Download Dead Earth – Lesson 4 – Life on other worlds

Ardrossan Academy
Dead Earth
Subtopic – SPACE –
LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS
1
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
Lesson Title:
Life on Other Worlds
Learning Intention:.
To research conditions on other
planets and moons to decide if it could
support life
Activity: Internet research
I will be successful if I can :
Summarise the conditions on another planet or
moon, decide whether or not it could support life,
and explain my decision.
2
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
OTHER WORLDS
• Our Solar system has a single
star, eight planets and over
170 known moons.
• As far as we know, only the
Earth has life of any kind.
• What is so special about the
Earth?
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ‘LIFE’?
• Human beings are
the most complex
living things on
Earth
• But living things
on Earth also
include plants,
animals, bacteria,
fungi
WHAT DOES ‘LIFE’ NEED?
• All living things on Earth
need three things to survive
• Liquid water
• A source of energy
• A protective environment
• These depend on
• Temperature
• Sunlight
• Atmosphere & material of
the planet
THE HABITABLE ZONE
• The temperature on Earth is
ideal for water to exist in
liquid form
• Closer to the Sun it is too hot
• Farther from the Sun it is too
cold
• This puts Earth in the
‘Habitable Zone’ for the Sun
WATER AND LIFE
• Liquid water is needed for
many of the chemical
reactions that support life
• It also provides a habitat for
many living things
• The water cycle is vital to
provide fresh water for living
things
OTHER FEATURES
• The Earth also has an
atmosphere rich in oxygen,
though many living things –
especially plants do not need
oxygen to live
• The Earth’s magnetic field
also protects us from
harmful particles and
radiation from the Sun
LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS
• Astronomers have
been searching for
planets orbiting other
stars since the
invention of telescope
• The first EXOPLANET
was discovered in 1994
• The number now
known is almost 2000
LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS
• Very few of these 2000
exoplanets are in the
habitable zone for their
stars
• Those that are may not
have ideal conditions
for life
• If there is life on these
planets, it may be very
simple – e.g bacteria
RESEARCH TASK
• For your planet or moon
search the internet to find
out about its –
•
•
•
•
Temperature
Atmosphere
Gravity
Other important features
• Use your findings to decide if
there could be life on this
other world.