Chapter 1:
The World of
Earth Science
Section 1:
Branches of Earth
Science
Geology
• The study of the origin, history, and
structure of the earth and the processes
that shape the earth.
• Geologists specialize in different aspects
of earth:
–Volcanologists – studies volcanoes
–Seismologist – studies earthquakes
–Paleontologist – studies fossils
Oceanography
• Scientific study of the sea.
• Special areas of Oceanography
–Physical Oceanographer
–Biological Oceanographer
–Geological Oceanographer
–Chemical Oceanographer
Special areas of
Oceanography
• Physical Oceanographer – studies
physical features of the ocean such as
waves and currents to see how they affect
weather patterns and aquatic life.
• Biological Oceanographer – studies plants
and animals that live in the ocean.
Special areas of
Oceanography
• Geological Oceanographer – studies and
explores the ocean floor for clues to the
Earth’s history.
• Chemical Oceanographer – studies
amounts and distributions of natural and
human made chemicals in the ocean.
Reading Check:
Describe four
special areas of
oceanography?
Other Branches of
Earth Science
• Meteorology – the scientific study of the
Earth’s atmosphere, especially in relation
to weather and climate.
• Astronomy – the study of the universe.
–Astronomers study stars, asteroids, planets,
and everything in space.
Reading Check:
What do
astronomers study?
Special Branches of Earth
Science
• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Geochemistry
• Geography
• Cartography
Environmental Science
• The study of how humans interact with
the environment.
–Task: to determine how humans affect the
environment.
• Environmental science relies on: geology,
life science, chemistry, and physics to
help preserve Earth’s resources and to
teach others how to use them wisely.
Ecology
• The study of the relationships between
organisms and their surroundings.
–Ecologist – person who studies a community
of organisms and their non-living
environment.
–They work in fields such as – wildlife
management, agriculture, forestry, and
conservation.
Geochemistry
• Combines the studies of geology and
chemistry.
–geochemists – specialize in the
chemistry of rocks, minerals, and soil.
– Can determine: the economic value of the
materials and what the environment was like
when the rocks first formed.
– Also studies: the distribution and effect of
chemicals added to the environment by human
activity.
Geography/Cartography
• Physical geographers – studies the surface
features of Earth.
–Educated in geology, biology, and physics
• Cartographers – make maps of those
features by aerial and satellite photos, and
computer mapping systems.
Reading Check:
What do
cartographers do?
Section Review:
Pg. 11-#’s: 1-7, 9, 11
Section 2: Scientific
Methods in Earth
Science
Reading Check:
How do scientists
learn about the
natural world?
Scientific Methods
• Scientific methods – are a series of steps
that scientists use to answer questions and
solve problems.
– No set procedure, may use all steps or just some,
may repeat steps, use steps in different order.
– Goal of scientific methods: is to come up with
reliable answers and solutions. Also used to gain
insight into the problems they investigate.
Steps to
Scientific
Method
Ask a Question
• Helps focus the purpose of an
investigation.
• Sample question: What kind of dinosaur
did these bones come from?
Form a Hypothesis
• Is a possible explanation or answer to a
question that can be tested.
• Sample hypothesis: based on prior
knowledge, these bones came from a
dinosaur not yet known to scientists.
Test the Hypothesis
• EXPERIMENT.
• Controlled experiment – test only one
factor, or variable, at a time.
–All other variables remain constant.
–*If more than one variable is changed
scientists cannot easily determine which
variable caused the outcome.*
Test the Hypothesis
• Making observations.
• Collecting data and observe nature when
variables cannot be controlled.
• Sample tests: Took measurements of
dinosaur bones, compared measurements
with bones from know dinosaurs. Also
visited museums and talked with other
scientists.
Test the Hypothesis
• Keeping accurate records.
• Clear, honest, and accurate records of
their experiments and observations.
• Presents findings supported by scientific
data.
• Repeat experiments to verify findings.
Analyze the Results
• Finished testing? Analyze results.
• Make graphs and tables to organize and
summarize data.
• Sample analysis: Found that bones did not
match bones of known dinosaur. Bones
were either too large or too different in
shape.
Reading Check:
Why would
scientists create
graphs and tables of
their data?
