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NCERT Based Activity: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet | Science Class 8 PDF Download

Activity 13.1: Let us find out

List some features of the Earth that we often take for granted, but are interesting and important to us. Write them in Table 13.1. We have filled in a few for you.
NCERT Based Activity: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet | Science Class 8

Ans: 

  • We get sunlight and warmth from the Sun every day – which makes life possible on Earth by providing energy for plants and maintaining suitable temperature.

  • Earth has water in all three forms – solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapour) – which is essential for life and helps in maintaining the water cycle.

Activity 13.2: Let us find out

  • Collect information about the temperature and size of the planets in the solar system, and check if they have an atmosphere. 
  • You may collect this information from books in your school library, trusted websites, or discuss with your teachers. 
  • Fill out the missing information in Table 13.2.
    NCERT Based Activity: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet | Science Class 8

Ans: 
NCERT Based Activity: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet | Science Class 8

Activity 13.3: Let us find out

  • Take some parts of plants like stem cutting of a money plant, the ‘eyes’ of a sprouted potato, or a piece of ginger (Fig. 13.11b). 
  • Plant each of them separately in moist soil (not too deep). For money plant, you can just put a cutting in a glass container which makes it easy to observe. 
  • Make sure they get all the conditions they need to grow—like water, air, and sunlight. 
  • Watch them every day and note how many days it takes for roots stem and leaves to appear. Also observe when the first new leaf appears.

Observation:

  • Roots may appear in 3-7 days for money plant cuttings in water, and 7-14 days for potato eyes or ginger in soil, depending on conditions.

  • Stems and leaves typically emerge within 10-20 days, with the first new leaf appearing around 15-25 days, varying by plant type and environment (e.g., money plant may show leaves sooner in water).

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FAQs on NCERT Based Activity: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet - Science Class 8

1. What makes Earth a unique planet for sustaining life?
Ans.Earth is unique in its ability to sustain life due to several key factors: it is located in the habitable zone of the solar system, where temperatures are just right for liquid water to exist. Earth has a diverse atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen, which is essential for life. The presence of water in various forms, such as oceans, rivers, and ice, supports a wide range of ecosystems. Additionally, Earth's magnetic field protects it from harmful solar radiation, and its geological activity contributes to nutrient cycling necessary for living organisms.
2. How does the water cycle contribute to life on Earth?
Ans.The water cycle is crucial for sustaining life on Earth as it regulates climate, supports ecosystems, and replenishes water sources. It involves processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Through evaporation, water from oceans and lakes turns into vapor, which then cools and condenses to form clouds. Precipitation returns water to the surface, where it can support plants, animals, and human needs. This continuous cycle ensures that water is distributed across different regions, maintaining the balance necessary for life.
3. What role does the atmosphere play in supporting life on Earth?
Ans.The atmosphere plays several critical roles in supporting life on Earth. It provides essential gases, such as oxygen for respiration and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The atmosphere also helps regulate temperature by trapping heat through the greenhouse effect, making the planet habitable. Additionally, it protects living organisms from harmful solar radiation and meteor impacts. The presence of weather patterns and climate systems, influenced by atmospheric conditions, further supports diverse life forms.
4. Why is biodiversity important for the health of our planet?
Ans.Biodiversity is vital for the health of our planet as it contributes to ecosystem stability, resilience, and productivity. A diverse range of species ensures that ecosystems can withstand environmental changes and disturbances. Different organisms play unique roles, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and decomposition, which are essential for maintaining balanced ecosystems. Moreover, biodiversity provides resources for humans, including food, medicine, and raw materials, while also enriching cultural and recreational experiences.
5. What threats does Earth face that could impact its ability to sustain life?
Ans.Earth faces several significant threats that could impact its ability to sustain life, including climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation of natural resources. Climate change leads to rising temperatures, altered weather patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events, which can disrupt ecosystems and species. Habitat destruction from urbanization and deforestation reduces the areas available for wildlife. Pollution affects air, water, and soil quality, harming both human health and ecosystems. Overexploitation of resources can lead to species extinction and depletion of vital resources necessary for survival.
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