Chapter 1.1 Notes – Earth Science
(pg. 6 – 9)
Learning Targets: students should be able to:
1) Compare the areas of study within Earth Science (branches).
2) Explain the relationships among Earth’s systems (spheres).
Area Of Study
Definition
Subjects Studied
Definition
Topics Covered
Astronomy
Meteorology
Geology
Oceanography
Environmental
Science
Earth System
Geosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
1) Explain why it is helpful to identify specialties of Earth Science.
2) What do you think has been the human impact on each of Earth’s systems?
3) Describe an item you use on a daily basis that has come from research in Earth Science.
EARTH SCIENCE IN-CLASS ACTIVITY
Name: ________________________ Block: ______
BRANCHES OF EARTH SCIENCE
Directions: On the line provided, write the branch of science that the topic fits with. Some may have more than
one correct answer. (Oceanography, Meteorology, Astronomy, Geology)
____________________1.
____________________2.
____________________3.
____________________4.
____________________5.
____________________6.
____________________7.
____________________8.
____________________9.
____________________10.
____________________11.
____________________12.
____________________13.
____________________14.
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____________________25.
The Challenger Deep is the deepest part of any of the oceans. It is 36,204 feet deep,
or 6.89 miles. Mount Everest, 5.53 miles high, could fit inside with room to spare!
The San Andreas Fault in California will NOT cause California to break off into the
ocean.
When Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980, 84 year old Harry R. Truman died because he
refused to leave the mountain.
The Hale-Bopp comet was first discovered in July of 1995 and is probably the most
observed comet.
Pennsylvania’s state fossil is the phacops rana which is a type of Trilobite.
The oceans of the Earth contain about 97% of all the water on Earth.
Earth is unique because water exists in 3 forms: Solid, Liquid, and Gas.
The “surf” is the “turf” of this branch of science.
The end of the Cretaceous period is marked by the extinction of many animals,
including the dinosaur.
Almost all of the Ozone in the atmosphere is concentrated in the Stratosphere.
The Law of Superposition states that the rock layer on the bottom is older than the
rock layer above it.
The lower the barometric (air) pressure is, the worse the weather will be.
Graphite (pencil lead) and Diamonds have the same chemical formula but diamonds
are formed at greater temperatures and pressures.
The Horse Latitudes are named this because ships would get stranded from lack of
wind and would throw the horses overboard to conserve food and water for the crew.
In 2006 Pluto was demoted from planet to dwarf planet.
Pangaea is the name for the supercontinent that existed 250 million years ago and
later broke apart to form the 7 continents we have today.
78% of the atmosphere is Nitrogen. Only 21% is Oxygen!
The Great Barrier Reef, measuring 2,300 km in length, is the largest living structure
on Earth and can be seen from space!
SCUBA stands for self contained underwater breathing apparatus.
Giant cockroaches and dragonflies were common insects during the Carboniferous
period and were much larger then than they are today.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in the U.S was–79.8°F (rounded off to –80°F)
that was observed at Prospect Creek Camp in northern Alaska on Jan. 23, 1971.
The Sun is the largest object in the solar system, and constitutes over 99 percent of
the solar system’s mass.
Earth's longest mountain range is the Mid-Ocean Ridge which is underwater and
more than 50,000 km in length!
The Lunar Module from the Apollo missions required less computer power to land on
the moon than today's average cell phone!
Coal is formed from the remains of plants in swampy areas.
Chapter 1.2 – Methods of Science
(Pages 10 – 13)
Learning Targets: students should be able to:
1) Compare and contrast independent and dependent variables.
2) Explain the steps of the scientific method and how it is used in scientific investigations.
Scientific Method –
Problem –
Hypothesis –
Experiment –
Independent Variable –
Dependent Variable –
Control –
Analysis / Conclusions –
Bias -
Name _____________________________________________________________ Hour _______
Scientific Method Worksheet
SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom pals have been busy doing a little research. Read the
description for each experiment and answer the questions.
1 - Patty Power
Mr. Krabbs wants to make Bikini Bottoms a nicer place to live. He has created a new sauce that he thinks will
reduce the production of body gas associated with eating crabby patties from the Krusty Krab. He recruits 100
customers with a history of gas problems. He has 50 of them (Group A) eat crabby patties with the new sauce. The
other 50 (Group B) eat crabby patties with sauce that looks just like new sauce but is really just mixture of
mayonnaise and food coloring. Both groups were told that they were getting the sauce that would reduce gas
production. Two hours after eating the crabby patties, 30 customers in group A reported having fewer gas
problems and 8 customers in group B reported having fewer gas problems.
Which people are in the control group?
What is the independent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
What should Mr. Krabs’ conclusion be?
Why do you think 8 people in group B reported feeling better?
2 – Slimotosis
Sponge Bob notices that his pal Gary is suffering from slimotosis, which occurs when the shell develops a nasty
slime and gives off a horrible odor. His friend Patrick tells him that rubbing seaweed on the shell is the perfect
cure, while Sandy says that drinking Dr. Kelp will be a better cure. Sponge Bob decides to test this cure by rubbing
Gary with seaweed for 1 week and having him drink Dr. Kelp. After a week of treatment, the slime is gone and
Gary’s shell smells better.
What was the initial observation?
What is the independent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
What should Sponge Bob’s conclusion be?
Name ____________________________________
Chapter 1.2 - Measurement
Pg. 13 – 15
Learning Targets: students should be able to:
1) Describe how a standard system of units is used in scientific investigations.
Le System International d’Unites (SI) –
Place the correct units you would use for each measurement.
Type of Measurement
Length
Mass
Weight
Area
Volume
Density
Time
Temperature
Scientific Notation Examples:
Definition
U.S.
Units
Metric
Units
(SI)
Metric Stations
Name_____________________________________
Station #1: Length - At this station measure the length
of each of the objects.
Station #3: Time – Record the time it takes to complete
the various tasks.
Object
Length
Task
Drop a piece of tissue from 1 meter
Time
Drop a pencil from 1 meter
Walk across the room and back
Take 5 steps
Say the alphabet backwards
Average
Average
Station #2: Temperature – At this station record the
temperatures that is displayed on the thermometers.
Station #4: Volume – Calculate the volume of liquids
in the graduated cylinders or the beakers.
Thermometer Number
1
Cylinder / Beaker Number
1
Temperature
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
Average
Average
Volume
Station #5: Density – Calculate the density of each of the blocks using the formula: Density = Mass/Volume.
Block
Number
Mass
Height
Width
Length
Volume
Density
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Earth Science 307
8/12/2012
Chapter 1.3 Notes – Communication in Science
Pages (17 – 19)
Learning Targets: students should be able to:
1) Identify and create the three main types of graphs scientists use to represent data.
Examples:
Line Graph –
Independent Variable Plotted on:
Dependent Variable Plotted on:
Circle Graph (Pie Chart) -
Bar Graph –
Scientific Model –
Scientific Theory –
Scientific Law –
Make and Use Graphs (page 951 – 953)
Using the data on page 951, graph the amount of water vapor in air at various temperatures.
Draw a Best Fit Line after the data has been plotted.
Answer the following practice problems on page 952 & 953:
Practice Problem 3: __________________.
Practice Problem 5:_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________.
Practice Problem 6:
Key: