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Chapter 1 Earth as a Planet

The document discusses Earth as a planet, highlighting its spherical shape supported by various proofs such as the Bedford Level Experiment and lunar eclipses. It describes Earth as an oblate spheroid, its life-supporting characteristics, and the importance of cycles like the nutrition, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles for sustaining life. Additionally, it emphasizes the interdependence of living and non-living things within Earth's ecosystems.

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Aadya Chakraborty
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15 views22 pages

Chapter 1 Earth as a Planet

The document discusses Earth as a planet, highlighting its spherical shape supported by various proofs such as the Bedford Level Experiment and lunar eclipses. It describes Earth as an oblate spheroid, its life-supporting characteristics, and the importance of cycles like the nutrition, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles for sustaining life. Additionally, it emphasizes the interdependence of living and non-living things within Earth's ecosystems.

Uploaded by

Aadya Chakraborty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER I

Earth as a Planet
EARTH AS A PLANET
▪ Earth as a watery planet due to its total area covered by water (70%)

▪ It bulges at the centre and is flattened at the poles hence it is not a perfect sphere.

▪ Aryabhata and Pythagoras believed in the round shape of the earth.


PROOF THAT THE EARTH IS SPHERICAL IN
SHAPE
▪ The Bedford Level Experiment

▪ Sighting of a ship

▪ Pole Star

▪ Satellite Pictures

▪ Lunar Eclipse

▪ Circular Horizon

▪ Sunrise and Sunset

▪ Circumnavigation

▪ Earth as a heavenly body.

▪ Various time zones


The Bedford Level Experiment

• Three poles arranged at a length of 5km.


• When viewed ,it was observed that the middle pole was slightly taller
than the other two poles.
• This can happen only if the earth would have been spherical.
SIGHTING OF A SHIP
A Ship when seen
from the shore, it
appears as
following-

1. Mast
2. Deck
3. Funnel
4. Hull
LUNAR ECLIPSE
The shadow of

the earth that

falls on moon

during an

eclipse is

arc-shaped.
CIRCULAR HORIZON

As you go
higher
(altitude
increases)the
circular
horizon also
widens.
SATELLITE PICTURES
EARTH AS AN OBLATE SPHEROID OR
GEOID
▪ Diameter of the earth varies at the Equator and at the Poles.

▪ Difference is due to the centrifugal force of the earth’s


rotation at a great speed forming a bulge at the equator
and compression at the poles.

▪ Geoid means earth shaped.


THE EARTH AS A HOME TO MANKIND
It supports life.

Earth has green and lush vegetation, oceans, islands, streams, ponds, continents, snow capped mountains
and deserts.

Factors which make life possible on earth:


❑ Distance from the sun- Optimum distance

❑ Temperature- Average temp of 17°C

❑ Atmosphere- mixture of gases(Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, Co2,helium and Argon <1%

❑ Water- Ecosystem, Water cycle, day night variations in temperature and Biosphere
HYDROSPHERE, LITHOSPHERE,
ATMOSPHERE AND BIOSPHERE
LIFE-GIVING CYCLES
The Nutrition Cycle

❑ It is a relationship between living and non living things.

❑ It shows interdependence of living things on earth.

❑ It operates through Food Chain.

❑ Processes include photosynthesis, transpiration and


respiration.
LIVING THINGS CLASSIFIED
AS FOLLOWING
Man

Herbivores Plants Carnivores

Decomposers
The
Nutrition
Cycle
THE CARBON CYCLE
❑ Basic raw material of life as all living things contain carbon.

❑ Utilisation of carbon in the process of photosynthesis and


decomposition

❑ Process of respiration

❑ Burning of fuels

❑ Maintenance of carbon cycle importance to balance heat.

❑ Imbalance of carbon leads to heating of the Earth and Global Warming.


THE NITROGEN CYCLE
❑ Atmosphere has largest reservoir -78%

❑ Plants take in Nitrogen in the form of Nitrates from the


soil and reaches animal through food.

❑ Nitrogen returns to soil through manure, excreta ,dead


remains of plants and animals including
micro-organisms.
THE OXYGEN CYCLE
❑ Living organism take in oxygen from
atmosphere.

❑ O2 used with carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen to


build new molecules in the bodies.

❑ O2 released by plants in the atmosphere during


photosynthesis.

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