Download B. - Earth Science

-presents-
The Nature
Of
Science
Teacher: Mr. Stephen N. Clontz, M. Ed
[email protected]
1.1 Earth Science
Earth Science can be broken down into four major
areas of specialization.
1- Astronomy
2- Meteorology
3- Geology
4- Oceanography
1.1 Earth Science
Astronomy – The study of objects beyond Earth’s
atmosphere.
Meteorology – The branch of Earth Science
that studies the air that surrounds our planet.
Geology - The study of the materials that make up
Earth and the process that form and change these
materials.
Oceanography - The study of the Earth’s oceans which
cover nearly 3/4ths of our planet.
Earth Science
The Scope of Earth Science
Table 1-1 Some Subspecialties of Earth Science
Subspecialty
Subjects Studied
Climatology
Patterns of weather over a long period of
time; effects of human activities on
weather and climate
Paleontology
Remains of organisms that once lived on
Earth; ancient environments
Hydrology
Water flow on and below Earth’s surface;
sources of and solutions to water pollution
Earth Science
The Scope of Earth Science
Table 1-1 Some Subspecialties of Earth Science
Subspecialty
Subjects Studied
Ecology
Habitats of organisms and how organisms
interact with each other and their
environments
Geochemistry
Earth’s composition and the processes
that change it
Tectonics
Effects of internal processes on Earth’s
surface, including earthquakes and
mountain building
CORE
Earth Science
Earth’s Systems
• Scientists who study Earth have identified four main
Earth systems: the lithosphere, the hydrosphere,
the atmosphere, and the biosphere.
1. The Lithosphere
– Earth’s lithosphere is the rigid outer shell of the planet and
includes the crust and the solid, uppermost part of the layer
below the crust, the mantle.
– There are two kinds of crust: continental crust,
made mostly of granite, and oceanic crust which is
primarily basalt.
Earth Science
Earth’s Systems
1. The Lithosphere
– Some of Earth’s upper mantle behaves like a rigid solid
while other parts of this layer are partially molten and flow
like a soft plastic.
– This partially molten layer of the mantle is the
asthenosphere.
– Beneath Earth’s mantle is the core, which can be
divided into two parts:
– an outer, liquid part and a solid, inner part.
Earth’s core and asthenosphere are not parts of the
lithosphere but they do interact with it.
Earth Science
Earth’s Systems
2. The Hydrosphere
– The hydrosphere consists of the water in Earth’s
oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and glaciers, as well as
the water in the atmosphere.
– About 97 percent of Earth’s water exists as
salt water; the remaining 3 percent is
freshwater contained in glaciers, in lakes
and rivers, and beneath Earth’s surface as
groundwater.
Earth Science
Earth’s Systems
3. The Atmosphere
– The atmosphere is the blanket of gases
that surrounds our planet.
– Earth’s atmosphere is necessary for respiration by
most living things, protects Earth’s inhabitants
from harmful radiation from the Sun, and helps to
keep the planet at a temperature suitable for life.
Earth Science
Earth’s Systems
4. The Biosphere
– The biosphere includes all organisms on
Earth as well as the environments in which
they live.
– With some exceptions, most organisms exist
within a few meters of Earth’s surface.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Investigations
In order to bring organization to
investigations, many scientist use a
particular method….called the
scientific method.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Investigations
State the problem
Gather Information
Form a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis
Analyze Data
Draw Conclusions
Hypothesis not
supported
Hypothesis is
supported
1.2 The Methods of Science
Investigations
State the problem: Involves asking “how” or “why”.
Gathering Information: Seek out information that
others may have documented in order to better
help you understand the nature of what you’re
interested in.
Forming a hypothesis: A hypothesis is a possible
explanantion for a problem (based upon what you
know and what you’ve observed).
1.2 The Methods of Science
Investigations
Testing a hypothesis: A hypothesis can be tested in
many ways such as, making observations, building a
model, or conducting an experiment.
An experiment test the effect of
one thing on another using
controlled conditions.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Experimental Conditions - Variables
Most experiments contain at least
two variables.
A variable is a quantity that can
have more than one value.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Experimental Conditions - Variables
You could set up an experiment to
determine which of three possible
fertilizers helps plants to grow the
biggest.
Remember: Before you begin your test,
you need to think of all the factors that may
cause plants to grow bigger. Can you name
some?
1.2 The Methods of Science
Experimental Conditions - Variables
Remember: Before you begin your test, you
need to think of all the factors that may cause
plants to grow bigger. Can you name some?
