Characteristics of Earth and
Its Subsystems
1. Describe the characteristics of earth that are
necessary to support life;
2. Explain that the Earth consists of four (4) subsystems,
across whose boundaries matter and energy flow; and
3. Identify common rock-forming minerals using their
physical and chemical properties.
Pick the
The Continents
The Mountains
Mt. Apo
Mt. Mayon
Mt. Pinatubo
Gases in the
Earth’s Atmosphere
Bodies of Water in terms of
Location
Bicol River
Labo River
Mampurog
River
Characteristics of Earth and
Its Subsystems
CHARACTERISTICS OF EARTH
• Earth is unique.
• As “planet of life” where matter and energy
continue to flow.
• The Sun which is the main source of energy.
• Earth is a closed system, energy flows to all of
its living components to continue various life
processes and functions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EARTH
5 Characteristics
• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Temperature
• Gravity
• Atmospheric
Pressure
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• Temperature.
- This will influence how quickly atoms and
molecules move.
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• Water.
- This matter dissolves and transports
materials in and out of the cell.
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• Energy.
– Living things use light or chemical
energy to run essential life processes.
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• Right Distance from the Sun.
– Earth is in the Goldilocks Zone. A region
with the just the right temperature to
sustain life – not too cold not too hot.
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• Strong magnetic field.
– It shields us from the electromagnetic
radiation coming from the Sun.
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• Nutrients.
– These are materials that build and
maintain an organism’s body.
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• Greenhouse Gases.
- Without the greenhouse effect, Earth
would be frozen, more than 60º F colder.
What makes Earth HABITABLE?
• It is protected by the plate tectonics from
the very hot temperature of the core.
– The earth’s core causes the convection
currents in the mantle causing the
overlaying lithosphere to move.
Subsystems of the
Earth
Level of Organizations
• Levels of organization are structures in
nature, usually defined by part-whole
relationships, with things at higher levels
being composed of things at the next
lower level.
(Source: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/levels-org-biology/)
Level of Organizations
• There are 13 levels of
organization. In sequence,
they are represented
as atoms, molecules,
organelles, cells, tissues,
organs, organ systems,
organisms, population,
community, ecosystem,
biome, and biosphere.
• https://www.simply.science/i
ndex.php/organization-of-life
•
https://www.simply.science/index.php/organiz
ation-of-life
• However:
• In the Level of
Organizations of Living
Things, there are only five
(5), those are:
cells, tissues, organs,
organ systems, and
organisms.
ATOMS
• It is the most
basic and
fundamental unit
of matter.
MOLECULES
• The formation of
chemical bonds
between two or
more atoms leads
to the formation
of a molecule.
ORGANELLES
• It is the subunit
of a cell, and
consists of a
group of
functioning
biomolecules.
CELLS
• It is considered
as the basic unit
and building
block of life.
TISSUES
• This level is a
combination of
different types
of cells which
perform
specialized
functions. The
group of cells
that form a
tissue need not
be identical, but
they should have
the same origin.
ORGANS
• It performs
certain
functions with
the help of
different tissues.
The major
organs of
animals include
lungs, brain,
liver, etc.,
whereas roots,
stem, and leaves
are the different
organs of plants.
ORGAN SYSTEMS
• Organs working
together to
perform certain
functions form
organ systems.
Examples are
the circulatory
system in
animals, and the
vascular system
in plants.
ORGANISMS
• An organism
could either be
unicellular or
multicellular.
The ones that
are closely
related can be
grouped
together under
a single genus.
Earth and Its Subsystems
Lithosphere
Lithosphere
• It is the solid sphere of the earth. This is
where geologic processes such as
volcanism and orogenesis (mountain
building) take place. The lithosphere is a
part of the geosphere that is composed
of the solid, outermost part of the planet.
Earth and Its Subsystems
Hydrosphere
Hydrosphere
• It is the liquid component of the
Earth including oceans, glacial
waters, and freshwater bodies that
covers 70% of the earth’s surface;
98% of the water on Earth is
saltwater.
Earth and Its Subsystems
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
• A set of layers of gases that blankets
the planet held by the planet’s gravity. It
is consisted of 78% nitrogen, 20.95%
oxygen, 0.93% argon and 0.04% water
vapor including all other gases. Different
layers of the atmosphere include the
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere
and thermosphere.
Earth and Its Subsystems
Biosphere
Biosphere
• This is the living sphere of the earth.
It is the totality of all the ecosystems
in the whole planet. It compels us to
interact with other living organisms
with the influence of the abiotic
factors in the system.
Assignment: