Day and Night is caused by

the Moon revolving around the Earth

the Earth revolving around the Sun

the Sun becoming hotter and cooler

Earth Space Cycles Daily Questions Due 11 Feb 2016

1. [Force] Part A: A student wants to test how friction affects a toy car. She rolls the car across a sheet of sandpaper and then across a sheet of wax paper. Which is the independent (changing) variable? A. The speed of the car B. The type of surface C. The distance traveled D. The size of the car Part B: On which surface will the car likely stop the SOONEST? A. The wax paper B. The sandpaper C. Both will be the same D. Neither surface has friction 2. [Magnets] Which of these is a measurable question for a magnet experiment? A. Are magnets more fun than springs? B. What is the prettiest color for a magnet? C. How many steel paperclips can a bar magnet lift? D. Why were magnets invented? 3. [Earth's Changes] A student observes a statue in a park that has lost its nose and has smooth edges after many years of rain and wind. What process caused this? A. Erosion B. Deposition C. Weathering D. Evaporation 4. [Earth's Changes] When a river reaches the ocean, it slows down and creates a landform called a delta by dropping sand and silt. This "dropping off" is called: A. Weathering B. Deposition C. Condensation D. Friction 5. [Resources] Why is coal considered a nonrenewable resource? A. It can be burned to make electricity. B. It is found deep underground. C. It takes millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly. D. It is made from ancient plants. 6. [Conservation] A school replaces all its old lightbulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. This is an example of: A. Weathering a resource B. Conserving a resource C. Deposition of energy D. Creating a renewable resource 7. [Aquifers] An aquifer is like a giant underground sponge. What characteristic of the rocks allows them to hold water? A. The rocks are solid and water-proof. B. The rocks are porous, with tiny spaces for water to sit. C. The rocks are magnetic and pull water toward them. D. The rocks are melted into a liquid state. 8. [Water Cycle] On a humid morning, you see dew on the grass even though it didn't rain overnight. Which part of the water cycle formed the dew? A. Evaporation B. Precipitation C. Condensation D. Transpiration 9. [Climate] Which of the following is a description of CLIMATE? A. "It is currently 85 degrees in McAllen." B. "There is a 40% chance of rain this afternoon." C. "South Texas typically has mild winters and very hot summers." D. "The wind is blowing from the North at 10 mph today." 10. [Weather/Climate] A scientist is looking at a chart that shows the total annual rainfall in a city from 1990 to 2020. What is the scientist most likely studying? A. The daily weather forecast B. The climate of the region C. The water cycle of a single pond D. The rate of erosion on a local hill

