Earth and Space Science 1 (Intro E.S) (1)

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

EARTH SCIENCE • Earth science encompasses five areas of study: • Astronomy, Meteorology, Geology, Oceanography, and Environmental science.

Astronomy • The study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere is called astronomy. • Many ancient astronomers merely described the locations of objects in space in relation to each other. • Today, Earth scientists study the universe and everything in it, including galaxies, stars, planets, and other bodies they have identified.

TEST • What is the study of objects beyond Earth's atmosphere called? A. Meteorology B. Astronomy C. Geology D. Oceanography • Ans : B Astronomy

TEST • What did ancient astronomers do in their study of space? A. Studied the chemical composition of planets B. Conducted experiments on stars C. Described the locations of objects in space in relation to each other D. Used telescopes to observe distant galaxies • Ans : C. Described the locations of objects in space in relation to each other

TEST • What do Earth scientists study in the universe? A. Only planets and their moons B. Only stars and their composition C. Everything in the universeD. Only asteroids and comets • Ans : C. Everything in the universe

Meteorology • The study of the forces and processes that cause the atmosphere to change and produce weather is meteorology. • Meteorologists also try to forecast the weather and learn how changes in weather over time might affect Earth’s climate.

TEST • What is meteorology? A. The study of rocks and minerals B. The study of weather and climate C. The study of ocean currents D. The study of earthquakes • Ans: B. The study of weather and climate

TEST • What do meteorologists try to do? A. Predict earthquakes B. Study ocean life C. Forecast the weather D. Analyze the structure of rocks • Ans: C. Forecast the weather

TEST • What else do meteorologists study besides weather? A. The behavior of animals B. The chemical composition of rocks C. Changes in Earth's magnetic field D. How changes in weather over time might affect Earth's climate • Ans: D. How changes in weather over time might affect Earth's climate

Geology • The study of the materials that make up Earth, the processes that form and change these materials, and the history of the planet and its life-forms since its origin is the branch of Earth science known as geology. • Geologists identify rocks, study glacial movements, interpret clues to Earth’s 4.6-billion-year history, and determine how forces change our planet

TEST • What is the branch of Earth science that studies the materials that make up Earth, the processes that form and change these materials, and the history of the planet and its life-forms since its origin?A. Oceanography B. Meteorology C. Geology D. Astronomy • Ans: C. Geology

TEST • What do geologists do to study the Earth? A. Study animal behavior B. Identify different types of rocks C. Explore the deep sea D. Conduct experiments in space • Ans: B. Identify different types of rocks

TEST • What is the scope of geology? A. The study of space and the universe B. The study of the materials that make up Earth and its history C. The study of the human body D. The study of ocean currents and tides • Ans: B. The study of the materials that make up Earth and its history

Oceanography • The study of Earth’s oceans, which cover nearly three-fourths of the planet, is called oceanography. • Oceanographers study the creatures that inhabit salt water, measure different physical and chemical properties of the oceans, and observe various processes in these bodies of water.

TEST • What fraction of Earth's surface is covered by oceans? A. One-fourth B. Two-thirds C. Three-fourths D. One-half • Ans: C. Three-fourths

TEST • What do oceanographers study? A. The behavior of land animals B. The properties of Earth's atmosphere C. The creatures that inhabit salt water and various ocean processes D. The composition of Earth's crust • Ans: C. The creatures that inhabit salt water and various ocean processes

TEST • Which of the following statements best describes oceanography? A. The study of the stars and planets B. The study of Earth's atmosphere and weather patterns C. The study of Earth's oceans and their properties D. The study of the human body and its functions • Ans: C. The study of Earth's oceans and their properties

Environmental science • The study of the interactions of organisms and their surroundings is called environmental science. • Environmental scientists study how organisms impact the environment both positively and negatively. • The topics an environmental scientist might study include natural resources, pollution, alternative energy sources, and the impact of humans on the atmosphere.

