NAME :________________________________________________ DATE:______________

YR. AND SECTION :____________________

ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH

EARTH: THE LIVING PLANET

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
(Source: http://www.ucar.edu/communications/gcip/m7sssystem/m7pdfc3.pdf).
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.

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 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.
1. Which of the following planets permits growth and life?
A. Earth
B. Mars
C. Jupiter
D. Saturn
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. soil
B. atmosphere
C. hydrosphere
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?
A. Some of the sun's radiation is reflected away and absorbed by the atmosphere, clouds, and the Earth's surface.
B. The presence of the ozone layer absorbs the ultraviolet wavelengths, and the absorption of this radiation heats up the air.
C. The gases in the atmosphere act as a protective layer that makes the sun's radiation reflect away from the Earth's surface.
D. The atmosphere reflects all the sun's radiation.
10. Which of the following characteristics of Earth help in the proliferation of life?
A. The atmosphere prevents the entry of solar radiation.
B. The presence of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere makes the Earth habitable.
C. The soil is a living medium—a medium for growth of all kinds of vegetation.
D. Some forms of the hydrosphere serve as ways for transportation.

EARTH: THE FOUR SUBSYSTEMS

OBJECTIVE. At the end of this lesson, you will be able to explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow.
The four subsystems of the Earth are the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are the characteristics of these four subsystems?

LEARN ABOUT IT!

The Earth is comprised of four major subsystems. These subsystems are also
called the “spheres of the Earth.” They are atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and
biosphere.
ATMOSPHERE. The word atmosphere comes from the Greek roots atmos which means
gas, and sphaira which means globe or ball. The atmosphere makes up of all the gases
on Earth. It extends outward about 10 000 km from the surface of the Earth. It is
composed of 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 350 ppm carbon dioxide, and
other components.
The atmosphere has different layers – troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
thermosphere, and exosphere.
 The troposphere extends to about 14.5 km above the Earth's surface. It is the
lowest layer where the weather forms.
 The stratosphere is found 14.5 to 50 km above the Earth's surface. The ozone
layer that protects the Earth from the Sun's harmful UV radiation is found in this
layer.
 The mesosphere extends from 50 to 85 km above the Earth's surface. It protects
the Earth from the impact of space debris.
 The thermosphere is found 85 to 600 km above the Earth's surface. It has charged
particles that are affected by the Earth's magnetic field. The particles create the
Auroras or Northern and Southern lights.
 The exosphere is the farthest layer. It extends to about 10 000 km above the
Earth's surface.
GEOSPHERE. Geo is a Greek root which means ground. Geosphere includes all the
soil, rocks, and minerals present in the crust to the core of the Earth. It is divided into
three layers namely crust, mantle, and core.
The crust is the outermost layer of the geosphere. It is made mostly of silicate
materials. There are two different types of crust, the oceanic and continental crusts.
 The thin oceanic crust that lies beneath the oceanic floors is about 5 to 10 km thick.
 On the other hand, the thicker continental crust that makes up the continents is
about 15 to 70 km thick.
The mantle, which lies just below the crust, is made mostly of silicate rocks
rich in magnesium and iron. It is about 2900 km thick. It has increasing temperatures at increasing depths. For instance, the layer with the lowest
temperature is the one right beneath the crust. This layer, which is soft enough to flow, causes the plates of the crust to move. On the other hand, the
layer with the highest temperature is found in contact with the heat-producing core.
The core, which has a radius of 3400 km, is the innermost layer of the Earth. It is made up of iron and nickel. It is the source of internal heat
because it contains radioactive materials that release energy as they decay into more stable substances.
HYDROSPHERE. Hydro is a Greek root which means water. Hydrosphere is composed of all the water on Earth in any form: water vapor, liquid water,
and ice. It is comprised of 97.5% saltwater and 2.5% freshwater. It includes all bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and marshes. Clouds and
rain are also part of the hydrosphere.
The water on Earth is constantly moving. It moves through the oceans in currents. Warm waters in the tropics move toward the poles while
cold water from the polar regions move toward the tropics. Water also flows into streams and rivers and through the rocks underground. It can also move
from the Earth’s surface to the air by evaporation and then fall back to Earth as precipitation. It even moves into and out of the bodies of organisms.
BIOSPHERE. Bio is a Greek root that means life. The biosphere is comprised of all living things. It includes all microbes, plants, and animals. It extends
to the upper areas of the atmosphere where insects and birds can be found. It also reaches the deep parts of the oceans where marine organisms can
still survive.
Organisms interact with the other spheres to survive. Many organisms need oxygen and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to carry out life
processes. Water, which comprises the hydrosphere, is also important to organisms. Finally, the rocks, soil, and minerals constitute the geosphere also
support life.

