Earth MME Prep
Time to Rock Your World!
Energy
Almost all of the energy on the earth is
the result of energy received from the
sun in the form of electromagnetic
energy (light, infrared, ultraviolet, etc.)
Plants turn this energy into chemical
energy (food)
Rocks, water, the air all turn this energy
into heat
Heat
This heat energy from results in the
warm temperature (compared to space)
of the earth
Uneven heating results in wind and
weather patterns
??? Time
Light is part of what form of energy
Electromagnetic
Magnetic
Heat
Chemical
Nuclear
??? Time
Light is converted into what form(s) of
energy
Electromagnetic
Magnetic
Heat
Chemical
Nuclear
Heat Transfer
Transfer of heat by contact is know
conduction
When you burn your hand by touching
something hot, it is by conduction
Transfer of heat through heated air or
water is convection
Wood stoves heat the air around them,
then this hot air circulates through the
room to heat you
Transfer of energy through “empty
space” is radiation
Standing next to a camp fire in the winter
heats you by radiation – the air around you
is not hot!!
Electromagnetic energy is transferred by
radiation through truly empty space
Uses of Heat Energy
The uneven heating of the air causes
winds – air moves from high pressure
(usually cold air) to areas of low
pressure (usually warm air)
The wind can be used to generate
electricity
This same cycle happens at a slower
pace in lakes and oceans
Solar Energy
Light and other parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum can be
converted into other forms of energy
A greenhouse helps convert the light
energy into heat and traps the heat in the
building
Photovoltaic cells (solar panels) convert
light energy into electricity
Water Cycle
Solar energy drives the water cycle
Light & heat causes evaporation (liquid water
turns into a gas)
As the air cools, the gaseous water turns back into
liquid – this is condensation
This condensation then falls to the ground as
precipitation – snow, rain, etc.
The precipitation flows along the surface as runoff until it reaches a lake, river, ocean
Water in the lake, pond, etc. then evaporates and
the cycle continues.
??? Time
Solar energy reaches the earth by
Radiation
Convection
Conduction
Light transfer
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Solar energy
Causes the seasons
Causes the weather
Helps make food
Causes volcanoes
Keeps the planet warm
What is the normal order of the water cycle?
condensation, evaporation, precipitation, run-off
precipitation, condensation, evaporation, run-off
evaporation, precipitation, condensation, run-off
evaporation, condensation, precipitation, run-off
Carbon Dioxide
The greenhouse effect traps much of the
solar energy earth receives, causing an
increase in the average temperature of the
earth
Global warming does not necessarily mean all
areas of the earth are warmer all of the time
Global warming can cause larger differences
in air temperature, causing more intense or
different weather conditions
Carbon dioxide is NOT bad!!!
All plants need carbon dioxide to create
food and oxygen
Releasing more carbon dioxide into the
air than plants can use is the problem
Carbon dioxide is also stored in the
earth as minerals (calcium carbonate)
and in water
Cycles
Just like water has a cycle, many other
gases – including carbon dioxide,
oxygen, and nitrogen – have cycles
The oxygen and carbon dioxide cycles
overlap
Oxygen Cycle
Oxygen is released from plants
Oxygen is used by animals (like us) and
we create carbon dioxide (carbon and
oxygen)
Carbon dioxide is used by plants and
oxygen is created and released
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air we
breath
Plants use nitrogen to make the plant
structure (stem, leaves, etc.)
Animals eat the plants and use the nitrogen
to produce proteins
Animals die, releasing the nitrogen to the
ground for plants or back into the air
Solid Ground?
The ground we stand on is the crust of the
earth
Under the crust is a layer of magma (molten
rock, thick like peanut butter) known as the
mantle
Inside the mantle is the outer core (liquid iron
and nickel)
Inside the outer core is the inner core (solid
iron and nickel)
Unstable ground
The crust we stand on floats on the mantle
This means that pieces, or plates, can bump
into each other or pull away
Two plates bumping into each other is called
convergence
Two plates pulling away is called divergence
Two plates sliding along each other is called
Transform Boundary
Crashing Plates
When plates converge one plate may
slide under the other. This is known as
subduction.
Sometimes, when two plates collide,
they push each other up and form
mountain ranges
Shaking Ground
When plates slide against one another,
or a portion of a plate buckles or breaks
due to pressure, an earthquake
happens
Waves
Earthquakes create waves that travel
through the earth (body waves) or on the
top (surface waves)
Body waves are P and S waves. P waves
travel everywhere, S waves can not travel
through the liquid outer core
Surface waves are what shake the ground
and cause the damage
Types of Rocks
Rocks formed by cooling of molten rock are
known as igneous rocks – they come from
the mantle
Rocks formed by layers of sand and debris
(sediment) eventually pressing together are
sedimentary rocks – most fossils are formed
in sedimentary rocks
Rocks formed by heat and pressure in the
crust (don’t get hot enough to melt) are
metamorphic rocks
Rock cycle
Once a rock is formed, it is not necessarily
going to stay that type of rock forever
The igneous mountain ranges get warn by
rains and pieces wash into the oceans where
they will form sedimentary rocks
If sedimentary rocks get subducted, they can
either change into metamorphic or igneous
rocks