Welcome to Mr. Stafford’s Earth Science Class!

This class will be geared to prepare you for your future science courses.

You will see some basic chemistry, biology, math, etc.

The material we cover will definitely include all things earth. ◦ Volcanoes◦ Rocks◦ Atmosphere◦ And so on

What to expect

Can you guess what city in North Carolina I’m from?

A little Quiz about myself

I attended Porter Ridge High School. Can you guess the school’s mascot?

What year do you think I graduated from high school?◦2007

What college did I attend? Hint: it’s very cold

Do you think I joined a Fraternity?◦ Eventually became President

With all that being said, how old do you think I am?

I’ll never say

On a sheet of paper, tell me:1. Your preferred name/age/grade2. What are your hobbies?3. What types of clubs/sports do you participate in?4. Name one thing you could teach someone else?5. What is one place you would like to visit in your lifetime?6. What is your weakest/strongest subject?7. Do you have access to the internet at home?8. Is there any kind of condition or situation that I need to be

aware of? (home or school)9. What are your goals after high school?10. If you plan on attending college, what schools do you have in

mind?11. Name anything you want to learn that pertains to Earth

Science.12. Contact information for your parents

About You

For thousands of years, early human history, it was believed that supernatural forces caused all the major events, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tidal waves

So what is Earth Science?

Earth Science is the study of the earth and of the universe around it.

Four main branches of Earth Science◦ Geology◦ Oceanography◦ Meteorology◦ Astronomy

What kinds of things threaten our survival?

Ecology is the area of science looks at biology and earth science. Answers questions like how a particular group of animal or plant is influenced by their environment.

Environmental pollution Protecting the environment

Why is Earth Science Important?

On your laptops, go to www.sascurriculumpathways.com/login

Log in as student, username is: wwhs On the right hand side of the screen you will

see a quick launch box. Enter the code 474 Click on Forecasting Earth’s Future and

begin reading the assignment. Use the links provided to write your essay.

Earth’s Future Assignment

Earth Science – the study of earth and the universe around it.

4 main branches:◦ Geology◦ Oceanography◦ Meteorology◦ Astronomy◦ You can also include Environmental Study

If you had to choose, what type of branch would you consider pursuing or making a career out of? Tell me why

Warm-up #1Jan. 6

http://exploringorigins.org/timeline.html

About how old is earth?Where on the timeline do you think humans

came about?What about the dinosaurs?

State a problem◦ Often a result of observation. ◦ What causes tornadoes to form? Why is oil found

only in certain locations and not in others? Gather information/Research

◦ Investigate the problem, see what has been done already.

Form a Hypothesis◦ A possible explanation or solution to the problem.

Based on facts, established through observation

Scientific Method

Test the Hypothesis/Experiment◦ A hypothesis will not be accepted by the scientific

community unless there is evidence to support it. Gather Data/Make Observations

◦ You will take measurements or record observations in order to analyze the results.

State a Conclusion◦ After analyzing the data, a conclusion can be

drawn. Here your hypothesis is either accepted or rejected.

Scientific Method

The Nebular Hypothesis◦ Suggests that the bodies of

our solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar nebula. Made up of mostly hydrogen

and helium

Formation of the Earth

We are going to split into groups of 3 or 4. Each group will be investigate all the areas

of Earth Science.◦ Geology, Oceanography, Meteorology, Astronomy,

Environmental science In your group use your textbook and laptops

to find the definition of each branch and the major topics covered by them

The information you gather should go under your notes section

Assignment

The study of the origin, history, and structure of the solid earth and the processes that shape it◦ Many fields:

Geology

The study of earth’s oceans and other bodies of water.

Oceanography

The study of earth’s atmosphere

Meteorology

Study of the universe beyond earth

Astronomy

The branch of biology that deals with the relationship of organisms and their environments

Environmental Science

Earth System Science◦ Earth is a dynamic planet with many separate but

interactive parts or spheres. Its aim is to understand earth as a system made up of numerous interacting parts, or subsystems.

◦ Tries to put together what we know from the main branches discussed earlier.

What do you think are the main spheres of Earth? There are 4 of them.

Warm-up #2Jan. 9

There are four major sphere we use to describe the physical and interactive environment:◦ Hydrosphere◦ Atmosphere◦ Geosphere ◦ Biosphere

Earth’s Major Spheres

What does the prefix hydro- mean?

All water makes up the hydrosphere

Only 3% of all water is fresh◦Streams◦Glaciers◦groundwater

Hydrosphere

Life-sustaining, thin, gaseous envelope that surrounds the Earth

Provides the air we breath Protects us from the sun’s

intense heat and UV radiation

The constant exchange of energy produces weather and climate

Atmosphere

Beneath both the atmosphere and the ocean

Divided into 3 layers:◦Core◦Mantle◦Crust

Geosphere

Includes all life on Earth Plants and animals

depend on the physical environment for life

Without life the makeup and nature of the solid earth, hydrosphere, and atmosphere would be very different.

Biosphere

Independent Variable◦ During an experiment, these are what you are changing

◦ Ex. The different types of fertilizer you give a plant

Dependent Variable◦ These are the things you are measuring◦ Ex. The growth of the plants

Control Group◦ These groups aren’t changed and remain constant◦ Used for comparisons

Variables

Known as SI

This system was originally proposed in 1670, but was not actually created until 1791. In 1875, 17 countries, including the US, agreed to use the new system of measures as the standard.

It has changed over the years

International System of Units

Units You Should Use

The meter is the length of path traveled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.

