WHY LIFE ON EARTH IS POSSIBLE?
UNIT 2
Lesson 2.1:
The Origin of Planet Earth
Accretion
- happens when gravity attracts tiny bits of matter
towards an object
→ results in a gradual increase of the object’s
size
→ solar system: objects increase its size until it
turns into planets and stars, pulling more
fragments of matter due to stronger
gravitational pull
Accretion In 4 Steps:
Step 1: accretion of cm sized particles.
Step 2: Physical Collision on km scale.
Step 3: Gravitational accretion on 10-100 km scale.
Step 4: Molten protoplanet from the heat of
accretion.
Final step is differentiation of the earth: Light
objects float; heavy objects sink.
• Protoplanet
- a planetary embryo that consists of collection of
matter, from which a planet is formed
Two Hypotheses on How the Structure of Earth was
Formed Which Both Involves Accretion
Homogeneous Accretion Hypothesis
states that the formation of Earth began after the
condensation of fine particles of the primitive nebula about
4.6 billion years ago
- early Earth had a uniform solid composition
→ primary components: iron, magnesium,
nickel, silicates, and some radioactive
elements such as uranium and thorium
thin layer of solid rock: crust including the continental and
ocean basins
mantle: in between the core and the crust; made up of semi-
molten silicate rocks and other minerals
First, similar elements attached to each other, forming a
solid mass.
Second, particles were melted due to the heat produced in
the process.
Lastly, heavier elements descend to the center due to
gravity, forming the solid core of Earth.
REMEMBER
• Condensation: accumulation and attachment of
materials to an object at a time
• Accretion: sticking together of the huge particles to an
object
Heterogeneous Accretion Hypothesis
states that the core has formed at the same time as
Earth
- early Earth had its basic layered structure with core,
mantle, and crust
First, particles of metal attach with each other first, forming
Earth’s core.
As it cools further, lighter elements attached to this core.
As the nebula cooled down, its particles have
condensed depending on their condensation points.
First: oxides of aluminum and calcium
Second: iron and nickel
Third: silicates
MAIN ACCRETION LATE ACCRETION
Al and Ca Oxides, iron and Silicates formed the mantle
nickel accreted first to form and then the crust
Earth’s core (denser
elements)
 WHY LIFE ON EARTH IS POSSIBLE? UNIT 2

Evidence and Loopholes of The Two Hypotheses Properties of Water That Enable Existence of Life
HOMO HETERO Water has the right density, transition temperatures,
MAIN POINT Condensation Accretion during and heat capacity that enable existence and perpetuation of
Accretion condensation life in the planet.
Differentiation
cannot explain Accretion must Density
LOOPHOLES - measured as mass per unit of volume (in g/cm³)
the abundance of be very fast (103
elements such as to 104 years for - Water is densest at 3.98°C and is least dense at
osmium, iridium, completion). freezing temperature.
ruthenium, and - ice has a lower density = floats
rhodium in the
mantle Transition Temperatures
All life forms are composed of cells in which their cell
membrane separates them from the environment
The more commonly accepted postulate is the
- consistency of water in maintaining liquid form at
homogeneous accretion hypothesis.
room temperatures is important as it allows flow
Lesson 2.2: and transfer of substances from the cell to its
Water, The Medium of Life environment and vice versa
Steady State Theory Heat Capacity
- universe has no beginning and no end - water as energy reservoir; heat absorber
Overview of the Steady State Theory If water doesn’t have a high heat capacity, our
Earth is also known as the blue planet because two- temperature can get too high quickly which can be highly
thirds of it is covered by water. detrimental to most organisms.

