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The Origin and Evolution of Earth
The Beginning of Earth
1. 4 Billion Years Ago:
o Earth was a ball of boiling lava without life.
o Transformation into the habitable Earth began with the Sun's and solar system's
formation.
2. Key Questions:
o How did water come to Earth?
o How was the Moon formed?
Formation of the Solar System
1. 4.6 Billion Years Ago:
o Solar Nebula (Niharika): A cloud of gas and dust containing mainly hydrogen
and helium.
2. Supernova Explosion:
o Nearby dying star caused gravitational instability in the nebula, initiating its
collapse into a Proto-Planetary Disk (rotating, flat disk).
3. Birth of the Sun:
o Increasing pressure and temperature at the center of the disk led to nuclear fusion
of hydrogen into helium, creating the Sun.
o Today, the Sun comprises 99.8% of the solar system’s mass.
Planet Formation: Accretion Process
1. Accretion (Definition):
o The process of dust and gas particles sticking together under gravity to form
larger bodies.
2. Stages of Planet Formation:
o Dust Particles → Clusters → Planetesimals → Protoplanets → Planets.
o Planetesimals: Small bodies with diameters ranging from 1 km to several
kilometers.
o Protoplanets: Larger bodies formed by gravitational attraction of planetesimals.
3. Role of Collisions:
o Frequent collisions melted rocks, forming lava seas and shaping spherical bodies
under gravity.
o Earth's formation involved countless such collisions during the Hadean Eon
(4.6–4 billion years ago).
Key Fun Fact:
Uranium on Earth predates the solar system, formed 6 billion years ago in a supernova.
Formation of Water on Earth
1. Sources of Water:
o Comets and Asteroids: Collisions brought water-rich minerals to Earth.
o Ice crystals in the solar nebula also contributed.
2. Water Cycle Formation:
o Intense heat converted water to steam, leading to condensation and rain, gradually
forming oceans.
Earth’s Differentiation: Layers
1. Formation of Layers:
o Differentiation began during the Archean Eon (4–2.5 billion years ago).
o Denser elements like iron and nickel sank to form the core, while lighter
elements like oxygen rose to form the crust.
2. Layers of Earth:
o Core:
Temperature ~6,000°C.
Solid due to immense pressure.
o Mantle: Thickest layer (~3,000 km), initially filled with magma.
o Crust: Dominated by oxygen (~46%).
3. Tectonic Plates and Movements:
o Crust split into tectonic plates, leading to earthquakes and volcanoes.
o Asthenosphere: Weak, lubricating layer beneath the crust.
Detailed Fun Fact:
Earth’s Magnetic Field:
o Generated by churning iron in the liquid outer core.
o Protects Earth from solar winds and harmful radiation.
Formation of the Moon
1. Giant Impact Hypothesis:
o Theia, a Mars-sized protoplanet, collided with early Earth (~4.5 billion years
ago).
o The collision fused their cores and ejected debris, which formed the Moon.
2. Proof:
Moon Rocks: Similar isotopic composition to Earth's crust, confirming the shared
o
origin.
3. Impact of the Moon:
o Stabilized Earth’s 23.5° tilt, enabling seasons.
o Created ocean tides, crucial for the evolution of life.
Volcanism and the Rise of Life
1. Volcanic Activity:
o Released gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane, forming a toxic
early atmosphere.
2. Formation of Oceans:
o Cooling of water vapor and asteroid impacts gradually created large water bodies.
3. Role of Oceans in Life:
o Absorbed excess CO₂, moderating temperatures and enabling life.
o Even today, oceans absorb most of Earth's carbon emissions.
Key Note:
Excessive or weak volcanic activity could have made Earth uninhabitable like Venus or
Mars.
Earth’s Unique Factors Supporting Life
1. Goldilocks Zone:
o Earth’s position in the solar system ensures it’s neither too hot nor too cold.
2. Ideal Size and Gravity:
o Maintains an atmosphere with essential gases for life.
3. Magnetic Field:
o Protects against harmful solar radiation.
4. Right Greenhouse Effect:
o Balanced CO₂ levels keep Earth warm but not excessively hot.
Key Definitions
1. Accretion:
o Gradual accumulation of matter under gravity to form celestial bodies.
2. Differentiation:
o Process where heavier elements sink to the core, and lighter elements rise to form
the crust.
3. Eons:
o Longest geologic time units, e.g., Hadean Eon (~4.6–4 billion years ago).
