Lesson 3: UNIVERSE AND THE

SOLAR SYSTEM
BUENA P. CABRERA
SUBJECT TEACHER
OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify the factors that allow a planet to support

life;
2. Compare the physical and chemical properties of
the Earth and the other planets
3. Acquire eagerness to save our planet
 INTRODUCTION (10 mins.):

 Review previous lesson on the Solar System:

1. Origin
2. Components
3. Terrestrial vs Gas Planets
 MOTIVATION (5 mins):

 Failure to protect the Earth:

1. Inability to recognize the
consequence of one’s actions;
2. Lack of appreciation of how
truly unique the Earth is.
What are the similarities and differences among these
three terrestrial planets?
 INSTRUCTION (45 mins):

Group Activity: Compare and Contrast (15 mins)

1. Write down similarities and differences among the
planets using the Table 1 as reference;
2. Fill-up Table 2 – Factors that make a planet Habitable
3. Ask a representative to present to the class
 VENUS, EARTH AND MARS:

They are part of the inner terrestrial or “rocky” planets. Their

composition and densities are not too different from each
other;
Venus is considered the twin planet of Earth; they have
similar size while Mars is half of Earth;
Orbital period and velocity are related to planet’s distance
from the Sun;
 VENUS, EARTH AND MARS:

Rotational speed of Earth and Mars are very similar. Venus

is extremely slow;
Abundance of liquid water on Earth, hence the blue color.
The Earth is a habitable planet.
 TWO MAJOR REQUIREMENT FOR A
PLANET TO BE HABITABLE:

The star should survive long enough for its planets to

develop life which means a medium-mass star, like that of
the sun;
The planet must be located in the Goldilocks Zone – a
region in the universe where water could remain liquid.
 HABITABLE PLANET

Being in the Goldilocks Zone due to the distance of Earth

from the sun, the amount of heat and solar energy received is
just enough to make the temperature of Earth neither too hot
nor too cold. The capability of early Earth to sustain liquid
water dramatically increased the possibility of life.
 OTHER FACTORS FOR OTHER PLANETS
TO BE HABITABLE:

Mercury, has low temperatures due to its slow rotation. Has a very thin
atmosphere and not capable of capturing and maintaining the right amount
of heat.
 Venus, is very hot caused by a lot of active volcanoes that produce a very
thick atmosphere. The thick atmosphere makes temperature high thus
increases greenhouse effect.
 Mars, has very little volcanic activity. As a result, it has a thin atmosphere
and cold surface temperature.
 HOW LIFE STARTED:

In 1952, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conducted an experiment that
replicated the conditions of early Earth. They found out that life started
in the oceans. During the extreme conditions of Earth, the organisms that
thrived were called extremophiles. These organisms were able to adapt to
extreme environment such as very high or very low temperatures, high
acidity, or extreme pressure.
 HOW LIFE STARTED:

As seen in the Miller-Urey experiment, the early atmosphere did

not contain oxygen gas. The presence of oxygen first started when
cyanobacteria emerged. Cyanobacteria were the first organisms that
could produce oxygen gas through photosynthesis.
 HOW LIFE STARTED:

But the current oxygen levels of today, were not just due to the
cyanobacteria. It was only about 600 million years ago that the oxygen
levels rose to its current levels. Scientists, however, are still unsure as to
what caused the oxygen levels to rise.
 EVALUATION (10 mins):

Imagine yourselves in an interstellar voyage. Your

spaceship suffers mechanical problems and will be forced
to land. Fortunately, you are passing through Tanib
System, which is composed of a sun-like star and
surrounded by seven planets, some of which have moons.
Choose the planet as the best place for your spaceship to
land. Support your choice.
 ASSIGNMENT:

Review on the six (6) components of the Water Cycle.

Research on the four (4) components of the Earth’s
Subsystem