Final answer:
The atmosphere acts like the membrane of a cell by protecting the Earth's delicate inner workings and selectively allowing substances to pass through.
Step-by-step explanation:
The atmosphere acts like the membrane of a cell because it protects the delicate inner workings of life on Earth and selectively allows certain substances to pass through, just like the plasma membrane of a cell. The atmosphere forms a barrier between the Earth's surface and outer space, protecting it from harmful radiation and regulating the entry and exit of gases. For example, it allows sunlight and some heat energy to pass through while trapping certain gases, like carbon dioxide, leading to the greenhouse effect.