Introduction to Earth Science

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Introduction to Earth Science

• Mrs. Bryant

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• There are _____ major areas in Earth Science.
  __________ is the study of space. ____________ is
  the study of the Earths atmosphere.
  ______________ is the study of the Earths
  oceans. The study of Earths surface, materials,
  and processes is ________.

four
Astronomy
Meteorolgy
Oceanography
Geology
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Astronomy

• In astronomy we will study such topics as the sun
  and other stars, planets and other objects in our
  solar system, lunar phases, tides, and eclipses.

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Meteorology

• Here we will take a look at cloud and
  precipitation types, storms such as hurricanes
  and tornadoes, and fronts, pressure systems, and
  weather maps.

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Oceanography

• We will explore our four major oceans, the
  properties of seawater, ocean floor and coastline
  features, ocean sediments, and major ocean
  currents.

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Geology

• Here we tackle a variety of topics including
  minerals and rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes,
  faults and folds, soils, erosion, mountains,
  plate tectonics, and geologic history.

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Earth Systems

• Although we study four branches of earth science,
  there are many interactions between earths
  systems. You are standing on the ______sphere.
  You are breathing in part of the ______sphere.
  If you went to the beach or canoed down the James
  you where visiting the ______sphere. And you and
  all the other living things on earth make up the
  _____sphere.

litho
atmo
hydro
bio
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Scientific Method

• When solving problems scientifically we follow a
  series of steps to avoid wasting time, effort,
  and resources. These steps include
• 1. Defining the ________ (may include research or
  observation)
• 2. Research the problem or question. What has
  been done already?
• 3. Stating a ____________ (explanation of
  observation must be able to be tested)
• 4. _________ the hypothesis (involves measurement
  of one variable at a time)
• 5. Analyzing the _________ (data organized in
  graphs, tables, and charts)
• 6. Drawing _____________ (returning to step 2 as
  needed)
• This is not a rigid, step-by-step outline.

problem
hypothesis
Testing
results
conclusions
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What are the Steps in Scientific Method?
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Vocabulary

• ________- the standard for comparison in an
  experiment.
• _______- all the variables we are not
• testing and trying to keep the same
• ___________________- factor in an experiment that
  may change if the independent variable changes,
  the dependent variable is what is measured
• _____________________- factor that the
  experimenter changes

Control
Constants
Dependent Variable
Independent Variable
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• A student formulated a hypothesis that cotton
  will grow larger bolls (pods) if magnesium is
  added to the soil. The student has two
  experimental fields of cotton, one with magnesium
  and one without.

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What is the independent variable in the
experiment

• magnesium

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What is the control in the experiment?

• The group grown without magnesium.

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What are possible constants in the experiment?

• Amount of water, soil, sunlight.
• Type of Soil
• Temperature

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What would be a possible dependent variable in
the experiment?

• Pod Size