This is your introduction to Earth Science
We will be covering:
1. Observations/Inferences/Predictions
2. Classification
3. Mass
4. Volume
5. Density
6. Phases of Matter
7. Percent Deviation
8. Rate of Change
9. Dynamic Equilibrium
10. Cyclic/Non-cyclic Changes
11. Causes of Pollution
Mrs. Degl
1
Observation
The interaction of your senses with the environment
Examples:
1. The wall is white.
2. The rock is round.
3. The wind is blowing from the south.
This is something that you see, smell, taste, hear, touch, or measure.
Mrs. Degl
2
Inference
A conclusion based on observations.
An educated guess.
Examples:
1. My bus driver is 59 years old.
2. The river is high because it rained up stream.
3. The sun will be out tomorrow.
If you have to think, you make an inference.
Mrs. Degl
3
Prediction
An inference that indicates what
will happen in the future.
Examples:
1. It will rain tomorrow.
2. I will pass this class.
Mrs. Degl
4
Classification
The grouping together of objects or
events on the basis of what they
have in common.
Example:
Putting students of similar age in the same grade.
Scientists classify for 3 reasons:
1. To organize observations in a meaningful way.
2. To put things in order.
3. The see if relationships exist between things.
Mrs. Degl
5
Measurement
A means of expressing an observation with great precision.
All measurements involve a quantity (number) and at least one unit.
Basic Units
•A number and one unit.
•Length = m,inch,mile,km
•Mass = gram,pound
•Temperature = degrees C or F
Derived Units
•A combo of 2 or more units
•Velocity = m/hr, km/sec, m/sec
•Density = g/cc
Mrs. Degl
6
Density
The concentration of matter in an object.
How packed the molecules in an object are.
Sort of “how heavy a object is”
NOT VERY DENSE
VERY DENSE
Mrs. Degl
7
Volume
The amount of space an object takes up.
Which object has the most volume?
Mrs. Degl
8
Mass
The amount of matter in an object.
We measure mass on a balance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weight and mass are different.
Weight is the pull of gravity on mass.
Mass units are grams.
Mrs. Degl
9
Back to density…
D=M/V
Size does not effect density!!!!!
Two objects made of the same thing have the same density!!!!!
Memorize it!!!
Mrs. Degl
10
Back to Volume…
Volume of a rectangular object:
V = Length x Width x Height
Volume of a cube:
V = side x side x side
These both share units of centimeters cubed or cc’s.
Volume of a liquid:
The volume of a liquid is measured from a
graduated cylinder.
The units are milliliters (ml). This is
just like cc’s.
Mrs. Degl
11
Phases of Matter
MOST DENSE PHASE
LEAST DENSE PHASE
This is true for all earth materials, except water!!!!
Mrs. Degl
12
Ice (solid water) floats in liquid water!!!!!!!!!
Mrs. Degl
13
Solid water is actually LESS DENSE than liquid water.
Every other substance on earth is different.
Why are these dangerous to ships even if they are not very close?
Mrs. Degl
14
Percent Deviation or Percent Error
The percent deviation formula is very useful in determining the
accuracy of student data.
The accepted value is always the correct value.
Mrs. Degl
15
Rate of Change
The rate of change formula helps us calculate the amount
of change over a certain period of time.
The slope is the average rate of change of a line.
ROC = change in field value
time
The Field Value is always your Y value on a graph.
Mrs. Degl
16
Dynamic Equilibrium
A dynamic equilibrium occurs when two reversible processes
occur at the same rate.
When there is a balance between two opposite reactions, we call that kind of
balance a dynamic equilibrium -- equilibrium because there is a balance,
dynamic because there are changes taking place.
An example of the process can be imagined if a bucket is filled with water and
placed in a small room. The water from the bucket will evaporate, and the air in
the room will start to become saturated with water vapor. Eventually, the air will
be completely saturated with water, and the level of water in the bucket will stop
falling. However, water from the bucket is still evaporating. What is happening is
that molecules of water in the air will occasionally hit the surface of the water and
condense back into the liquid water, and this occurs at the same rate at which
water evaporates from the bucket. This is an example of dynamic equilibrium,
because the rate of evaporation equals the rate of condensation.
Mrs. Degl
17
Cyclic Changes
A change that repeats at
regular intervals
Non-Cyclic Changes
A change that does not repeat itself at
regular intervals
Cannot be predicted at the exact
moment
A pattern is formed
It is predictable
1. Lightning
2. Earthquakes
3. Meteor Impacts
1. Moon Phases
2. Tides
3. Seasons
Mrs. Degl
18
Environmental Change
Pollution of the environment occurs when the concentration of a substance or
form of energy becomes high enough to adversely affect people, their property,
or plant/animal life.
Pollutants are found in the land, in the air and in the water.
Pollution is greatest in highly populated or highly industrialized areas.
Pollutants may be solids, liquids, gases, biologic organisms, or forms of
energy (heat, sound, and nuclear radiation).
Mrs. Degl
19