1. The Nature of Science
Chapter 1
Pg.4-27

2. Earth Science Sec. 1.1 OBJECTIVES:
1. COMPARE THE AREAS OF STUDY WITHIN
EARTH SCIENCE
2. IDENTIFY EARTH’S SYSTEMS.
3. EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG
EARTH’S SYSTEMS.
4. EXPLAIN WHY TECHNOLOGY IS
IMPORTANT.

3. The Scope of Earth Science
1. Astronomy: ~ The study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere ~ Study the universe, galaxies, stars, planets, meteors, asteroids, aliens ~ describe the locations of objects in space in relation to each other ~ astronauts, space center, satellite stations

4. The Scope of Earth Science
2. Meteorology: ~ The study of the forces and processes that cause the atmosphere to change and produce weather ~ Forecast the weather ~ How changes in weather over time can affect climate ~ Chasing the weather ~ Going to the coastal city that is about to be smacked by a hurricane

5. The Scope of Earth Science
3. Geology: ~ The study of the materials that make up Earth ~ Processes that form and change these materials ~ History of the planet and its life-forms science its origin. ~ Identify rocks ~ Study glacial movements ~ Determine how forces change our planet ~ Dig sites, mines, underground, canyons

6. The Scope of Earth Science
4. Oceanography: ~ The study of Earth’s oceans, which cover nearly 3/4ths of the planet ~ Study the creatures inhabiting the salt H2O ~ Measure the different chemical and physical properties of the oceans ~ Divers, go to the water

7. The Scope of Earth Science
5. Environmental science: ~ The study of the interactions of organisms and their surroundings. ~ How living life forms affect the environment ~ natural resources, pollution, alternative energy sources ~ Impact of humans on the atmosphere

8. The Scope of Earth Science
***Subspecialties: ~ The study of our plant is a broad endeavor, and as such each of the five major areas of Earth science consists of a variety of subspecialties ~ Examples: pg.7 Table 1.1

9. 4 Main Earth Systems
1. Geosphere: ~ The area from the surface of Earth down to its center. ~ Divided into 3 main parts: a. Crust – rigid outer shell of Earth - continental crust and oceanic crust b. Mantle – just below the crust - differs from crust by composition and behavior - Temp from 100° C – 4000° C c. Core – below the mantle (made of solid Iron)

10. Continental
Oceanic
Outer Core
Inner Core
Crust
Mantle
Core
Earth

11. Earth’s Systems Cont.
2. Atmosphere: ~ The blanket of gases that surrounds our planet ~ Clouds; gases and liquids ~ Contains 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen, and 1% water vapor, argon, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases. ~ Protection from harmful radiation from the Sun (blocks UV {ultra-violet} radiation) ~ Keeps planet temp suitable for life

12. Earth’s Systems Cont.
3. Hydrosphere: ~ All the water on Earth, including the water in the atmosphere. ~ 97% Salt water ~ 3% Fresh water (glaciers, lakes, and rivers) and ground water…only a fraction of water is found in lakes and rivers

13. Earth’s Systems Cont.
4. Biosphere: ~ Includes all organisms on Earth as well as the environments in which they live ~ All life forms require interaction with at least 1 other system ~ Most organisms live within a few meters of Earth’s surface but some exist deep beneath the ocean’s surface

14. Earth’s Systems Cont.
All of Earth’s life-forms require interaction with at
least one of the other systems for their survival.
Ex: Figure 1.4 pg. 9
Earth’s present atmosphere formed millions of years ago through interactions with the geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Organisms in the biosphere, including humans, continue to change the atmosphere through their activities and natural processes.

15. Methods of Scientists Sec 1.2
OBJECTIVES:
1. COMPARE AND CONTRAST INDEPENDENT
AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES
2. COMPARE AND CONTRAST
EXPERIMENTATION AND INVESTIGATION.
3. IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
MASS AND WEIGHT.
4. EXPLAIN WHAT SCIENTIFIC NOTATION IS
AND HOW IT IS USED.

16. ????????????????????????????????? Scientific Method
????????????????????????????????

17. What is the scientific method?
It is a process that is used to find
answers to questions about the world
around us.

18. Is there only one “scientific method”?
NO, there are several versions of the scientific
method. Some versions have more steps, while
others may have only a few. However, they all
begin with the identification of a problem or a
question to be answered based on observations of
the world around us & provide an organized
method for conducting & analyzing an experiment.

