Welcome to Earth
Science!
Chapter 1: Introduction
to Earth Science
BIG Idea:
Earth Scientists
use specific methods to
investigate Earth and beyond.
I.
What is Earth Science?

the study of the Earth and the
universe around it…

the study of Earth systems and
systems in space; including weather
and climate systems, and the study
of nonliving things such as rocks,
oceans, and planets.
A. The Scope of Earth Science:
1. Astronomy: the study of
objects beyond Earth’s
atmosphere.

The oldest branch of
Earth Science.
2. Meteorology: the study of
Earth’s atmosphere.

Weather
Forecasters

Tornado Chasers
3. Geology: the study of the
origin, history, and structure of
Earth.
The study of SOLID earth.
4. Oceanography: the study of
the life and properties of Earth’s
oceans.

JACQUES COUSTEAU
How
much
of our Earth
is covered
by water?
almost
three-fourths!
Of
that water, how much is
salt water?
about
97%
5. Environmental Science: the
study of the interactions of
organisms and their
surroundings.
B. Earth’s Systems
1.
Geosphere: the area from the
surface of Earth down to its
center.
 Three main parts:
a) Crust
b) Mantle
c) Core
 Inner core
 Outer core
2.
Atmosphere: the blanket of gases
that surrounds our planet.
3.
Hydrosphere: all the water on
Earth.
4.
Biosphere: all organisms on
Earth and the environments in
which they live.
II. Methods of Scientists
 Scientific
Methods: series of
organized problem-solving
procedures that help
scientists conduct
experiments.
 There
are five (5) steps to the
SCIENTIFIC METHOD:
1. State the Problem, or…Ask a
Question?

Observation: use of senses to
gather information about the
world.
What is the difference
between an OBSERVATION
and an INFERENCE?
Observation: receiving knowledge of the
outside world through our senses, or
recording information using scientific tools
and instruments.
 Inference: reasoning involved in drawing
a conclusion or making a logical judgment
on the basis of circumstantial evidence
and prior conclusions rather than on the
basis of direct observation.

How will YOU remember the
difference?
2. Gather Information

To investigate a problem, one must
gather information…

Measurement: comparing some aspect
of an object with a standard unit.
meters, inches, miles
grams, ounces, pounds
3. Form a Hypothesis

Hypothesis: a possible solution or
answer to your problem or question;
MUST be testable!
Can be proven
wrong.
4. Test the Hypothesis
 Experimentation:
procedure carried
out to prove or
disprove a
hypothesis.
(a) Independent Variable: variable
that you, the experimenter,
changes (the manipulated variable)
(b) Dependent Variable: variable
that is affected by changes in the
independent variable; factor being
measured (the responding
variable)
(c) Constants: things that never
change during the experiment
(d) Control: duplicate setup of
the experiment with
everything the same except
the variable you are testing.
5. State a Conclusion
After many experiments and
observations, the hypothesis is either
proved or disproved…
Scientific Method Scenario:
David read that Fox brake pads and Best brake pads were the best on the
market. He always used NAPA pads and believed they performed the best. He
decided to test all three pads and determine which was the best. David used
the same car for each set of pads. He drove 25 mph and applied the brakes at
the same point on the track. David then measured how many feet the car took
to stop after the brakes were applied.
1. The hypothesis: ____________________________________
2. The effects of the ________________(independent variable)
on the __________________________________ (dependent variable).
3. List three constants:
•______________________________________
•______________________________________
•______________________________________
Scientific LAW:
a statement of fact that is believed to be
always true
- STATES and describes behavior of
natural phenomenon, does NOT explain
them
- a ‘rule of nature’
- observable but not explainable
-
EXAMPLES of Scientific Laws:
Law of Inertia
 Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion
 Newton’s Universal Law of
Gravitation

Scientific THEORY:
an explanation based on many
observations during repeated
investigations
- the best available explanation of a
phenomenon
- a hypothesis that is supported by the
experiments
- may change with the discovery of new
data
-
EXAMPLES of Scientific Theories:
Heliocentric Theory
 Theory of Evolution
 Meteorite Impact Theory
 Big Bang Theory

 "Scientific
laws are the evidence
used to support a
conclusion. Scientific theories
are our best attempts at
explaining the behavior of the
world, in ways that can be tested
by further experiment. The facts
(the scientific laws) must
convince us that our theory is a
good explanation for what
happened."
Meteorite Impact Theory
Explains the extinction of the
dinosaurs
Meteorite
hit the earth 65
million years ago
The impact created so much
dust it blocked out the sun
No sun, no plants…almost
everything died
Proof:
Computer
models
Deformed quartz
Iridium around the impact site
III. Communication in Science
lab reports
 graphs
 models
