Chapter 3: THE EARTH SYSTEM
Learning Target
Vocabulary Word
Definition
Facts or Examples
system
a group of ______ that
work together to perform
a __________ or produce
a result
There is a _________flow
of ________ through
different parts of the
Earth, like the water
cycle and rock cycle.
energy
the ability to do________
Energy that drives the
Earth system has two
main sources: heat from
the ____and heat
flowing out of Earth as
it________.
atmosphere
relatively ____ envelope
or layer of ________ that
forms Earth’s outermost
layer
78%__________,
21%________, 1% other
gases
geosphere
the _____ core,
_____middle layer and
______outer layer of the
Earth
hydrosphere
all of the Earth’s
________including
_______________ and
_____________________
Lesson 1
I can identify and
describe the main
components of the
Earth system . . .
Surface water: __ % Fresh
water in rivers, lakes,
streams, ponds, and
glaciers, ___% salt water
in oceans.
Symbol/Picture
I can summarize the
effects of
constructive and
destructive forces . . .
biosphere
the parts of Earth that
contain _________
______________
constructive
forces
forces that shape the
land’s surface by
____________ mountains
and other land masses.
Ex. __________ spew lava
that hardens into rock;
___________ can lift up
mountains and rocks.
Destructive
forces
forces that __________
and _________away
landmasses by
___________ or _________.
Ex. ________ – wearing
down and carrying
away of land by water,
_____ or ________.
Lesson 2
I can explain how
geologists learn
about Earth’s inner
structures . . .
rock samples
seismic waves
samples of rock brought
up from _______holes
12.3 km deep or from
volcanoes blasting ____
from 100 km deep.
waves produced
by___________, the speed
& __________ they take
give clues about Earth’s
______________
This is ________ evidence.
This is ________ evidence.
I can identify the
characteristics of
Earth’s crust, mantle,
and core, & describe
how temperature and
pressure change
inside Earth. . .
pressure
a __________ pressing
down on an area
The deeper down inside
Earth, the __________ the
pressure. (Temperature
also increases)
crust
layer of rock that forms
Earth’s ___________ skin
basalt
_______, ________-grained
rock
__________ crust is much
like basalt
granite
_______, ________-grained
rock
_________ crust is much
like granite
mantle
a layer of hot, ________
rock found under the
crust.
About __________ km
thick, made up of layers.
lithosphere
_________ and
uppermost part of the
__________
Strong, hard, rigid rock.
Main elements are
___________ & __________,
varies from 5-40 km for
most areas, up to 80 km
for mountains,
__________on ocean
floor.
asthenosphere
below the ________,
hotter and more
___________
Less rigid area of rock,
can bend
mesosphere
below
the________________,
includes the lower
__________
Hot and more rigid
outer core
layer of molten (melted)
_________ surrounding
the inner core, below
the mantle.
Liquid - 2,558 km thick
inner core
__________ ball of solid
metal (________ &
________)
Radius of ball is 1,222 km
thick.
radiation
transfer of energy that is
carried in
______________rays like
light
Ex. Outside of car gets
hot from sun’s rays
conduction
heat transfer between
materials that are
__________ each other
Lesson 3
I can explain how
heat is transferred . . .
Ex. When you touch the
door handle of the car,
the heat is felt by your
hand.
I can describe
convection currents
in Earth’s mantle . . .
convection
heat transfer by the
movement of a ________
(liquid or ______)
convection
currents
The flow that transfers
________within a fluid.
Heating and cooling a
fluid changed the
__________ and the force
of gravity to cause a
convection current to
have __________.
Ex. When you open the
car door, hot air rushes
out to warm you.
Heat from the core and
mantle cause
___________ currents in
the mantle. Warm rock
______ (____ density) &
cool rock _____
(________ density)
Learning Targets Chapter 3
Lesson 1
I can identify and describe the main components of the Earth system. . .
The Earth system has four main spheres: the _________________________, the _________________, the ______________________m
and the _____________________________.
As a major source of energy for Earth processes, the _______ can be considered part of the Earth system as well.
I can summarize the effects of constructive and destructive forces . . .
Lands are constantly being created and ______________ by competing forces. _________________________ forces shape the
land’s surface by building up ________________________ and other landmasses. _________________________ forces destroy and
wear away landmasses through processes like ___________________ and ________________________.
Lesson 2
I can explain how geologists learn about Earth’s inner structures . . .
Geologists have used two main types of evidence to learn about Earth’s interior: direct evidence from
_________________________________ and indirect evidence from _______________________________.
I can identify the characteristics of Earth’s crust, mantle, and core, and describe how temperature and pressure change
inside Earth . . .
The deeper down inside Earth, the ________________ the pressure. The ______________________ inside Earth _______________ as
depth increases.
The three main layers of the Earth are the ______________________, _____________________ and ____________________. The
________________ is a layer of solid rock that includes dry ______________ and ocean ________________. The ________________ is
about 3,000 km thick and is made of very _________, _____________ rock. The ________________ is mostly _______________ and
nickel. It consists of a _________________ outer core and a _________________ inner core.
Lesson 3
I can explain how heat is transferred . . .
There are three types of heat transfer, _________________________, ___________________________ and
__________________________.
I can describe convection currents in Earth’s mantle . . .
Heating and cooling of a fluid, changes the fluid’s _________________________ and the force of _________________ combine to
set ______________________ ____________________ in motion
Heat from the _____________ and the ________________ itself causes convection currents in the mantle.