Hydrosphere REMEMBER

→ water environment on Earth Existence and perpetuation of life is possible

→ comprised of 97.5% saltwater and 2.5%
freshwater
Saltwater
- composed of certain amount of salt
- oceans and seas
Freshwater
- still has small number of salts but in very low
concentrations
- present in the form of rain and snow, and it can even
be found in permafrost
- commonly stored in rivers, streams, ponds, lakes,
marshes, glaciers, and polar caps
- only a small amount of Earth’s water is accessible as
freshwater
- only 1% of freshwater is potable. This percentage
will be constant since water is continually recycled
through the atmosphere
because of the properties of water.
Hypothesis on the Origin of Water on Earth
- suggests that water came from comets that collided
with Earth
→ in 2000, scientists investigating LINEAR S-4
comet had discovered that water from the
comet had the same isotopic composition as
the water in the seas
 isotopes: atoms with the same
number of protons but different
number of neutrons
- suggests that water was already present within Earth
 WHY LIFE ON EARTH IS POSSIBLE?
Lesson 2.3:
Sun as The Main Source of Energy
Albedo
- the ability of a material to reflect light
- high albedo = reflects more light
- black surfaces have low albedo
Albedo can be measured on a scale of 0 to 1.
Uses of Solar Energy
Sun:
- primary source of energy on Earth, can be in the
form of heat and light
- drives photosynthesis; plants use the energy from
the sun to convert energy to carbon dioxide, water
into glucose and oxygen
- regulating Earth’s temperature; driving forces of
weather and climate
- produces vitamin D (bone maintenance)
• radiation
- transfer of sun’s energy across space/vacuum
Earth’s Energy Budget
Keeping Earth’s energy budget ensures that the
average temperature on Earth remains stable and that life
continues to exist.
- Earth's albedo is 0.3.
30% of the solar energy is reflected back to space by the
clouds, atmosphere, and light-colored areas
70% of the solar energy is absorbed by the atmosphere,
land, and oceans
- Energy in should always equal to energy out.
UNIT 2
Factors Affecting Earth’s Energy Budget
amount of light-colored surfaces
when the size of these areas is altered, then energy
balance is also affected.
amount of radiation received
change in Earth’s orbit and axil tilt led to a series of
ice age
Earth’s axial tilt
has a direct effect on the intensity of insolation
• insolation: amount of solar radiation that reaches a
given area; exposure to the sun’s rays
the presence of greenhouse gases
increase of greenhouse gases would mean that more
energy is trapped, and some energies are re-emitted in all
directions, thus, heating Earth. (Greenhouse effect)
The energy of the sun is released through ultraviolet,
visible, and infrared radiation.
44% form of visible light
49% form of near-infrared, far-infrared, microwave, and
radio waves
7% ultraviolet radiation.
Lesson 2.4:
Earth’s Atmosphere
Atmosphere
- thin layer; protects us from harmful infrared rays
and ultraviolet rays from the sun
- composed of a mixture of gases
Atmospheric Composition of Earth
99% Nitrogen and Oxygen
0.9% Argon
0.1% trace gases
Layers of the Atmosphere
• troposphere
- boundary layer; closest to Earth’s surface
- has persistently changing weather
- thickness: 5 & 9 miles or 9 and 14 km
- where humans live; regulates weather & climate
- Temperature gets cooler as you go higher.
- has harmful ozone
 WHY LIFE ON EARTH IS POSSIBLE? UNIT 2

• stratosphere Evaporation
- liquid to gas
- boundary layer - water becomes atmospheric water vapor
- thickness: about 35 km thick → water vapor is stored in the form of clouds
- temperature gets warmer as you go higher
& moisture (humidity)
- ozone layer: protects Earth from the sun’s harmful
- Evapotranspiration: plants
UV radiation
- chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): Condensation
→ causes ozone depletion = more UV radiation - converting water vapor to liquid form
→ releases chlorine which destroys the ozone - cloud formation

• mesosphere Precipitation
- Water from the clouds; rain, snow, hail
- “meso” middle
- coldest layer; minimum of -85 degree Celsius; REMEMBER
lessened solar heat and high cooling due to carbon Hydrologic cycle describes the movement of water
dioxide from one area to another by changing states. It is a never-
- thickness: 35 km ending cycle that has occurred for billions of years.
- protects Earth from the impact of those space debris
Atmosphere is an efficient medium to move water
• thermosphere around the globe.
- “thermo” heat
- thickness: 600 km
- regulates temperature and filters X-rays and some
ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun
- International Space Station orbits through this layer

• exosphere

- “exo” outside
- thickness: 10,000 km
- farthest layer
- absorbs some radiation and protects the layers
underneath
- contains hydrogen and helium

“The Smart Man Takes the Elevator”

Characteristics of the Atmosphere that Enable Life on Earth

• Carbon Dioxide: photosynthetic organisms
• Oxygen: cellular respiration

Atmosphere’s Role in the Hydrologic Cycle

• Water: a renewable resource; circulated across the Earth
through the hydrologic cycle

1. Evaporation
2. Condensation
3. Precipitation