Name: __________________ Grade and Section: ____________ Date: _____ Score: ____

Lesson 1.3 Earth: The Living Planet

WARLITO ZAMORA CANOY·FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017

Origin and Structure of the Earth

Objective

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to describe the different characteristics of the earth
necessary for the growth and survival of life.

Earth is considered as a home of simple single-celled organisms up to the most complex life
forms including humans. It is undeniable that the planet we live in is a rare planet as it is the
only planet in our solar system that permits life. The different characteristics of Earth are
responsible for the proliferation of life.

Learn about it!

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 livable 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.

Learn about it!

Soil and Vegetation

A is the topsoil; B is a regolith; C is a saprolite, a less-weathered regolith; the bottom-most

layer represents the bedrock.

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 livable.

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.

Explore!
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?

Try it!
Research about the characteristics of other planets in the Solar System which make them unfit
for growth and life.

What do you think?

Are the characteristics of the earth interrelated with one another? If yes, how do they affect
each other?
 Key Points
 The atmosphere consists of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm
carbon dioxide, and other components.

 The presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide makes Earth habitable.

 Earth’s atmosphere also protects us from the sun’s radiation.

 The soil is a living medium—a medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation.

 The hydrosphere serves as a water reservoir, a source of fish and shellfish that we
consume, a thermostat and heat reservoir, and a way for transportation.

Test Question

1. Which of the following planets permits growth and life?

 A. Mars

 B. Jupiter

 C. Saturn

 D. Earth

2. Which of the following gases is the most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?

 A. nitrogen

 B. oxygen

 C. carbon dioxide

 D. hydrogen

3. _____________ is a living medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation.

 A. atmosphere

 B. hydrosphere
 C. soil

 D. oceans

4. Which of the following is true about the role of soil in growth and life on Earth?
 A. The soil provides nutrients, water, and substrate for vegetation.

 B. There is no relationship between the soil and vegetation.

 C. The soil allows growth of different types of plants but not microorganisms.

 D. They do not affect growth and life on Earth.

5. Which of the following is not true about the hydrosphere?

 A. The hydrosphere contains all the water on our planet including ice and vapor.

 B. It serves as thermostat and heat reservoir, especially the ocean.

 C. It is also a way for transportation.

 D. Half of the Earth's surface is composed of the oceans and the seas.

6. Which of the following is not true about the earth's atmosphere?

 A. The earth’s atmosphere protects us from the sun’s radiation.

 B. It contains the ozone layer that absorbs the ultraviolet wavelengths.

 C. Thirty percent of the radiation is reflected away by the atmosphere, clouds, and
surface.

 D. The atmosphere only consists of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and argon.

7. Which of the following is not true about the soil?

 A. It is composed of mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and organisms.

 B. It is a living medium—a medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation.

 C. It produces trees and forests cover, ensures the water and nutrient cycle, and
prevents soil and wind erosion.

 D. It promotes growth for plants by providing nutrients, water, and as a substrate for
anchorage of roots.
 8. How do oxygen and carbon dioxide make the earth habitable?
 A. Carbon dioxide is used by photosynthetic organisms in photosynthesis, and the
oxygen is used by humans and animals for respiration.

 B. Carbon dioxide and oxygen lead to maintenance of heat on Earth.

 C. Carbon dioxide and oxygen is used by photosynthetic organisms and by our cells to
function.

 D. Carbon dioxide and oxygen help prevent the entry of UV radiation.

9. How does Earth’s atmosphere protect us from the Sun's radiation?

 I. Some of the sun's radiation is reflected away and absorbed by the atmosphere,
clouds, and the Earth's surface.

 II. The presence of the ozone layer absorbs the ultraviolet wavelengths, and the
absorption of this radiation heats up the air.

 III. The gases in the atmosphere act as a protective layer that makes the sun's
radiation reflect away from the Earth's surface.

 IV. The atmosphere reflects all the sun's radiation.

 A. I only

 B. II only

 C. II and III

 D. I and II

10. Which of the following characteristics of Earth help in the proliferation of life?
 I. The atmosphere prevents the entry of solar radiation.

 II. The presence of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere makes the Earth
habitable.

 III. The soil is a living medium—a medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation.

 IV. Some forms of the hydrosphere serve as ways for transportation.

 A. I and II only
 B. I, II and III

 C. I, III and IV

 D. II, III, IV