Plant type
The amount of sunlight
Amount of water
Room Temperature
Type of Soil
Type of Fertilizer
In this experiment, the amount of growth is the
dependent variable because it’s value changes according
to the changes in the other variables.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Experimental Conditions - Variables
Remember: Before you begin your test, you
need to think of all the factors that may cause
plants to grow bigger. Can you name some?
Plant type
The amount of sunlight
Amount of water
Room Temperature
Type of Soil
Type of Fertilizer
To make sure you’re only testing the effect of the fertilizer,
you have to keep the other conditions the same for all
plants. These conditions that remain the same are called
“constants”.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Experimental Conditions - Variables
Remember: Before you begin your test, you
need to think of all the factors that may cause
plants to grow bigger. Can you name some?
Plant type
The amount of sunlight
Amount of water
Room Temperature
Type of Soil
Type of Fertilizer
Since the three plants receive only a different type of
fertilizer, the fertilizer becomes our independent variable.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Experimental Conditions - Variables
Remember: Before you begin your test, you
need to think of all the factors that may cause
plants to grow bigger. Can you name some?
Plant type
The amount of sunlight
Amount of water
Room Temperature
Type of Soil
Type of Fertilizer
You may opt to use a fourth plant that has NO fertilizer in
order to compare the effects of plant 1, plant 2, and
plant 3 to the unfertilized plant. The unfertilized plant is
called a “control”.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Experimental Conditions - Variables
Remember: Before you begin your test, you
need to think of all the factors that may cause
plants to grow bigger. Can you name some?
Plant type
The amount of sunlight
Amount of water
Room Temperature
Type of Soil
Type of Fertilizer
A “control” in an experiment is standard that can be used
for comparison. The control lets us know if our
independent variable really has an effect on the
dependent variable.
1.2 The Methods of Science
Measurement
Remember:
Measurements consist of a number and a unit.
example: 10 grams
Today most scientist use a modern day version of
the metric system to record measurements.
This system is called the SI system.
SI = Systeme International d’Unites
1.2 The Methods of Science
Quantity
Definition
The distance between two
points.
The amount of matter in
An object.
The gravitational force on
an object
The amount of surface
within a set of boundaries
The amount of space an
object occupies
The amount of matter that
occupies a given space
The interval between two
events.
The average vibrations of
particles in matter.
Unit
meter
(m)
kilogram
(kg)
Newton
(N)
square meters
(m2)
cubic meters
(m3)
(g/cm3)
seconds
(s)
Degrees Celsius
(oC)
1.2 The Methods of Science
Measurement
Using your Computer:
Go to the following website,
www.sciencegeek.net and click on the
self contained powerpoint for scientific
notation. Read through the short
presentation and practice these online
excercises.
1.3 Communicating in Science
Communication Results
Both models and graphs help scientist
predict and explain their ideas and
observations (as recorded in their data).
1.3 Communicating in Science
Models and Graphs
Graphs
– A line graph is a visual display
that shows how two variables are
related.
– The independent variable is
plotted on the horizontal (x)
axis.
– The dependent variable is
plotted on the vertical (y) axis.
y axis
x axis
1.3 Communicating in Science
Scientific Theories and Laws
A scientific theory is an explanation bases on the
knowledge we gain from many observations that
have supported a hypothesis.
Remember: Some theories accepted today may
be discarded in the future as new information
emerges. The old theory about heat being a fluid
that made objects gain weight as they got hotter
was at one time an accepted theory…..but is now
considered hogwash!
1.3 Communicating in Science
Scientific Theories and Laws
A scientific law is a statement that explains what
happens in nature and appears to be true ALL the
time.
Note: Scientific Laws however do NOT explain
why something happens…..they just tell you that
it will happen.
An example of a scientific law is the law of gravity.
Earth Science
Section Assessment
1. Match the following terms with their definitions.
C geology
___
D oceanography
___
B meteorology
___
___
A astronomy
A. the study of objects beyond
Earth’s atmosphere
B. the study of the air that
surrounds Earth
C. the study of the materials that
make up Earth and the
processes that form and
change these materials
D. the study of Earth’s oceans
Earth Science
Section Assessment
2. Which subspecialties of Earth science would
apply to the following subjects?
Tectonics Earthquakes along the San Andreas fault
_____________
Paleontology Effects of climatic change on dinosaurs
_____________
Hydrology Water flow into the Ogallala aquifer
_____________
Ecology
_____________
The effects of logging on the Spotted Owl
Climatology Long term weather patterns in New England
_____________
Earth Science
Section Assessment
3. Identify whether the following statements are
true or false.