Draw Conclusions
• Must conclude whether the results
supported the hypothesis.
• If hypothesis is not supported by test-may
repeat investigation to check for errors.
OR ask new questions and form new
hypotheses.
• Sample conclusion: bones were from
unknown dinosaur.
Communicate Results
• Share results and what was learned with
others.
– Writing reports for scientific journals or give
lectures on results.
• Others evaluate evidence-review experimental
procedure, data, and reasoning behind
explanations (part of scientific inquiry)
• Sample of sharing: press conference and
scientific journal.
Reading Check:
Why is it important
for the scientific
community to review
new evidence?
Case Closed?
• Investigation may not be closed.
–New evidence may become available
–Scientist may change hypothesis based on
new evidence
–May have more questions based in original
evidence
• Sample questions: What specific dinosaur
ate? What environment did it live in?
How did it become extinct?
Section Review:
Pg. 17-#’s: 1-6, 8, 9
Section 3: Scientific
Models
Scientific Models
• Used to
Models – a pattern,
understand the
plan, representation,
natural
world.
or description
designed to show the • Explain or analyze
an
object,
system,
structure or workings
or
concept
in
more
of an object, system,
detail.
or concept.
Types of Scientific
Models
• Physical
• Mathematical
• Conceptual
Physical Model
–Looks like the real
object.
Physical model –
model that you can
• Ex. Model
touch.
airplanes, cars,
and dolls
Mathematical Model
• Simple model –
Mathematical model calculate how far a
car will go in an
– made up of
hour.
mathematical
• Complex model –
equations and data.
computers needed to
process information.
Ex. predicting
population growth
in the world
Conceptual Model
Conceptual model – a •
system of ideas or a
comparison with
•
familiar things to help
illustrate or explain
an idea.
Composed of
many hypotheses
Each hypothesis is
supported through
scientific methods.
Ex. big bang theory – explanation
of the structure of the universe.
Reading check:
What is the big bang
theory?
Choosing the Right
Model
Theory – explanation
that ties together
many hypotheses and
observations.
–Explains an
observation but also
predicts what might
happen in the future
Climate Models
Climate models –
used by scientists
who study Earth’s
atmosphere.
–This type of model
is complicated
because there are
many variables that
affect climate.
Reading check: Why
is a climate model
complicated?
Section Review:
Pg. 21-#’s: 1-6, 8, 9
Section 4:
Measurement and
Safety
Using the
International system
of Units (SI)
• Advantage: global measurement system
created for using a standard system of
measurement.
Reading Check:
Why was the
International System
of Units developed?
Length
• Meter – the basic
unit of length in
the SI, symbol
(m).
Length –
scientists use
meters (m) to
measure length. • Ex. Divide 1m
into 100 parts,
each part equals
1cm.
Volume
• Measuring volume
Volume – a
– Boxed-shaped object –
measure of the
lXwXh
size of a body or
– Irregularly shaped
region in threeobject – measuring the
volume of liquid that
dimensional
the
object
displaces.
space. Liters (L)
• Using a graduated
cylinder
Mass
• Kilogram (kg) or
grams (g) are used
to describe the
mass of an object.
Mass – a measure
of the amount of
matter in an
object.
• Ex. 1000g=1kg
Temperature
Temperature – a
measure of how hot • Fahrenheit
or cold something is. (degree F) and
Celsius
(degree
Thermometer –
C).
shows the
relationship between
degrees (F) and
degrees (C).
Area
Area – a
measure of the
size of a
surface or a
region.
• Area is measured
by the
lengthXwidth.
–Units – square
units – square
meters, square
centimeters,
square kilometers.
Density
Density – the
ratio of the mass
of a substance to
the volume of the
substance.
• Density is
measured by the
mass/volume.
• Ex. units – grams
per milliliter and
grams per cubic
centimeter.
Safety Rules
• Always follow your teachers instruction
• Before starting any scientific
investigation, obtain your teacher’s
permission
• Read the lab procedures completely and
carefully before you start
• Pay attention to safety information and
caution statements
Reading Check:
What should you do
before you start a
scientific
investigation?
Section Review:
Pg. 25 - #’s: 1-6
Chapter Review:
Pg. 28 - #’s: 1-14,
16-19