By the way, this definition depends on the fact that the speed of light is defined (not measured) as exactly 299,792,458 meters per second.

The SI units are not only based on scientific fact, but also allow you to deal with large or small quantities more easily

We use prefixes which are all powers of 10 of the base unit to convert between units

SI Units

In order to convert between units we must use a process called factor labeling.

Conversions

Given value What you are looking for

Unit of what you are given

Convert 64.8 cm to m

Examples

64.8 cm

100 cm

10-2 m

Convert 0.2410 Kg → g

Examples

0.2410 Kg 103 g

100 Kg

0.75 Kg to milligrams

Practice

Given value What you are looking for

Unit of what you are given

1. The earth scientist most likely to study storms is __________

2. The study of solid earth or rocks is called __________

3. A possible explanation for a scientific problem is called what?

4. A meteorite land in your back yard. Which earth scientist would you call to study the meteorite? Why?

5. List the 6 scientific steps

TICKET OUT THE DOOR

Warm-up #3 Jan. 10

Theory of Evolution Law of Thermodynamics

TheoryAn explanation of whyTheories can never be

proven as factTheories usual have

models associated with them

They are continually modified and retested

LawAn explanation of how

These are scientific factLaws usually have equations associated

with them.

Warm-up #4 Jan. 11

Plate Tectonics◦ According to this theory, Earth’s Lithosphere is

broken into several individual sections called plates.

◦ These plates move slowly and continuously across the surface

◦ This is what generates earthquakes, volcanic activity and deformation of large masses of rock into mountains

In your journal, record what you think it means to be both accurate and precise.

Measurements in science have 2 parts. A number and a unit. Without the unit the number is irrelevant

Measurements also need to have 2 qualities◦ Accuracy ◦ Precision

Measurements in data collection

Accuracy is defined as the correctness of measurement.

Precision is the exactness of a measurement or how close a group is to one another.

Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy is defined as being within 5% of the accepted value for that measurement

Precision is determined by the measuring instrument. The smaller the divisions are on a the measuring device the more precise the measurement will be.

Accuracy and Precision in Measurements

Since measuring devices determine precision, you must use the device correctly to be as precise as possible

All measurements must have a digit of uncertainty at the end

A digit of uncertainty (DOU) is one place that past what can be measured EXACTLY.

The DOU is an estimate

Once your data has been collected it needs to be ORGANIZED

What is the best way to organize data??

The best and most common way of organizing data are through charts and graphs.

Give me some types of graphs:◦ Bar graphs◦ Line graphs◦ Pie graph

GRAPHS!!

Graphs are a good way of visually organizing lot of information for quick access and understanding

They show trends that may not be seen through data alone

One thing that all graphs have in common is a title that explains the graph

Shows change, most commonly change over time

A line graph is drawn with the independent variable on the x-axis and the dependent on the y-axis

Line Graphs

Title

Depend

ent V

aria

ble

Independent Variable

Year

Population in Wilkes County

1980 58657

1985 59848

1990 59502

1995 61825

2000 65777

2005 66444

2010 67310

Bar graphs are good for comparing data

Bar Graph

County Population

Alleghany 10964

Ashe 25812

Surry 72496

Watauga 45479

Wilkes 67310

Yadkin 37713

Title

Depend

ent

Varia

ble

Independent Variable

Useful for showing percentages or part of a whole

Circle or Pie Graph

Kind of land used

Percentage of total

landGrassland and rangeland 29Wilderness and parks 9Urban 2Wetland and deserts 3Forest 30Cropland 17

Value you want to find × 100 = Percent

Total Number

Ex: 12 chocolate cookies × 100 = ~33 %36 total cookies

How to Find Percentages

Pie Chart BirthdaysMonth People PercentageJanuary

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October November December

List the four main spheres on earth and tell me something about each.

Why is having the SI system or standard units important in the scientific community?

The variable that is changed is called what? The variable that is measured is called what? 57.32 mL to L Milligrams = _______ if 7.3 x 104 micrograms

TICKET OUT THE DOOR

Draw and label earth’s layers

List out the main areas or branches of Earth Science and give me one thing that each does.

Warm-up #5 Jan.12

What hypothesis describes the formation of Earth?

The Nebular Hypothesis◦ Suggests that the bodies of

our solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar nebula. Made up of mostly

hydrogen and helium

Formation of the Earth

Layers of Earth

Which branch studies the composition and movements of seawater?

Oceanography What type of things would an

oceanographer do or research?◦ Marine biology◦ Seafloor mapping◦ Coastal processes

Branches of Earth Science

What branch studies the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate?

Meteorology Studies weather

What branch studies the universe? Astronomy Studies origins and physical laws

Branches of Earth Science

What area studies the solid rock and historical aspects of Earth?

Geology

What area studies the relationships between Earth and living things?

Environmental Science Ecosystems

Branches of Earth Science

What are they?◦ Hydrosphere◦ Atmosphere◦ Geosphere◦ Biosphere

Earth’s Major Sphere

Large sectional plates that are continuously moving

Generates earthquakes, volcanic activity and leads to the formation of mountains.

What are Plate Tectonics?

0.00456

7.23 x 10-3

9.1 x 104

Scientific Notation

Short Answer21. List and briefly describe Earth’s four major Spheres.22. What is the difference between a scientific hypothesis and a

scientific theory?23. List the 6 steps of the scientific method.

Problem24. Convert 4.5 km to m25. 0.0024 mm to cm26. Convert 0.00031 g to µg (micro)

Using at least 5 complete sentences explain why scientist use the international system of measurments.

Essay