Conditions for Life on Earth
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Why does Earth have an atmosphere?
Because it has a mass large enough to prevent gases from escaping.
Name 2 gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen and water vapour.
Where had the gases in the early atmosphere come from?
Volcanic eruptions.
Explain why most of the water on Earth is in its liquid form.
Due to the temperature and atmospheric pressure on Earth.
Explain why water being a liquid on Earth helps make Earth suitable for life.
The liquid water is a solvent (lots of things dissolve in it)- e.g. blood in humans. The liquid water is a habitat for aquatic animals and plants.
Explain why water having a high specific heat capacity helps make Earth suitable for life.
It takes a lot of energy to change the temperature of water. Aquatic habitats and the cytoplasm of cells remain a stable temperature.
Explain why water having a high specific latent heat helps make Earth suitable for life.
It takes a lot of energy to change the state of water- e.g. sweating This makes it stable on Earth.
Explain why water expanding as it cools helps make Earth suitable for life.
This means that ice will float on top of water causing the albedo effect and reflecting infrared radiation from the Sun. In addition it will prevent the water underneath from also freezing.
What is insolation?
Energy from the Sun hitting Earth.
Name the 3 types of radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum that are emitted by the Sun and reach Earth.
Visible light, Infrared (IR/heat), Ultraviolet (UV)
Explain why Earth’s distance from the Sun makes it suitable for life.
Earth is in the Goldilocks zone- where the Earth is far enough away from the Sun to not absorb too much infrared radiation and be too hot, but is also not too far away from the Sun and so worn absorb enough infrared radiation, so isn’t too cold.
Explain why the Earth’s speed of rotation makes it suitable for life.
One rotation every 24 hours means that we do not experience extreme heating and cooling by having big variations in the amount of infrared radiation absorbed.
Explain why the Earth’s tilt on its axis makes it suitable for life.
We experience seasonal changes depending on whether we tilted towards or away from the Sun and absorbs more or less infrared radiation.
Describe what the albedo effect is.
Some infrared energy from the Sun is reflected off of snow and ice, so does not get absorbed by the Earth’s surface. Albedo is the measure of how much of the Sun’s energy a surface reflects. White colours reflect more energy so ice on Earths surface has a high albedo.
Explain why the Earth’s surface albedo makes it suitable for life.
This prevents the Earth absorbing more infrared radiation, and so getting too hot for life.
Describe what the Earth’s magnetosphere is.
The Earth’s molten core produces a magnetic field.
Explain why the Earth’s magnetosphere makes it suitable for life.
The magnetic field around Earth, deflects some solar radiation.
Which gas in the Earth’s early atmosphere is needed for protein synthesis?
N2
Which 3 gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere absorbed infrared radiation to maintain the optimum temperature on Earth? AKA Greenhouse Gases
Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane
Which gas in the Earth’s early atmosphere is needed for photosynthesis and making fats?
Carbon dioxide
Why do the oceans form?
Due to the temperature on Earth rising to a level where water vapour condenses into liquid water.
Why do oxygen levels in the atmosphere start to rise?
Due to the photosynthesis of algae and eventually plants.
What is the word equation for photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide + Water –> Glucose + Oxygen
Why do plants and algae photosynthesise?
To produce glucose that can be used to produce other sugars and growth.