HOW THE EARTH’S SUBSYSTEMS INTERACT

Matter and energy move and cycle between the four different subsystems. These cycles make life on Earth possible. An example of these
cycles is the water cycle. Water moves between the different spheres. It absorbs, releases, and transports energy around the world in its different forms.
What will happen if matter or energy does not change from one form to another? For example, what if water vapor does not fall back to the Earth as
rain? Then the bodies of water will be drained, and no life on Earth will exist.
TIPS. Some of the components in the subsystems overlap. The most common example is the soil which can be considered as a part of hydrosphere,
geosphere, and even biosphere. Since the soil is a complex material made up of air, soil particles, water, and organisms, it underscores that a clear
division among subsystems cannot be drawn.
EXPLORE. Imagine that you are part of NASA’s special mission and you are tasked to discuss the things needed to replicate the Earth’s system in
another planet. What are the things necessary to enable life in that planet?
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What is the importance of studying the interactions among the four subsystems?
KEY POINTS
 The four subsystems of Earth are the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
 Atmosphere makes up of all the gases in our planet.
 Geosphere includes all the soil, rocks, and minerals present in the crust to the core of the Earth.
 Hydrosphere is composed of all the water on Earth in any form: water vapor, liquid water, and ice.
 Biosphere is comprised of all living things and the areas where they are found. It includes all microbes, plants, and animals.
 Matter and energy move and cycle between the four different subsystems to make life on Earth possible.
1. Which of the following is not included in Earth’s subsystems?
A. photosphere
B. geosphere
C. atmosphere
D. hydrosphere
2. Hydrosphere includes all the_________________________on Earth.
A. water
B. landforms
C. gases
D. living things
3. Which of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
A. oxygen
B. nitrogen
C. carbon dioxide
D. argon
4. Which of the following are included in the geosphere? CHOOSE MULTIPLE ANSWERS
A. rock
B. mineral
C. nitrogen gas
D. water vapor
5. Which of the following is true about the Earth’s subsystems?
A. Each subsystem works independently and does not depend on other subsystems.
B. Each subsystem did not change since the formation of the Earth.
C. Earth’s subsystems interact with each other making life possible on Earth.
D. Earth’s subsystems are similar to the subsystems of other planets.
6. Which of the following is true about the geosphere?
A. It is the habitat for some species of plants and animals.
B. It is the main source of water on Earth.
C. It prevents the penetration of ultraviolet rays from the Sun.
D. It provides oxygen needed by animals.
7. What will happen if the atmosphere on Earth is removed?
A. The Earth will be able to sustain life.
B. Ultraviolet rays will easily penetrate the Earth.
C. Solar energy will not reach the Earth’s surface.
D. The Earth will maintain its current temperature.
8. All of the following is true about the interaction of the biosphere with other subsystems, except ____________.
A. Organisms in the biosphere form parts of the geosphere when they decompose into smaller substances.
B. Organisms in the biosphere maintain the balance of gases in the atmosphere through consumption and excretion of gases.
C. Organisms in the biosphere increase the amount of water in the hydrosphere.
D. Organisms in the biosphere consume water from the hydrosphere for survival.
9. How does the atmosphere support other subsystems? CHOOSE MULTIPLE ANSWERS
A. It supplies organisms the needed oxygen and carbon dioxide.
B. It absorbs all the minerals and nutrients from the geosphere.
C. It serves as a reservoir for water vapor.
D. It shapes the Earth’s landforms by its constant movement as the wind.
10. Which of the following are true about the hydrosphere? CHOOSE MULTIPLE ANSWERS
A. Ice and water vapor suspended in the atmosphere are included in the hydrosphere.
B. Freshwater is greater than the amount of saltwater on Earth.
C. The water on Earth is constantly moving.
D. Water can move from the Earth’s surface to the air by precipitation and then fall back to Earth by evaporation.