Earth Space Cycles

PHOTOSYNTHESIS LIGHT DEPENDENT REACTION 1. Photosystem II (PSII) – Light Absorption & Water Splitting • Light energy (photons) excites electrons in chlorophyll molecules. • These high-energy electrons leave PSII and are passed into the electron transport chain (ETC). • Meanwhile, water molecules are split (photolysis) into: o O₂ (released as a by-product into the atmosphere) o H⁺ ions (protons, which build up inside the thylakoid) o Electrons (e⁻), which replace the ones lost by PSII. 2. Electron Transport Chain (ETC) • Excited electrons move through protein carriers embedded in the thylakoid membrane. • As they move, their energy pumps H⁺ ions into the thylakoid space, creating a proton gradient (high H⁺ inside, low outside). 3. ATP Production (ATP Synthase) • The buildup of H⁺ ions acts like a “waterfall” of potential energy. • These protons flow back across the membrane through ATP synthase, a protein complex that acts like a turbine. • This flow drives the conversion of ADP + Pi → ATP, which provides energy for the Calvin cycle. 4. Photosystem I (PSI) • Electrons arriving from the ETC enter PSI. • Sunlight excites them again, boosting them to a higher energy level. 5. NADPH Production • The energized electrons are transferred to NADP⁺. • Along with a proton (H⁺), this forms NADPH, another energy carrier. • NADPH is then delivered to the Calvin cycle to help build glucose. End Products of Light-Dependent Reactions: • ATP (energy source for Calvin cycle) • NADPH (reducing power for glucose synthesis) • O₂ (released into the atmosphere as waste) Light-Independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle) • These reactions do not directly require sunlight. • They occur in the stroma of the chloroplast (the fluid-filled space surrounding the thylakoids). • The inputs are ATP and NADPH (from light-dependent reactions) and CO₂ (from the atmosphere). • The outputs are glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and other carbohydrates. Think of the Calvin cycle as a factory that uses the energy and “raw materials” made in Stage I (ATP & NADPH) to build sugars. The 3 Main Steps of the Calvin Cycle 1. Carbon Fixation • CO₂ from the atmosphere enters the chloroplast and diffuses into the stroma. • Each CO₂ molecule attaches to a 5-carbon sugar called RuBP (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate). • This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase — the most abundant enzyme on Earth!). • The result is a short-lived 6-carbon compound, which immediately splits into two 3-carbon molecules called 3-PGA (3-phosphoglycerate). Summary: CO₂ + RuBP → 2 × 3-PGA 2. Reduction Phase • The 3-PGA molecules are “energized” and converted into G3P (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate), a more energy-rich 3-carbon sugar. • This transformation requires: o ATP (provides energy) o NADPH (provides high-energy electrons and hydrogen atoms). • Some of the G3P molecules will eventually be combined to form glucose and other sugars. Summary: 3-PGA + ATP + NADPH → G3P 3. Regeneration of RuBP • Not all G3P molecules leave the cycle. Most of them are used to regenerate RuBP so the cycle can continue. • This regeneration also requires ATP. • For every 3 turns of the cycle, 5 G3P molecules are recycled to regenerate 3 molecules of RuBP. Summary: G3P + ATP → RuBP The Full Cycle Balance • To make one G3P molecule that can exit the cycle (and later form glucose), the cycle must run 3 times, fixing 3 molecules of CO₂. • To make one glucose molecule (C₆H₁₂O₆), the cycle must run 6 times (since glucose needs 6 carbon atoms). Inputs (for 1 glucose): • 6 CO₂ • 18 ATP • 12 NADPH Outputs: • 1 glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) • 18 ADP + 18 Pi • 12 NADP⁺ Day vs Night Clarification • The Calvin Cycle is called light-independent, but that doesn’t mean it only happens at night. • It usually happens during the day because it depends on ATP and NADPH, which are only produced in light-dependent reactions (when sunlight is available). Simplified Analogy • Carbon fixation = The factory brings in CO₂ as raw material. • Reduction = Workers use energy (ATP & NADPH) to shape the raw material into useful products (G3P). • Regeneration = Some products are recycled to keep the factory running (RuBP is re-formed). • Output = After enough cycles, the factory produces glucose, the “food” of the plant.

