EARTH SCIENCE REGENTS REVIEW
UNIT 5 – ENERGY IN EARTH PROCESSES
1. ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY
 Type of energy that is radiated, or given off, in the form of
transverse waves (waves that vibrate at right angles), from
all matter, not at absolute zero (-273° Celsius, 0° Kelvin,
-459 ° Fahrenheit). Absolute zero is theoretically the
lowest possible temperature and the one which particles
have no motion.
 Different types of electromagnetic energy are
distinguished by their different wavelengths. Visible light
can be observed with the human eye.
NYS DEPT OF EDUCATION
2. WAVELENGTH – The distance from one crest of a wave to the
next crest.
simple.wikipedia.org
3. INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
When electromagnetic energy comes in contact with a material five
major things can occur:
A. REFRACTED – When wavelengths pass through materials of
varying density (bent).
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p?title=Refr...
B. REFLECTED – When energy bounces off a material in the same
angle that they came in.
ikea.com
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C. SCATTERED – When wavelengths bounce or reflect in various
directions.
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D. TRANSMITTED – When wavelengths pass through a material.
ccwindows.net
E. ABSORBED – When wavelengths are taken into the material.
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 LIGHT COLORS AND SMOOTH
SURFACES REFLECT ENERGY.
bgrg.org

DARK COLORS AND ROUGH
SURFACES ABSORB ENERGY.
cybject.wordpress.com
KEY NOTE:
 THE GREATER THE MATERIAL CAN ABSORB ENERGY, THE
GREATER IT CAN RE-RADIATE THE ENERGY.
4. TRANSFER OF HEAT ENERGY
 Heat will continue to move from source to sink (hot to
cold) until their energies (temperature) are equal,
establishing a dynamic equilibrium. Once equilibrium is
reached the heat transfer will stop.
astronomynotes.com
 In an open system the transfer of energy will NOT be
one for one (temperature exchange).
 In a closed system the energy transfer will be one for
one. This means that as the temperature in the hot cup
loses one degree, the cold cup gains one degree.
regentsearth.com
A. CONDUCTION – The transfer of heat energy from atom to atom or
molecule to molecule when vibrating atoms or molecules collide is
conduction. (USUALLY THROUGH SOLIDS – especially metals
because the atoms or molecules are closer together).
regentsearth.com
B. CONVECTION – The transfer of heat by movement in fluids – gases
and liquids – caused by differences in density within the fluids. Warmer
fluids usually have lower density and tend to rise. This is due to the fact
that gravity pulls less on objects with lower density. Higher density
portions of fluids pull down and displace the lower density objects
pushing them upward. The result is convection current.
mrcorfe.com
hk-pys.org
C. RADIATION – The method by which heat is transferred via
electromagnetic waves is radiation ( NO MEDIUM REQUIRED THROUGH EMPTY SPACE). The higher the objects temperature the
more electromagnetic energy it gives off.
planetfacts.org
cookwilkie11.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us
5. TRANSFORMATION OF ENERGY
A) HEAT PRODUCTION
 Transformation of heat energy often occurs when
there is friction. (Examples are winds blowing over
the oceans (creating ocean currents) and glaciers
hitting up against valley walls).
B) MECHANICAL ENERGY
 Mechanical Energy – The total amount of kinetic and
potential energy in an object.
 Kinetic Energy – The energy an objects possesses due to
its motion.
 Potential Energy – Energy that is stored in a system due
to its position in a force field or configuration. The higher
an object is off the ground the greater the potential
fall, therefore the greater the potential energy.
NOTE: Either kinetic energy or potential energy can be
transformed to the other.
C) ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVELENGTH
 When one type of electromagnetic energy can be
absorbed by an object and re-radiated back at a different
wavelength.
 An example of wavelength transformation is when
the Earth absorbs visible light radiation (short wavelength –
higher temperature) and sends back infrared radiation (longer
wavelength-cooler temperature).
6. TEMPERATURE AND HEAT
 TEMPERATURE - is a measure of the average kinetic
energy of the particles of a body of matter – and is not a type
of energy.
 JOULE - The force of one newton acting to move an object
through the distance of one meter.
 SPECIFIC HEAT – The quantity of heat needed to raise
the temperature of one gram of any substance one degree
Celsius. (It takes 4.18 joules to raise the temperature of one
gram of liquid water one degree Celsius).
o Water has a high specific heat. Therefore water takes
a long time to heat up and also takes a long time to
cool down.
NYS DEPT OF EDUCATION
7. HEAT ENERGY AND CHANGES OF STATE
A. TYPES OF CHANGE OF STATE
 MELTING – The changing of a solid to a liquid.
 SOLIDIFICATION (FREEZING) – The changing of a
liquid to a solid. If solidification results in a solid with an
ordered pattern of atoms, the process is crystallization.
 EVAPORATION/VAPORIZATION – The changing of a
liquid to a gas or vapor.
 CONDENSATION – The changing of a gas, or vapor, to a
liquid.
 SUBLIMATION – The changing of ice directly to gas or
vapor. (without going through a liquid state).
 DEPOSITION – The changing of gas or vapor directly to
ice. (without going through a liquid state).
LATENT HEAT:
The quantity of heat absorbed or released by a substance undergoing a
change of state, such as ice changing to water or water to steam, at
constant temperature and pressure (also called “hidden heat”). During
this phase change, even though energy is being added, the temperature
of the material does not change. It is stored.
During a change in state the heat energy is used to change the bonding
between the molecules. In the case of melting, added energy is used to
break the bonds between the molecules. In the case of freezing, energy
is subtracted as the molecules bond to one another. These energy
exchanges are not changes in kinetic energy. They are changes in
bonding energy between the molecules. Therefore the temperature does
not change.
kentchemistry.com
Latent
heat
Latent heat
PRENTICE HALL
NYS DEPT OF EDUCATION
8. SOLAR ENERGY
The energy for some of Earth’s processes comes from the interior
(from nuclear decay). However, MOST of the energy Earth needs
comes from the SUN’S electromagnetic radiation.
NOTES:
 The sun radiates, or gives off, and Earth receives a wide range
of electromagnetic energy of various wavelengths.
 Of all the types of electromagnetic radiation from the sun, the
one with the greatest intensity is VISIBLE LIGHT.
 Solar energy is produced by nuclear fusion.