Escuela San Gabriel de Colegio de San

Gabriel
Arcangel Foundation, Inc. Arcangel of
Caloocan, Inc.
Phase 10 Package 6 Blk 1 Lots 2-4, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City
Tel. #734-9511/785-6950

GRADE 11/12 EARTH SCIENCE

MODULE 2: The Earth and Earth’s Subsystem
🎯YOUR GOALS:
After completing the learning activities for this lesson, you are expected to:
 describe the unique characteristics of Earth necessary to support life, and
 explain that the earth is composed of four sub systems across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow

YOUR INITIAL TASK:

The Earth is made of several subsystems or "spheres" that interact to form a complex and
continuously changing whole called the Earth system. Just like, human body is a system composed of many
organs. In this lesson, we will find out how our planet works as a system. Before that, let’s try to answer the
following activity.

ACROSS Down
2. All of the nonliving things, living things and 1. A mixture of gases that surrounds the planet
processes that make up the planet Earth
6. The outermost layer of the Geosphere 3. The part of Earth where life exist
7. The central part of the Earth 4. Contains all part of liquid water
8. Contains all of Earth’s frozen water 5. The mostly solid rocky part of Earth
9. The layer of Geosphere that is very hot, slow
flowing, solid rock
10. The net flow of energy into and out of the
system
 YOUR DISCUSSION TEXT:

Earth is one of the planets in the Solar System. Living things thrive on the planet, from the
simplest microorganism to the most complex human beings. Everything that happened since the beginning
of time is essential to the existence of life on Earth. Earth have some unique characteristics compared to
other planets that make it capable of supporting life.

FACTORS THAT MAKE A PLANET HABITABLE

Liquid Water
Water is one of the most essential materials
needed for life. Molecules require liquid for them to
react. DNA and protein molecules swim in water and
interact with each other to carry out their functions
and support life. Water is also the most important
ingredient for chemical reactions which is a vital
process that takes place among living organisms. The
presence
Figure 1. of
The water
habitableallowed the first
zone also called photosynthetic
Goldilocks zone provides
organism
just the to
rightthrive.
amount of heat and provides the Earth with the
capacity to maintain water in its liquid form.

The Earth is situated within the Habitable Zone (the distance from a star where liquid water can exist in its
liquid form). Had Earth been located a little farther or closer to the sun, water would have existed as ice
crystals or as part of a thick atmosphere.

Heat Source
Heat that drives the different systems
necessary to support life on Earth comes from two
sources: internal heating of Earth itself and external
heating from the sun.

Internal Heating is caused by radiogenic heat from

radioactive decay of materials in the core and mantle
and extruded via active tectonic activities such as
volcanism and plate movements.
Figure 2. The heat radiated by the sun is mostly trapped by the
atmosphere. This creates the heat needed by organisms on
Earth
External Heating is in the form of radiation coming from the sun. As sunlight strikes Earth, some of the heat
is trapped by a layer of gases called the atmosphere. The atmosphere is responsible for the occurrence of
greenhouse phenomenon, a natural process which maintains heat.

Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere contains gases that are
essential for sustaining life. One is oxygen that
constantly put into the atmosphere by plants. It also
contains a small amount of carbon dioxide which helps
to moderate the planets temperature. It is also
absorbed by plants during photosynthesis. Nitrogen,
another gas in the atmosphere which makes up the
proteins in different organs of the body.
Figure 3. Layers of the atmosphere

As shown in Figure 3, the atmosphere acts as a protective layer that prevents harmful ultraviolet
rays from the sun to reach the Earth’s surface. Earth’s atmosphere is kept on the planet by its pull of
gravity.
 Energy Supply
Energy is needed for life, and without energy
it seems that nothing would happen. The main
source of Earth’s energy is the sun. Because of
Earths ideal distance form the sun, it receives the
right amount of heat and light.

Sunlight helps plants to produce nutrient through

photosynthesis. Directly or indirectly, these
nutrients provide fuel that living things use.
Countless number of organisms rely on other
sources of energy such as chemicals from deep
water vents that make possible for life to exist at
Figure 4. A hydrothermal vent is a fissure on the seafloor from
the bottom of the ocean. which geothermally heated water discharges. Bacteria that live
around deep-sea, hot-water vents obtain energy by oxidizing
inorganic hydrogen sulfide belched out by the vents.

EARTH’S SUBSYSTEMS

Earth Science looks at the entire planet as a

system of interacting parts or subsystems. It focuses
on the changes within and among these parts. Each
subsystem can be studied separately, but
ultimately, they are dependent on and connected
with other subsystems.

The interaction among Earth’s subsystems is vital in

sustaining life on the planet. Although Earth is
considered a closed system, its four subsystems are
open which means changes within one subsystem
eventually cause changes in others.
Figure 5. The four subsystems are linked systems-any change in
oneThe
system affects
Earth the other one.of four subsystems:
is composed

Geosphere
- refers to the solid Earth. It is composed of naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals, organic
material or natural glass called rocks, and loose particles of rocks that blanket the surface of the
Earth called regolith. Geosphere also includes geologic landforms such as mountains and hills.

