Earth Science

1
This is your introduction to Earth Science

• We will be covering
• Observations/Inferences/Predictions
• Classification
• Mass
• Volume
• Density
• Phases of Matter
• Percent Deviation
• Rate of Change
• Dynamic Equilibrium
• Cyclic/Non-cyclic Changes
• Causes of Pollution

2
Observation
The interaction of your senses with the
environment

• Examples
• The wall is white.
• The rock is round.
• The wind is blowing from the south.

This is something that you see, smell, taste,
hear, touch, or measure.
3
Inference
A conclusion based on observations.
An educated guess.

• Examples
• My bus driver is 59 years old.
• The river is high because it rained up stream.
• The sun will be out tomorrow.

If you have to think, you make an inference.
4
Prediction
An inference that indicates what will happen in
the future.

• Examples
• It will rain tomorrow.
• I will pass this class.

5
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
• To organize observations in a meaningful way.
• To put things in order.
• The see if relationships exist between things.

6
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

7
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
8
Volume
The amount of space an object takes up.
Which object has the most volume?
9
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.
10
Back to density
DM/V
Size does not effect density!!!!!
Two objects made of the same thing have the same
density!!!!! Memorize it!!!
11
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
ccs.
Volume of a liquid
The volume of a liquid is measured from a
graduated cylinder.
The units are milliliters (ml). This is just
like ccs.
12
Phases of Matter
MOST DENSE PHASE
LEAST DENSE PHASE
This is true for all earth materials, except
water!!!!
13
Ice (solid water) floats in liquid water!!!!!!!!!
14
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?
15
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.
16
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.
17
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.
18
Cyclic Changes
Non-Cyclic Changes
A change that does not repeat itself at regular
intervals Cannot be predicted at the exact moment
A change that repeats at regular intervals A
pattern is formed It is predictable

1. Lightning
2. Earthquakes
3. Meteor Impacts

1. Moon Phases
2. Tides
3. Seasons

19
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).