Shelly Ryn M.
Saligumba 11-Banzon Earth Science 11
Lesson 1: Origin and Structure of the Earth
What’s New?
B. Figure 1. Finding the four- letter word that describes the image
Answer: Life
What I Can Do
Terraforming Mars
Can man alter Mars environment to make it more suitable for human habitation?
Mars Terraforming Not Possible Using Present-Day Technology
(the essay below are exactly 200 words)
Despite having a very cold and very dry climate – Earth and Mars have a lot in common. These include
similarities in size, inclination, structure, composition, and even the presence of water on their surfaces.
Because of this, Mars is considered a prime candidate for human settlement; a prospect that includes
transforming the environment to be suitable to human needs (aka. terraforming).
Without a doubt, the prospect of terraforming Mars comes with its share of problems, which are
daunting. For starters, there is the sheer amount of resources it would take to convert Mars’
environment into something sustainable for humans. Second, there is the concern that any measure
undertaken could have unintended consequences. Third, there is the amount of time it would take.
No fundamental, insuperable limitation of the ability of Mars to support a terrestrial ecology is
identified. The lack of an oxygen-containing atmosphere would likely prevent the unaided habitation of
Mars by man. The present strong ultraviolet surface irradiation is an additional major barrier. The
creation of an adequate oxygen and ozone-containing atmosphere on Mars may be feasible through the
use of photosynthetic organisms. The time needed to generate such an atmosphere, however, might
be several millions of years.
Assessment
1. C
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. A
6. Biosphere and the geosphere
7. A
8. D
9. D
10. D
Additional Activities
1. Scientists divide the planet into two main components: the biosphere, which consists of all life, and
the geosphere. The geosphere has four subsystems called the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere,
and atmosphere. Because these subsystems interact with each other and the biosphere, they work
together to influence the climate, trigger geological processes, and affect life all over the Earth.
2.
Shelly Ryn M. Saligumba 11- Banzon Earth Science 11
Lesson 2: Earth Materials and Processes
What’s New?
B. Answer: The two of the pictures are minerals. Most minerals can be characterized and
classified by their unique physical properties: hardness, luster, color, streak, specific gravity,
cleavage, fracture, and tenacity.
What I Can Do
5 Minerals, Common Uses and Identify the specific property/properties that made them for that
purpose
1. Diamond- One of the most common uses of a diamond, besides being made into jewellery, is
the use of it in the industrial industry. Due to a diamond's remarkable strength, they have
become extremely effective as cutting, polishing and drilling tools. It is also chemically resistant
and has the highest thermal conductivity of any natural material. These properties make
it suitable for use as a cutting tool and for other uses where durability is required. Diamond also
has special optical properties such as a high index of refraction, high dispersion, and high luster.
2. Quartz- it is used as oscillators in radios, watches, and pressure gauges, and in the study of
optics. Quartz is also used as an abrasive for sandblasting, grinding glass, and cutting soft stones.
It has a hardness of seven on the Mohs Scale which makes it very durable. It is chemically inert
in contact with most substances. It has electrical properties and heat resistance that make it
valuable in electronic products.
3. Sulfur- Sulfur has many industrial uses. It is used in the manufacture of black powder, matches
and explosives. It is also used to create rubber, in dyes, and as an insecticide and fungicide. It is
also used in the manufacturing of sulfuric acid.
4. Talc- Talc is used in many industries, including paper making, plastic, paint and coatings, rubber,
food, electric cable, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and ceramics. A coarse grayish-green high-talc
rock is soapstone or steatite, used for stoves, sinks, electrical switchboards, etc. Talc is a
phyllosilicate mineral that cleaves into thin sheets. These sheets are held together only by van
der Waals bonds, which allows them to easily slip past one another. This characteristic is
responsible for talc's extreme softness, its greasy to soapy feel, and its value as a high-
temperature lubricant.
5. Calcite- The properties of calcite make it one of the most widely used minerals. It is used as
a construction material, abrasive, agricultural soil treatment, construction aggregate,
pigment, pharmaceutical and more. It has more uses than almost any other mineral.
Additional Activities
Cite ten (10) examples of mineral use in our daily lives.
1. Carbonate- It is used to purify the drinking water, desulphurization of flue gas and waste water
treatments. It is also used for the treatment of water bodies which is affected by acid rain.
Calcium carbonate contains vitamin D which is essential for human body. Calcium carbonate is
used as a dietary calcium supplement.
2. Chlorine- Chlorine kills bacteria – it is a disinfectant. It is used to treat drinking water and
swimming pool water. It is also used to make hundreds of consumer products from paper to
paints, and from textiles to insecticides. About 20% of chlorine produced is used to make PVC.
3. Fluorine- Compounds of fluorine, including sodium fluoride, are used in toothpaste and in
drinking water to prevent dental cavities. Hydrofluoric acid can dissolve glass and is used to etch
the glass in light bulbs and in other products.
4. Dolomite- Dolomite is used as a source of magnesia (MgO), a feed additive for livestock, a
sintering agent and flux in metal processing, and as an ingredient in the production of glass,
bricks, and ceramics. Dolomite serves as the host rock for many lead, zinc, and copper deposits.
5. Gypsum- Gypsum uses include: manufacture of wallboard, cement, plaster of Paris, soil
conditioning, a hardening retarder in portland cement. Varieties of gypsum known as "satin
spar" and "alabaster" are used for a variety of ornamental purposes; however, their low
hardness limits their durability.
6. Barite- Barite has the ability to block x-ray and gamma-ray emissions. Barite is used to make
high-density concrete to block x-ray emissions in hospitals, power plants, and laboratories.
7. Chromite- The chromium extracted from chromite is used in chrome plating and alloying
for production of corrosion resistant superalloys, nichrome, and stainless steel. Chromium is
used as a pigment for glass, glazes, and paint, and as an oxidizing agent for tanning leather. It is
also sometimes used as a gemstone.
8. Galena- Galena is the most important ore of lead. Silver is often produced as a by-product. Most
lead is consumed in making batteries, however, significant amounts are also used to make lead
sheets, pipe and shot. It is also used to make low-melting-point alloys.
9. Bismuth- Bismuth compounds are used as catalysts in the manufacturing process of synthetic
fiber and rubber. When bismuth is combined with other metals such as lead, tin, iron and
cadmium, it forms alloys with low melting points that can be used in fire detectors and
extinguishers.
10. Anhydrite- Small amounts of anhydrite are used as drying agents in plaster, paint, and varnish. It
is also used along with gypsum to produce plaster, joint compound, wallboard, and other
products for the construction industry. Anhydrite has also been used as a source of sulfur in the
production of sulfuric acid
