Introductory Notes

Earth Science – a blending of many different sciences, including geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy

Geology – the study of the materials that make up Earth - the study of Rocks

Meteorology – the study of the air that surrounds our planet

Oceanography – the study of Earth’s oceans

Astronomy – the study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere - the study of Space

Earth’s Systems

Lithosphere – rigid outer shell of the planet, including the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle

Hydrosphere – all of Earth’s water, 97% exists as salt water

Most freshwater is contained in glaciers, very little fresh water exists as liquid on the Earth’s surface

Atmosphere – blanket of gases that surround our planet Atmosphere – blanket of gases that surround our planet 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% - H2O(v), argon, CO2, and other gases

Biosphere – all organisms on Earth and the environments they live in, most organisms live within a few meters of the earths surface

Scientific Investigations

Scientific Method – organized approach to solving a problem

Scientific Method – Observation Question Hypothesis Prediction Experiment / Test Analysis Conclusion

Measurements – scientific experiments involve making measurements Measurements – scientific experiments involve making measurements. The System International of Units or SI for short is the standard system of units used

Length – Meter (m) Volume – Liter (l) Weight – Gram (g) Temp – Degrees Celsius (oC)

Common Prefixes kilo = 1000 or 103 centi = 1/100 or 10-2 milli = 1/1000 or 10-3

Scientific Notation – a form of shorthand to express very large and very small numbers

Number will be expressed as a value 0 thru 10 multiplied by a power of 10.

Number less than 1 get a negative power 3. 0 x 10-3 = 0 Number less than 1 get a negative power 3.0 x 10-3 = 0.003 Numbers greater than 1 get a positive power 3.0 x 103 = 3000

Example 1 90,000,000,000m

Answer 1 9.0 x 1010m

Example 2 5,974,200,000,000, 000,000,000kg

Answer 2 5.9742 x 1021kg

Example 3 0.000,000,000,021g

Answer 3 2.1 x 10-11g