Characteristics of Earth Necessary to Support Life, Study notes of Earth science

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Earth

Science

Lesson 1

Earth’s environment is conducive to

different life forms. But what are the

different characteristics of Earth that

enable life to flourish on it? Let us

discover the terms you are going to

encounter as we go on this lesson.

4PICS WORD

TEMPERATURE

A _R

A __ M O __ P __ E __ E

ATMOSPHERE

ENERGY

N __ T __ I E __ __ S

Objectives

1.Identify the different factors necessary to

support life in a planet;

2.Describe the characteristics of earth

necessary to support life; and

3.Explain how each characteristic affect life

on earth.

Earth is the only planet known to

cater life forms. This planet

underwent massive change in the

environment million years ago to

enable living organisms to thrive

and survive in it. From single simple

microorganisms, Earth’s

environment allowed these

organisms to evolve into a more

complex and diverse organisms.

TEMPERATURE It influences how quickly atoms, molecules or organisms move. Low temperature slows down chemical reaction and produces ice that makes liquid water unavailable. High temperature can cause break down of important biological molecules. In Earth’s condition, temperature is just right to support life.

WATER Absence of this will interfere reactions necessary for life. (However, solid form of this will also hinder living organisms to use it.) Water on Earth has different forms. It is solid (ice) in the two poles and liquid along the equator which allows living organisms to consume it.

ENERGY Some chemosynthetic organisms rely on chemical energy to support various biological processes. Earth is at right position from the sun that enables it to harness enough amount of sunlight. Earth has available energy- rich sunlight to support life. Living organisms like plants and photosynthetic bacteria use light as the source of their energy.

NUTRIENTS In our planet, there are processes that recycle nutrients. Water, carbon and oxygen, phosphate and nitrogen cycles are some of the examples. Volcanism also helps in cycling the nutrients. It is an essential factor used to build and maintain organism’s body structure. Insufficient or absence of nutrients can impede synthesis of the different biological molecules.