______
false
The asthenosphere is part of the lithosphere.
______
true
You are part of the biosphere.
______
true
Less than 5% of Earth’s water is fresh water.
______
false
The Earth’s biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are
independent systems.
Methods of Scientists
Section Assessment
1. Match the following terms with their definitions.
___
D hypothesis
B independent variable
___
A dependent variable
___
C control
___
A. factor in an experiment that can
change if the factor that is
manipulated by the experimenter
is changed
B. factor that is manipulated by the
experimenter in an experiment
C. standard for comparison in an
experiment
D. suggested explanation for an
observation often stated in the
form of a question that can be
answered by the results of an
experiment
Methods of Scientists
Section Assessment
2. Match the following SI units with the type of
measurement.
___
D Second (s)
___
E Kelvin (K)
C Newton (N)
___
B Meter (m)
___
A Kilogram (kg)
___
A.
mass
B.
length
C.
weight
D.
time
E.
temperature
Methods of Scientists
Section Assessment
3. Express the following numbers in
scientific notation.
96,000,000,000
9.6 X 1010
_____________
0.000037
3.7 X 10-5
_____________
7,234,000
7.234 X 106
_____________
0.001
1 X 10-3
_____________
5,284,200,000,000
5.2842 X 1012
_____________
Communicating in Science
Section Assessment
1. Match the following terms with their definitions.
C theory
___
A model
___
B law
___
A.
an idea, a system, or mathematical
expression that is similar to the idea
being explained
B.
a basic fact that describes the
behavior of a natural phenomenon
C.
an explanation based on many
observations during repeated
experiment
Communicating in Science
Section Assessment
2. On a line graph, what is plotted on the horizontal
(x) axis?
The independent variable is plotted on
the horizontal (x) axis.
3. On a line graph, what is plotted on the
vertical (y) axis?
The dependent variable is plotted on
the vertical (y) axis.
Chapter Assessment
Multiple Choice
1. Which branch of Earth science studies the air
that surrounds our planet?
a. astronomy
c. geology
b. meteorology
d. oceanography
Astronomy is the study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere; geology is the
study of the materials that make up Earth and the processes that form and
change these materials; and oceanography is the study of Earth’s oceans.
Chapter Assessment
Multiple Choice
2. Which subspecialty of Earth science studies
water flow on and below Earth’s surface?
a. climatology
c. ecology
b. tectonics
d. hydrology
Climatology studies patterns of weather over a long period of time; tectonics
studies the effects of internal processes on Earth’s surface; and ecology studies
habitats of organisms and how organisms interact with each other and their
environment.
Chapter Assessment
Multiple Choice
3. The asthenosphere is part of the _____.
a. lithosphere
c. mantle
b. hydrosphere
d. atmosphere
The asthenosphere is the partially molten layer in the upper mantle. This is below
the lithosphere which is the rigid outer shell of Earth. The hydrosphere is the
water on the surface of Earth and in the atmosphere. The atmosphere is the
blanket of gases surrounding Earth.
Chapter Assessment
Multiple Choice
4. A(n) _____ is used in an experiment to show that
the results of an experiment are actually a result
of the condition being tested.
a. control
c. dependent variable
b. independent variable d. hypothesis
The independent variable in an experiment is the factor that is manipulated by
the experimenter. A dependent variable is a factor that can change if the
independent variable is changed. A hypothesis is a suggested explanation for an
observation.
Chapter Assessment
Multiple Choice
5. The SI unit of mass is the _____.
a. m
c. kg
b. N
d. K
The meter (m) is the SI unit to measure length; the newton (N) is the SI unit to
measure weight; and in SI, temperature is measured on the Kelvin (K) scale.
Chapter Assessment
Conversion
7. Complete the following SI conversions.
.1
100 mm
_______
m
50,000 g
50 kg
_______
.287 L
287 mL
_______
2,300 m
2.3 km
_______
3
3
3,000
30 m
_______ cm
14
14 cm3
_______
mL
Chapter Assessment
True or False
8. Identify whether the following statements are
true or false.
false A scientific theory is a basic fact that describes
______
the behavior of a natural phenomenon.
true
______
Scientific methods are not rigid, step-by-step
outlines to solve problems.
true
______
A paleontologist would study the composition of
the ancient atmosphere.
false Earth’s atmosphere is about 78% oxygen.
______