Characteristics of Life - Earth

What are the characteristics of Earth
that allow life to exist?

Talk with your tablemates:

1. Temperatures are just right

2. Water is abundant, and liquid

3. Protective atmosphere

4. Gravity to hold the atmosphere

5. Protective magnetic field

Five Essential Characteristics

Earth is located 93 million miles from the
Sun in the habitable zone.

Multiple Choice

What does "habitable" mean?

• Not fit to live in; unable to sustain life

• Able to become a habit

• Fit to live in; able to sustain life

• Habi = animal Table = home

​Earth's average temperature is around 57°F.

Earth has abundant liquid water because of its ideal
temperature range.

What temperature range does the Earth have?

• Cells to exist and function

• Many chemical reactions to occur

• Many substances dissolve in it

​Liquid water is essential, because it allows…

Dropdown

Earth’s distance from the Sun places it in the ​

Select answer

where the temperatures are between ​

Select answer

. This allows water to exist as a ​

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which is essential for ​

Select answer

.

Earth’s atmosphere helps insulate our planet and
maintain stable temperatures from day to night.

The ozone layer in the stratosphere blocks harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun.

Earth’s gravity holds the gases in the
atmosphere close to the planet.

The Sun ejects electrically-charged particles at speeds
of 300-500 miles/second (over 1 million miles/hour) in
“solar winds” and “solar flares.”

Our magnetic field protects us from electrically-charged
particles in solar winds and solar flares that would strip
away our atmosphere.

Drag and Drop

Explain the difference between the protection provided by Earth’s atmosphere and its magnetic field.

Earth’s atmosphere helps support life by ​

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​​ ​and ​

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.On the other hand,

Earth’s magnetic field helps support life by ​​ ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

absorbing harmful UV rays

keeping temperatures stable

protecting us from electrically charged particles

Multiple Choice

Earth is currently 93 million miles away from the Sun. If our planet was 140 million miles away from the Sun, it would no longer support life, because –

•   The surface water would evaporate.

• The oxygen would leave the atmosphere.

• The temperature would be too cold.

• There would be less exposure to solar wind.

Open Ended

List three characteristics of the planet Earth that make it suitable for life.

Multiple Choice

How does Earth’s magnetic field help make life possible on our planet?

• It prevents electrically-charged particles from stripping away our atmosphere.

• It shields the planet from the Sun’s intense heat.

• It blocks large meteorites as they fall through our atmosphere.

• It absorbs much of the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun.

Multiple Choice

If Earth were much smaller than it is now, it likely would not support life because it would not have enough mass to -

• Collect the needed amount of radiant energy from the Sun

• Maintain a gravitational pull on the Moon

• Have sufficient gravity to hold an atmosphere

• Rotate on its axis once per day

Open Ended

Earth supports life while the nearby Moon does not. Describe three reasons why the Moon cannot support life compared to Earth.

Multiple Choice

How does the ozone layer in Earth’s upper atmosphere help make life possible on our planet?

• It prevents electrically-charged particles from stripping away our atmosphere.

• It shields the planet from the Sun’s intense heat.

• It blocks large meteorites as they fall through our atmosphere.

• It absorbs much of the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun.

Multiple Choice

Earth’s atmosphere contains water vapor and carbon dioxide. These greenhouse gases are important because they -

• Are substances animals need to breathe

• Trap thermal energy in the atmosphere

• Protect against magnetic particles

• Create Earth’s gravitational field

Open Ended

How does a planet’s distance from the Sun affect the planet’s ability to support life?