1. Physical Features and Processes 7th Grade September 5, 2013

2. Physical Processes inside the Earth Geographers study the Earth´s structure to understand events that happen on it. Continents are unique because of their landforms, mountains, hills, plateaus, and plains.

3. Landforms Are shapes or types of land.

4. Types of Landforms Mountains: are landforms that rise usually more than 2,000 feet above sea level. They are wide at the bottom and rise steeply to a narrow peak. Hills: are lower and less steep than mountains.

5. Plateau: is a large, elevated piece of flat land. Plains: are large areas of flat or gently rolling land. Many are along coasts, while others are in the interior.

6. Pangaea: The Supercontinent Geographers theorize that at one time the Earth had only one huge landmass called Pangaea. They think Pangaea split into pieces and began to pull apart, with the piecs forming our continents.

7. Geographers explain the movement of continents with a theory called plate tectonics. According to this theor, the outer skin of the Earth, called the crust, is broken into huge pieces called plates. Pangaea: The Supercontinent

8. Weathering Is a process that breaks rocks down into tiny pieces. Things that cause weathering: 1.Wind 2.Rain 3.Ice

9. Erosion A process by which water, wind, or ice wears away ladforms and carries the material to another place. Weathering and erosion slowly create new landforms.

10. Air and Water: Natural Resources Needed for Life The Earth is sorrounded by a thick layer of special gases called the atmosphere. It provides life-giving oxygen for people and animals. The atmosphere also acts like a blanket, it hold in the right amount of heat from the sun, making life possible.

11. The Water Cycle

12. Questions 1. What are landforms? 2. Which are the types of landforms? Explain them. 3. What was Pangaea? 4. What are plates? 5. What is weathering? 6. What is erosion? 7. What is atmosphere?