I.

Earth Science

Earth Science is the study of our

planet (Terra Three), its changing
systems, and its position in the
Universe.
Earth Science investigates and tries
to answer questions like:
I. Why do we have seasons?
II. How can we predict the weather?
III.Why are stars grouped and move together
in the night sky?
IV.What forms a landscape?
Earth Science covers many
different disciplines (or branches of
scientific study) such as:
Geology - the study of our planet (it’s
structure, crust, composition, etc.).
Meteorology - the study of the
atmosphere; weather and climate.
Astronomy - the study of the Earth's
motions and objects in space.
Oceanography - the study of the
oceans.
The study of earth science
divides the Earth up into three
main parts:
Lithosphere: The solid Earth

Hydrosphere: All the water on Earth

Atmosphere: All the gases surrounding the

Earth
Why is earth science important?
Forecast potential disasters and help
save lives and property.
Gain access to the Earth’s resources.
Protect the environment.
 The Pathways to
Discovery: The Scientific
Method
The scientific method is a guide to
scientific problem solving.
State the Problem
Observation
An observation is an interaction of one or
more of the senses (sight,hearing, touch,
taste or smell) with part of the
environment.
Care must be exercised when using the
senses to prevent injury. (Taste is rarely
used to prevent poisoning).
Instruments are devices invented to extend
our senses beyond their normal limits.
Gather Information
Measurement
A measurement is a means of
expressing an observation with greater
precision.
Basic dimensional quantities include...
• 1. Length – the distance between two points.
• 2. Mass – the amount matter in an object.
Mass is the number of things (atoms, etc) an
object has.
**Weight is a force caused by a gravitational
attraction.***
Weight ≠ Mass

• 3. Time – a measurement that allows us to

determine "when" an event occurred.
• 4. Temperature – a measurement of the
average internal energy of an object.

Classification
A classification is a grouping of similarly
observed properties of objects or events to
aid studying a subject.
 Classification of our solar system

Planets

Gas Planets Terrestrial (land)

Jupiter Saturn Neptune Uranus Mercury Venus Earth Mars Pluto

Form a hypothesis
Hypothesis: a possible solution or
explanation of a problem.
Test the Hypothesis
A hypothesis is tested by
experimentation.
Each experiment has at least two
variables.
Dependent variable: Data that you are
measuring in your experiment.
• Vertical axis of graph
Independent variable: The data that you
know ahead of time.
• Horizontal axis of graph
State a Conclusion
Inference.
An inference is an interpretation (or
conclusion) based on our observations,
and is only as reliable as our best
observations.

Inferences may or may not be correct.

Basic dimensional units (length, mass, time,
temperature) can be combined to produced
additional measurements that can assist in making
observations and classifying properties of objects.
1. area is a length x width
2. volume – the amount of space an object
contains or occupies.
• volume is Length x Width x Height.
3. speed – the distance an object covers in a
given period of time.
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a method for expressing
very large numbers in the form of small numbers
which scientists work with.
A number written in scientific notation is written
in the form M x 10n, where M is a number
between 1 and 10 (but not 10), and n is the
power it is raised to(how many places the
decimal point was moved).
Thus the number 254.3 is written as 2.543 x 102.
Here’s a closer look of how it works.
4156.2 Now we can go in reverse
to…
First we want to make
this into a number in 3.12 x 101
between 1-10. First we want to move
• 4.1562 the decimal place back.
• Remember how many • 31.2
places the decimal point • You’re done!
was moved • REMEMBER if the
• Now plug into formula exponent is positive,
Mx10n move in a positive
4.1562 x 103 direction. If the
exponent is negative,
That’s it! move in the negative
direction.
There are several Metric
Prefixes that you must know:
kilo-
1000 hecto-
100 deco-
10
*metric unit* deci-
centi-
0.1 milli-
0.01
0.001
Here’s a way to remember Practice
the order.
Kids 1.) 225.3m=_____km
Hate
Dad 2.) 32.1cm=_____mm
Mom
Doesn’t 3.) 0.859cm=_____m
Care
Much 4.) 0.206km=_____mm
B. Error
No measurement is perfect!
Measurements are limited by imperfection
of the senses and instruments, and human
error.
 Percent Deviation (Percent Error)
See front page of Ref. Table
% Deviation = (Accepted –Measured) x 100
(Accepted)

Ex: measured mass = 36g

accepted mass = 40g

% Deviation = (40g – 36g) x 100

40g
% Deviation = 4g x 100
40g
% Deviation = 10%
C. Density
Density is the concentration of matter an object
has. (Front page of Reference Table)

Density = Mass
Volume

Density is affected by anything that changes the

volume an object occupies.

Temperature & Pressure

Temperature
causes most objects to change their
volume.
As temperature
increases, volume increases (most
substances expand when heated),
cooling causes volume to decrease.
Direct relationship
Volume

Temperature
Water is the exception!!!
As temperature increases, volume decreases.
As temperature decreases, volume increases.

Inverse (Indirect) relationship

Volume

Temperature
Water has its highest density (1.0 g/mL) at 4
oC (36 °F), as water cools its density

decreases (opposite normal matter),

hence ice floats on liquid water.

Matter that has a density less than 1 g/mL

will float in water.
Matter that has a density more than 1 g/mL
will sink in water.
Pressure
affects the volume of a substance.

As pressure increases the volume

decreases.

Inverse relationship
D. Phases (states) of matter.
Matter is normally found in three phases or states,
although, there is a fourth phase (state).
The phases are:
1. Solid – rigid structure, fixed volume & shape.
(normally an object's highest density).
2. Liquid – fixed volume, will assume the shape of
it's container.
3. Gas – no fixed structure, expands to fill the
volume and shape of the container it is placed
in. (normally an object's lowest density)
4. Plasma – exists in stars, not found
on earth.
IV. Nature of change
A.Characteristics of change

The Earth's environment is in a constant

state of change.

Change can be described as an occurrence

of an event.

The event (change in condition of properties

of a substance) can occur over a long
period of time or instantaneously.
C. Rate of Change
The rate at which change occurs.

Rate of change =Change in field value

Time
Most earth processes are slow, taking
sometimes millions of years to evolve.
D. Cyclic Change
Changes that are repetitive in nature, (a
repeating pattern).
Singular occurring events are said to be
non–cyclic.

Cyclic
Change
E. Prediction of change
When change is cyclic or if a trend can be
inferred, a prediction can be made relative to
the data.
Factors involved in change are called variables.
The greater the frequency of observation and/or
the fewer the variables involved, the greater the
accuracy of the prediction of the change.