THE SOAR SYSTEM A solar system is a group of planets and other celestial bodies that revolve around a star. A solar nebula- a vast cloud of gas and dust, mostly hydrogen and helium. How the Solar System Form • COLLAPSE AND SPINNING DISK FORMATION - Gravity pulls material inward. The cloud flattens into a spinning disk due to conservation of angular momentum. • PROTOSTAR FORMATION- (BIRTH OF THE SUN). Material collects at the center, and begun to heat up. When it reaches to 10 million KELVIN, nuclear fusion begins. thus, SUN is born. • PLANETESIMALS AND PROTOPLANETS. Dust and gas in the disk stick together via static and gravitational forces. These form planetesimals, which grow into protoplanets collision and accretion. • PLANET FORMATION. Inner disk: too hot for gas rocky planets form Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. • PLANET FORMATION. Outer disk: gas and ice giants. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune • LEFTOVER DEBRIS. Remaining materials forms moon, asteroids, comets and dwarf planets. DIFFERENT HYPOTHESIS IN THE FORMATION OF SOLAR SYSTEM. 1. NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS- The Solar system formed from a rotating cloud of Gas and Dust (solar nebula). As it rotates conservation of angular momentum caused the cloud to flatten into a disk. the Sun formed at the center (DISK) while planets formed from the surrounding materials through acceleration. thus, it explains the coplanar and nearly circular orbit of the planets all planets orbits around the sun on the same flat, disk shaped plane. Proposed by Immanuel Kant in 1755 and Modified by Pierre Simon Laplace in 1756. PROTOPLANET HYPOTHESIS. The Solar system formed from a rotating cloud of Gas and Dust (solar nebula). As it rotates conservation of angular momentum caused the cloud to flatten into a disk. 2. Protoplanet hypothesis. Builds on the nebular model but focuses more on the role of planetesimals which then form into full planets. PROCESS: - Small solid particles stick together through collisions. As collisions takes place, it grows into kilometer-sized planetesimals. Gravitational interactions lead to the formation of planets. Lead to formation of steroids belts and varying planet sizes 3. Encounter hypothesis. States that the sun encountered a rogue star. The encounter led to the removal of hot gas from both stars due to their gravitational interaction. The hot gas then accumulated and formed the planets. The materials from the less dense rogue star formed the other planets, while that from the sun formed the inner planets. 4. TIDAL HYPOTHESIS. (also called the Tidal Theory) is an early scientific idea about how the solar system might have formed. Proposed by James Jeans and Harold Jeffreys. A massive star passed very close to the early Sun. The hot gas then accumulated and formed the planets. The materials from the less dense rogue star formed the other planets, while that from the sun formed the inner planets. Streams of hot gas were drawn out from the Sun in elongated shape. These streams eventually condensed and cooled, forming planets, moons, and other bodies in the solar system. 5. Not accepted theory. Later studies showed the streams of hot gas would disperse too quickly into space instead of condensing into planets. The theory also couldn’t explain the specific orbital patterns and compositions we see today. Modern science favors the Nebular Hypothesis, which explains solar system formation through the collapse of a rotating gas cloud. Earth as the only habitable planet 1. Right Distance from the Sun (The Goldilocks Zone). Not too hot, not too cold — just right for liquid water to exist. 2. Atmosphere with Oxygen. Earth has a mix of gases, especially oxygen, which most living things need to survive. 3. Liquid Water. Earth has oceans, rivers, and rain — water is essential for all life. 4. Magnetic Field. Earth’s magnetic field protects us from harmful solar radiation. 5. Stable Climate. The atmosphere and natural cycles keep temperatures and weather mostly stable over time. 6. Rich Resources. Earth has soil for growing food, minerals, and energy sources that support life and technology. Solar explorations 1. AUGUST 6, 2014. First space craft to orbit a comet (ROSETTA PROBE). Captures the comet photograph. -Comets have coma and tail as it approaches to the sun. 2. JULY 14, 2015. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft made history by becoming the first spacecraft to fly by Pluto, giving us our first close-up look at the dwarf planet. First time visiting Pluto. Before this, Pluto was just a blurry dot in telescope images. Revealed a surprising world New Horizons showed mountains of ice, smooth plains, and a heart-shaped region called Tombaugh Regio. Changed what we knew. Scientists thought Pluto would be dull and frozen — instead, it turned out to be geologically active and incredibly complex. 3. SEPTEMBER 8, 2016. NASA launched OSIRIS-REx, the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid and return it to Earth. Changed what we knew. Scientists thought Pluto would be dull and frozen — instead, it turned out to be geologically active and incredibly complex. OSIRIS-REx stands for: Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security–Regolith Explorer It was sent to study the asteroid Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid about 500 meters wide. Mission Goals: Collect a sample of surface material from Bennu Study the asteroid’s omposition, structure, and history. Mission Goals: Help scientists understand the origins of the solar system. Learn more about asteroids that could impact Earth. 4. August 12, 2018: Launch of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, the first spacecraft to "touch" the Sun by flying through its outer atmosphere, called the corona. Mission Goal: To study the Sun up close and help scientists understand: How the solar wind (a stream of charged particles) is formed. Why the Sun’s corona is hotter than its surface. What causes solar storms that can affect Earth’s satellites and power grids. 5. November 26, 2018: NASA’s Insight Lander Touches Down on Mars. Its mission was focused on studying the interior of the Red Planet (crust, mantle, and core of the planet). Why the Sun’s corona is hotter than its surface. What causes solar storms that can affect Earth’s satellites and power grids 6. November 26, 2018: NASA’s Insight Lander Touches Down on Mars. Its mission was focused on studying the interior of the Red Planet (crust, mantle, and core of the planet) 7. JULY 30, 2020 PERSEVERANCE PROBE. Perseverance rover as part of the Mars 2020 mission aboard an Atlas V-541 rocket This marked a major step in Mars exploration. 8. DECEMBER 25, 2021-JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE. Investigate exoplanets’ atmospheres for signs of habitability. Observe the first galaxies formed after the Big Bang. Study the formation of stars and planetary systems. Look deeper into the infrared universe than ever before. RESULTS OF EXPLORATION • Evidence of Ancient Life-friendly Environment. • Sedimentary rocks formed in water-rich environments. • Signs of clay and carbonate minerals, which can preserve biosignatures (traces of past life). • Evidence of Ancient Life-friendly Environment. • Sedimentary rocks formed in water-rich environments. • Signs of clay and carbonate minerals, which can preserve biosignatures (traces of past life). • Evidence of Ancient Life-friendly Environment. • Sedimentary rocks formed in water-rich environments. • Signs of clay and carbonate minerals, which can preserve biosignatures (traces of past life).

Earth & Space

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