Characteristics of Earth that Sustains Life

The entire mass of air that surrounds Earth, made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases.

• Ozone Layer

• Solar Winds

• Atmosphere

• Magnetosphere

What characteristics of the planet, Earth, is essential to the survival of living organisms?

• Earth has abundant available water

• Earth has just one orbiting moon.

• Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 days.

• Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours.

Layer of ozone in upper atmosphere of Earth is important to life because it shields Earth from

• changes in temperature

• ultraviolet radiation

• solar winds

• impacts from meteors

Life is more likely to be found on a planet whose atmosphere contains abundant

• neon

• oxygen

• hydrogen

• sulfur dioxide

Which factor makes Earth different from all the other planets in the solar system in its ability to support life?

• The Earth is exposed to rays from the sun.

• The Earth has only one moon that orbits around it.

• The Earth rotates in an elliptical orbit around the sun.

• The Earth has a breathable atmosphere.

In which characteristic does Earth differ from the other planets?

• It has liquid water.

• It is dense and small.

• It is made up of rocky material.

• It is surrounded by atmosphere

Earth is 150 mil. km from the Sun. If it was 200 mil. km, it wouldn't support life because ______________.

• There would be less exposure to solar wind.

• The temperature would be too cold.

• The oxygen would leave the atmosphere.

• The surface water would evaporate.

What is the most important factor that determines Earth’s temperature?

• Distance to the Moon

• Gas composition of the atmosphere

• Proximity to the Sun

• Amount of water on the planet

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for life to exist on a planet?

• presence of water

• just the right amount of gases in the atmosphere

• just the right period of rotation

• just the right distance from the Sun

Even though the moon is in the habitable zone, why is there no life there?

• no atmosphere

• No water

• Exposed to solar radiation

• All of these are correct