Lesson: Planet Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCDVN7DCzYE&t=60s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGXi_9A__Vc&t=15s

Learning Target

I can describe what makes Earth a habitable planet and unique in the solar system

Collaboration Time!

With your group, answer the following items in your notebook. Be ready to share out in class.

1. What makes Earth different than other planets in the solar system?

2. What features of Earth make it a habitable planet?

Watch the following video to find out how long it would take us to get to the closest Earth-like planet Click on the video

●

Habitable Zone● Habitable Zone: the distance from a star where it

is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist

Astrobiology and Life in the Universe● The main things we look for when searching for

Earth-like planets are ● liquid water, an energy source, and nutrients● Probably not human-like life● Most likely microbes, bacteria or other simple life form

Extremophiles● Extremophiles: organisms that thrive in extreme

conditions○ Thermophiles: live in hot places○ Halophiles: live in salty places○ Acidophiles: live in a low pH○ Xerophiles: live in dry places○ Psychrophiles: live in cold places○ Methanogens: live in places with toxic gases○ Radio-resistant: can live in high levels of radiation

Watch the video to learn more about the ‘water bear’ an extremophile Click on the video

Water1.LIQUID WATER - Water can remain liquid between 5 and 230 °F

● All organisms that we know of need water to survive

Energy Source2.ENERGY SOURCE - All life requires a constant supply of energy

● The Sun provides all the energy for life on Earth

Atmosphere3. ATMOSPHERE - Earth’s atmosphere is the correct thickness and it has…

○ An Ozone layer○ A Magnetic field○ Greenhouse gases

Temperature4.TEMPERATURE - a medium temperature allows liquid water to exist

● Too hot: water turns to vapor● Too cold: water freezes

Nutrients5.NUTRIENTS - All life needs a constant supply of nutrients

● Matter cycles on Earth provide nutrients Carbon, Oxygen, Water, Nitrogen, Phosphorus

Watch the video to learn more about planet Earth

Click on the video

BIOSPHERE● Earth is the only place that has LIFE!● Earth is habitable because it has...1. Lots of liquid water2. A good temperature3. A perfect atmosphere4. Just enough energy from the Sun5. Lots of nutrients

HYDROSPHERE● Earth is the only planet in our solar system that has a

surface covered in liquid water● All other places in the solar system are either too hot

or too cold for liquid water to exist

GEOSPHEREEarth has active Plate Tectonics that create volcanoes and earthquakes that put greenhouses into the atmosphere

○ GHGs gases warm the planet

ATMOSPHERE● Earth’s atmosphere protects Earth from:..

○ Solar winds (magnetic field)○ UV radiation (ozone)○ Meteors (mesosphere) ○ Freezing Temperatures (GHGs)

ATMOSPHERE● Earth’s Magnetic Field: Is created by the liquid

metal in the outer core○ Protects Earth from Solar winds and gamma

radiation

Quick WriteLearning Target: I can describe what makes Earth a habitable planet and unique in the solar system

A habitable planet needs to have…

Earth is unique because…

Some features that make Earth unique in the solar system are...

Vocabulary

Habitable

Unique

Extremophile

Astrobiology

Habitable zone

Magnetic field

Ozone layer

Nutrients