19. ??? What is a hypothesis? It is an educated guess based on
observations & your knowledge of the
topic.
???

20. What is data?
It is information gathered during an
experiment.

21. with” or “manipulating” Ex: Gum
Independent Variable
~ What is being changed
~ What I am “tinkering
with” or “manipulating”
Ex: Gum

22. ~ What is being measured ~ “Measured change” Ex: Test Scores
Dependent Variable
~ What is being measured
~ “Measured change”
Ex: Test Scores

23. ~ The comparison is being made to them. ~ Does NOT receive the IV.
Control Group
~ Stays the same
~ The comparison is being made to
them.
~ Does NOT receive
the IV.

24. ~ The group that the change is occurring to ~ Receives the IV
Experimental Group
~ The group that the change is
occurring to
~ Receives the IV

25. Control Group Experimental Group
Doesn’t receive IV
Experimental Group
Receives the IV
Setting
Temp
Test
Pencils
Lighting
Desks
Setting
Temp
Test
Pencils
Lighting
Desks
Constants
Constants

26. All the elements in the experiment that do not change
Controlled Variables
All the elements in the experiment
that do not change

27. Y - axis
DV –
Dependent Variable
X -axis
IV – Independent Variable

30. Measurement
Force Length Mass Area Newtons Meter (m) gram (g) Square m (m²) Volume Density Time Temp (m³) (g/m³) sec. K, °C, °F Liters (L)

31. Scientific Notation
Shorthand; a number is expressed as a value between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10
The power of 10 is the number of places the decimal point must be shifted so that only a single digit remains to the left of the decimal point
If the decimal point must be shifted to the left, the exponent of 10 is positive
Ex: 4,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 = 4 x 10²¹
Ex: 5,974,200,000,000,000,000,000,000 = x 10²⁴
If the decimal point in a number must be shifted to the right, the exponent of 10 is negative
= 1 x 10 -¹º

32. Communication in Science Sec 1.3
OBJECTIVES:
1. EXPLAIN WHY PRECISE COMMUNICATION
IS CRUCIAL IN SCIENCE.
2. COMPARE AND CONTRAST SCIENTIFIC
THEORIES AND SCIENTIFIC LAWS.
3. IDENTIFY WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO
USE A GRAPH OR MODEL.

33. Communicating Results
Many ways to communicate info:
Newspapers, magazines, TV, the Internet, and scientific journals
Even though you may use the same form of communication, your description will be different than your lab partner.
Scientists have the responsibility to truthfully and accurately report their methods and results.
To keep them ethical, a system of peer review is used in which scientists in the same field verify each other’s results and examine procedures and conclusions for bias.
It also allows others to learn of new discoveries and conduct new investigations that build on previous investigations.

34. Communicating Results
Lab reports:
After you conduct Earth science investigations and experiments you will be asked to record and analyze the info that you collect and to draw conclusions based on that data.
Models:
Scientific model – is an idea picture, a system, or a mathematical expression that represents the concept being explained.
Ex: Figure 1.11
Graphs:
By graphing data in a variety of ways, scientists can more easily show the relationships among data sets.
Shows trends in the data
3 types
Line graphs
Circle graphs
Bar graphs

35. Examples: Lab Report Model

36. Graphs Line graphs: Circle graphs (Pie chart): Bar graphs:
A visual display that shows how two variables are related
Independent variable is plotted on the horizontal (x) axis and dependent variable is plotted on the vertical (y) axis
Circle graphs (Pie chart):
To show a fixed quantity
Circle represents the total and the slices represent the different parts of the whole.
Bar graphs:
To represent quantitative data; use rectangular blocks called bars.
Length of bar is determined by the amount of the variable measured and the scale of the bar graph.

37. Line Graphs

38. Circle Graphs (Pie Chart)

39. Bar Graphs

40. Scientific Theory vs. Scientific Law
Ex: Theory of Relativity
Describe the behavior of natural phenomenon
Explanation based on experimentation
Both are involved in scientific investigation
Basic rule of nature Ex: law of Inertia
Scientific Theory
Scientific Law
Make predictions that can be tested
Events are observed to be the same every time
Both are involved w/ observation
Simple explanations
Can be modified w/ new data or new technology
Ex: planets staying in orbit