet. It has a very similar size and mass to the Earth.
Mars is about half the earth’s size.
4. Orbital period and velocity are related to the planet’s distance from the sun. Among
the three planets, Venus is the nearest and Mars is the farthest from the sun.
4. Rotational speed of Earth and mars are very similar. Rotational speed of Venus is extremely
slow.
5. Abundance of liquid water on Earth, hence the blue color. The Earth is a habitable planet.

Factors Which Enable Earth to Support Life (Habitable Planet)

1. Right distance from the sun
Earth is neither too close nor too far from the sun. It is just of the right distance for water to
exist in three physical forms-solid, liquid and gas.
2. Presence of atmosphere
The presence of an atmosphere with all its associated gaseous components helps make life
possible in our planet. The ozone layer protects living things from the damaging ultraviolet rays
of the sun.
3. Right amount of gravity
Earth’s gravity is a decisive factor for life’s existence. If it were weaker, the atmosphere
would have easily leaked into outer space, providing no protection for emergent life.
4. The presence of magnetosphere
Without a magnetic field, the atmosphere and the surface of the planet would constantly be
bombarded with solar wind and cosmic particles decimating any emerging life forms.
5. The presence of molecular oxygen
Without molecular oxygen, life on Earth would be inconceivable. Oxygen supports
respiration; it is needed for energy production, a constant requirement of living things. It is
involved in many reduction-oxygen reactions that are taking place in the cell.
6. Presence of liquid water
Water is abundant is space and on other planets but in the form necessary for life: liquid
water.
7. Generation of internal heat
Our planet constantly generates heat, internal from the core since its birth. This heat comes
from the time of its formation and decay of radioactive elements at its core. This internal energy
is responsible for geological processes evident on the surface-mountain building, volcanism,
and plate tectonics.
8. Energy from lightning
Lightning provided the energy for the formation of biomolecules from simple inorganic and
organic compounds (water, methane, ammonia, hydrogen gas) that became abundant in the
primitive earth atmosphere.
The Earth’s Subsystems
Earth is composed of four subsystems:
Geosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere.
1. Geosphere – refers to the solid earth composed of naturally occurring aggregate of mineral,
organic material, or natural glass called rocks, and loose particles of rocks blanketing the
surface of earth called regolith.

2. Atmosphere – The atmosphere consists of four unique layers (the troposphere, the
stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere).
3. Biosphere - The biosphere is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes all living organisms
(including humans), and all organic matter that has not yet decomposed.
4. Hydrosphere -The hydrosphere contains all the water found on our planet. Only about 3% of
the water on Earth is “fresh” water, and about 70% of the freshwater is frozen in the form of
glacial ice.

Biosphere’s Interactions with other Earth System Components

 Atmosphere: Life processes involve many chemical reactions that either extract or emit gases
to and from the atmosphere (e.g. photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide and releases
oxygen, whereas respiration does the opposite).
 Hydrosphere: Evaporation of water from leaf surfaces (transpiration) transfers water to the
atmosphere.
 Geosphere: The biosphere is connected to the geosphere through soils (mixtures of air,
mineral matter, organic matter, and water). Plant activity (e.g. root growth and organic acid
production) are also for the mechanical and chemical breakdown of the rocks.