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๐ฌ Think about it
Think of an apple. Its skin is very thin compared to the whole fruit. All life on Earth lives on a layer just as thin. Imagine that — everything you know lives on Earth's "skin". Let us see why this makes Earth special.
Why is Earth the only planet known to have life?
- There may be billions of planets in the universe.
- But Earth is the only one where life exists and thrives.
- Life is found in all its forms here.
Example:
Among billions of houses, Earth is the one home where the lights are on and someone is living inside.
Where does all life on Earth actually exist?
- All mountains, rivers, forests, animals and people live on a thin layer.
- This layer is the crust, on the surface of the planet.
- It is tiny compared to the whole size of Earth.
- If Earth were an apple, the crust would be as thin as the skin.
In this Activity, we will list features of the Earth that we take for granted but are interesting and important to us.
Materials needed
Notebook, pen, and Table 13.1 to record features.
Procedure
1. List some features of the Earth that we often take for granted.
2. Choose features that are interesting and important to us.
3. Write them in Table 13.1. A few are filled for you.
4. Discuss the features with your teacher and friends.
2. Choose features that are interesting and important to us.
3. Write them in Table 13.1. A few are filled for you.
4. Discuss the features with your teacher and friends.
Table 13.1 — Interesting features about the Earth
| S.No. | Interesting features of the Earth |
|---|---|
| 1. | The air we breathe doesn't fly off and disappear into space. (We learnt in Chapter 7 that the particles of a gas move freely, and gases do not have a fixed volume) |
| 2. | We can stand on the ground held by gravity (as we learnt in Chapter 5), but our heart can pump blood up to our head. |
| 3. | Water stays as liquid on the surface, so we can drink it and grow crops. |
| 4. | The right temperature lets plants and animals live and grow. |
Observation
The Earth is interesting and important to us in many ways. It gives air, water, soil, rock and timber.
Explanation
These features are not found together on any other planet. They are what make the Earth a unique planet that allows life to exist and sustains it.
โ Summary
- Features listed
- Air stays close
- Gravity holds us
- Earth is unique
Important Points
- Earth provides air, water, soil, rock and timber.
- All life lives on the thin crust at the surface.
- This delicate, life-supporting layer makes Earth special.
โ Test Yourself
-
Where does all life on Earth exist?
View Answer
On the thin crust at the surface of the planet. -
If Earth were an apple, what is the crust like?
View Answer
As thin as the apple's skin. -
Is Earth the only planet known to have life?
View Answer
Yes, it is the only one where life exists and thrives. -
Name two materials the Earth provides for building.
View Answer
Rock and timber. -
Why does our air not fly off into space?
View Answer
Earth's gravity holds the gases of the atmosphere close to it.
Important Definitions
- Crust — the thin outer layer of the Earth where all of life exists.
- Unique planet — a planet unlike any other; Earth is unique because it sustains life.
๐ NCERT Question 11 — If there were no
If there were no atmosphere on Earth, would it affect life, temperature and water? Explain.
View Answer →