Hydrosphere
- refers to the totality of Earth’s water including the permanently frozen parts called cryosphere.
Earth is known as the “blue planet” because of its water component that makes it distinct from
other planets in the Solar System. The oceans of the world are the most prominent feature of the
hydrosphere, covering almost 71% of the earth’s surface. The hydrosphere also includes fresh water
from streams, lakes and glaciers. The water in the atmosphere is considered separate from that in
the hydrosphere, but they are ultimately connected.

Biosphere
- refers to all life forms and even organic matter that has not yet decomposed. Living organisms in the
oceans, life on land and other exotic life forms that are adapted to extreme environments. It is also
in this zone that the interaction between the different subsystems is most dynamic.
Atmosphere
- refers to the mixture of gases (nitrogen,
oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide and water
vapor) that surround the planet. This layer
does not only provide the air that we
breathe but also acts as a protective blanket
from the sun harmful ultraviolet radiation.
The energy exchange among the
atmosphere, the Earth’s surface and the
space produces weather and climate.

LayersFigure
of the6. Layers of the atmosphere
Atmosphere:
 Troposphere
o The lowest layer of the atmosphere.
o It contains about 80 percent of the total mass of the atmosphere.
o Most of the water vapor present in the atmosphere is found in the troposphere. Thus , all
weather-associated cloud types are found in this layer.
o Responsible for warm or cool weather.
 Stratosphere
o The second lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
o The temperature increases as altitude increases due to the presence of ozone (03). Ozone
absorbs the ultraviolet rays from the sun and releases some of this energy in the form of
heat energy.
o The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet radiation.
 Mesosphere
o The third highest layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
o In the mesosphere, temperature decreases as altitude increases.
o The coldest region in the atmosphere is the upper mesosphere. This layer protects Earth
from meteoroids (Space rocks-burned-fireballs or meteors or shooting star)
 Thermosphere
o It occupies the region above the mesosphere.
o Nitrogen (N) and oxygen (02) absorb a great deal of ultraviolet radiation and turn it into heat.
 Exosphere
o It is the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
o Most of the orbiting satellites, as well as low-density elements, such as hydrogen and helium,
are found in this layer.

FLOW OF MATTER AND ENERGY

The four subsystems are closely linked through the biochemical cycle which involves biological,
geological and chemical factors. Biochemical cycles are pathways by which chemical substances move
through both biotic (biosphere) and abiotic factors (lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere). It allows
the circulation of important nutrients that form and support life. It also maintains balance of substances in
the different subsystems of earth.
Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen makes up 78% of the

atmosphere, but it is present in a form that
cannot be used directly by most living things. It
must first be "fixed" by specialized organisms or
by industrial processes. Fixing means that
nitrogen must be incorporated in a chemical
compound that can be utilized by plants and
animals.

Figure 7. Nitrogen Cycle

Oxygen Cycle

Oxygen plays a fundamental role as a building block of

practically all vital molecules. Almost all organic matter
in the present biosphere originates in the process of
photosynthesis. The three nonliving sources of oxygen
atoms are carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and
molecular oxygen (O2) from physical processes.
Molecular oxygen (O2) passes from a free state to a
combined form—the water molecules— through
respiration. It is returned in the form of O2 through
photosynthesis. Water molecules take part in ionization
and in hydrolyticFigure 8. Oxygen Cycle
reactions.

Carbon Cycle

Carbon cycle on land begins with the

fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the
process of Photosynthesis conducted by plants
and microorganisms. The carbohydrates produced
are directly consumed to supply the plant with
energy, and the generated CO2 is released either
through the plant's leaves or through its roots.
Part of the carbon fixed by plants is consumed by
animals, which also respire and release CO2.
Plants and animals die and are ultimately
decomposed by microorganisms in the soil. The
carbon in their tissues is oxidized to CO2 and Figure 9. Carbon Cycle
returns to the atmosphere.

Sources:
 Felicita, Corazon N. Breaking Through Earth Science
 Olivar, Jose T, et. Al. Exploring Life Through Science: Earth Science
 YOUR REINFORCEMENT TASKS:

Since we are already done with the discussion, lets now check your understanding by answering the
following tasks.

TASK 1: Complete the table

Directions: Write the possible effects of these following factors that make the Earth habitable under certain
conditions provided in the table below.

Factors that
makes a Not Enough Just Right Too Much
Planet
Habitable

Heat Source Causes slow chemical liquid water can still exist
reactions and freeze
water source

Atmosphere enough to keep the surface Too thick atmosphere makes

warm & protects it from the surface too hot for life.
radiation

Energy Too little few chemicals Light or chemical energy

from sunlight that causes cells chemical
provides energy to cells reactions

TASK 2:
Directions: Explain how the following events affect the four subsystems. It may include only one subsystem
or more.

1. Ozone Change
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. El Nino Phenomena
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Volcanic Eruptions
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Rainfall
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
 YOUR ENRICHMENT TASK:

#1 REFLECTIVE WRITING
Scientist have recently discovered that liquid used to exist on Mars. Do you think life could be possible on
Mars?
Make your answer brief and concise, express your answer using 5-10 sentences only.