Welcome to Earth Welcome to Earth Science!Science!

Chapter 1: The Nature Chapter 1: The Nature of Scienceof Science

BIGBIG Idea: Earth Scientists Idea: Earth Scientists use specific methods to use specific methods to investigate Earth and investigate Earth and beyond.beyond.

I.I. What is Earth Science?What is Earth Science?

the study of the Earth and the the study of the Earth and the universe around it…universe around it…

the study of Earth systems and the study of Earth systems and systems in space; including systems in space; including weather and climate systems, weather and climate systems, and the study of nonliving things and the study of nonliving things such as rocks, oceans, and such as rocks, oceans, and planets.planets.

A. The Scope of Earth A. The Scope of Earth Science:Science:

1.1. Astronomy: Astronomy: the study of the study of objects beyond Earth’s objects beyond Earth’s

atmosphere. atmosphere.

The oldest branch The oldest branch of Earth Science.of Earth Science.

2. 2. Meteorology: Meteorology: the study of the study of Earth’s atmosphere.Earth’s atmosphere.

Weather Weather ForecastersForecasters

Tornado ChasersTornado Chasers

3. 3. Geology: Geology: the study of the the study of the origin, history, and structure origin, history, and structure

of Earth.of Earth.

4. 4. Oceanography: Oceanography: the study the study of the life and properties of of the life and properties of

Earth’s oceans.Earth’s oceans. JACQUES COUSTEAU JACQUES COUSTEAU

How much How much of our of our Earth is Earth is covered by covered by OCEANOCEAN water?water?

almost three-fourths!almost three-fourths!

5. 5. Environmental Science: Environmental Science: the study of the interactions the study of the interactions

of organisms and their of organisms and their surroundings.surroundings.

B. Earth’s SystemsB. Earth’s Systems

1.1. GeosphereGeosphere: the area from the : the area from the surface of Earth down to its center.surface of Earth down to its center.

Three main parts:Three main parts:

a)a)CrustCrust

b)b)MantleMantle

c)c) CoreCore Inner coreInner core Outer coreOuter core

2.2. AtmosphereAtmosphere: the blanket of : the blanket of gases that surrounds our gases that surrounds our planet.planet.

3.3. HydrosphereHydrosphere: all the water : all the water on Earth.on Earth.

4.4. BiosphereBiosphere: all organisms on : all organisms on Earth and the environments Earth and the environments in which they live.in which they live.

II. Methods of ScientistsII. Methods of Scientists

Scientific Methods: series Scientific Methods: series of organized problem-of organized problem-solving procedures that solving procedures that help scientists conduct help scientists conduct experiments.experiments.

There are five (5) steps to There are five (5) steps to the the SCIENTIFIC METHODSCIENTIFIC METHOD::

1. State the Problem, or…Ask 1. State the Problem, or…Ask a Question?a Question?

Observation: Observation: use of senses to use of senses to gather information about the gather information about the world.world.

2. Gather Information2. Gather Information

To investigate a problem, one must To investigate a problem, one must gather information…gather information…

Measurement:Measurement: comparing some comparing some aspect of an object with a standard aspect of an object with a standard unit.unit.

• inches, feet, miles ounces, pounds, tonsinches, feet, miles ounces, pounds, tons

3. Form a Hypothesis3. Form a Hypothesis

Hypothesis:Hypothesis: a possible solution a possible solution to a to a problem (an educated problem (an educated guess)guess)

4. Test the Hypothesis4. Test the Hypothesis

Experimentation:Experimentation: procedure procedure carried out to carried out to prove or prove or disprove a disprove a hypothesis.hypothesis.

(a) Independent Variable: (a) Independent Variable: variable that you, the variable that you, the experimenter, changesexperimenter, changes

(b)(b) Dependent Variable:Dependent Variable: variable variable that is affected by changes in that is affected by changes in the independent variable; the independent variable; factor being measured factor being measured ((dependsdepends on the independent on the independent variable)variable)

(c) Constants –(c) Constants – things that never things that never change during the experimentchange during the experiment

Scientific Method Scenario: David read that Fox break pads and Best Break 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 breaks at the same point on the track. David then measured how many feet the car took to stop after the breaks were applied.

 1. The hypothesis was: ____________________________________   2. The effects of the ________________(independent variable) on the __________________________________ (dependent variable).  3. List three constants:

•______________________________________•______________________________________•______________________________________

 

5. State a Conclusion5. State a Conclusion

After many experiments and After many experiments and observations, the hypothesis is observations, the hypothesis is either proved or disproved…either proved or disproved…

Scientific FACT:Scientific FACT:

- a controlled, repeatable and a controlled, repeatable and rigorously verified observationrigorously verified observation

Scientific THEORY:Scientific THEORY:

- an an explanationexplanation based on many based on many observations during repeated observations during repeated investigationsinvestigations

- the best available explanation of a the best available explanation of a phenomenonphenomenon

- a hypothesis that is supported by a hypothesis that is supported by the experimentsthe experiments

- may change with the discovery of may change with the discovery of new datanew data

Scientific LAW:Scientific LAW:

- a theory that is proven every time it a theory that is proven every time it is testedis tested

- describesdescribes the behavior of a natural the behavior of a natural phenomenonphenomenon

- a ‘rule of nature’a ‘rule of nature’- cause of the law may not be knowncause of the law may not be known- describes things; does not explain describes things; does not explain

themthem- accepted based on observations or accepted based on observations or

experimentsexperiments

"Scientific laws are the "Scientific laws are the evidence used to support a evidence used to support a conclusion.  Scientific conclusion.  Scientific theories are our best theories are our best attempts at explaining the attempts at explaining the behavior of the world, in behavior of the world, in ways that can be tested by ways that can be tested by further experiment.  The further experiment.  The facts (the scientific laws) facts (the scientific laws) must convince us that our must convince us that our theory is a good explanation theory is a good explanation for what happened."for what happened."

Meteorite Impact TheoryMeteorite Impact Theory

Explains the extinction of Explains the extinction of the dinosaursthe dinosaurs

Meteorite hit the earth Meteorite hit the earth 65 million years ago65 million years ago

The impact created so The impact created so much dust it blocked out much dust it blocked out the sunthe sun

No sun, no plants…No sun, no plants…almost everything diedalmost everything died

Proof:Proof:

Computer models Computer models Deformed quartz Deformed quartz Iridium around the impact Iridium around the impact sitesite

III. Communication in III. Communication in ScienceScience

lab reportslab reportsgraphsgraphsmodelsmodels