TEST • What does environmental science study? A. The interactions of organisms and their surroundings B. The composition of rocks C. The behavior of human populations D. The properties of light • Ans: A. The interactions of organisms and their surroundings

TEST • Which of the following best defines environmental science? A. The study of the human brain and its functions B. The study of the interactions of organisms and their surroundings C. The study of the planets and stars beyond Earth D. The study of the chemical properties of substances • Ans: B. The study of the interactions of organisms and their surroundings

Subspecialties and Summary

Earth’s Systems

Earth’s Systems • Scientists who study Earth have identified four main Earth systems: Geosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere. • Each system is unique, yet each interacts with the others.

TEST • Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between the four Earth systems? • A) Each system operates independently and has no impact on the others. • B) The systems operate in isolation from one another and do not interact. • C) Each system is unique and operates independently, but they also interact and affect each other. • D) The systems are identical and operate in the same way with no unique features. • Ans: C

Geosphere • The area from the surface of Earth down to its center is called the geosphere. • The geosphere is divided into three main parts: the crust, mantle, and core.

Geosphere • Crust: the rigid outer shell of Earth is called the crust. There are two kinds of crust—continental crust and oceanic crust.

TEST • Which of the following statements accurately describes the difference between continental and oceanic crust? • A) Continental crust is denser than oceanic crust. • B) Oceanic crust is thicker than continental crust. • C) Continental crust is made of heavier elements than oceanic crust. • D) Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust. • Ans: D • Oceanic crust is made of denser materials such as basalt and gabbro

Geosphere • Mantle: Just below the crust is Earth’s mantle. The mantle differs from the crust both in composition and behavior. The mantle ranges in temperature from 100°C to 4000°C — much warmer than the temperatures found in Earth’s crust. • Core: Below the mantle is Earth’s core.

TEST • Which of the following statements accurately describes the difference between Earth's mantle and crust? • A. The mantle is cooler than the crust. • B. The mantle and crust have the same composition. • C. The mantle is thicker than the crust. • D. The mantle is hotter than the crust.

Atmosphere The blanket of gases that surrounds our planet is called the atmosphere.

TEST • What is the layer closest to the Earth's surface called? • A) Thermosphere • B) Mesosphere • C) Stratosphere • D) Troposphere • Ans: D

TEST • In which layer of the atmosphere do most weather phenomena occur? • A) Thermosphere • B) Mesosphere • C) Stratosphere • D) Troposphere • Ans: D

TEST • Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ionosphere? • A. Thermosphere • B. Mesosphere • C. Stratosphere • D. Troposphere • Ans: A

TEST • Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer? • A. Troposphere • B. Stratosphere • C. Mesosphere • D. Thermosphere • Ans: B

Atmosphere • Earth’s atmosphere contains about 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. The remaining 1 percent of gases in the atmosphere include water vapor, argon, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases.

Question • What are the two most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere? • Nitrogen and Oxygen • What is the percentage of nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere? • 78% • What are some of the trace gases found in Earth's atmosphere?

Atmosphere • Earth’s atmosphere provides oxygen for living things, protects Earth’s inhabitants from harmful radiation from the Sun, and helps to keep the planet at a temperature suitable for life.

TEST • Which of the following best describes how Earth's atmosphere protects its inhabitants? • A) It provides a barrier against harmful radiation from the Sun. • B) It generates a magnetic field that shields the planet from radiation. • C) It creates a stable environment for life to thrive. • D) It regulates the temperature of the planet. • Ans: A

TEST • Which of the following options describes the role of Earth's atmosphere in maintaining a suitable temperature for life? • A) The atmosphere reflects harmful radiation from the Sun. • B) The atmosphere absorbs most of the heat from the Sun and warms the planet. • C) The atmosphere traps heat from the planet and keeps it from escaping into space. • D) The atmosphere releases heat into space, keeping the planet cool. • Ans: C

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Hydrosphere • All the water on Earth, including the water in the atmosphere, makes up the hydrosphere. • About 97 percent of Earth’s water exists as salt water, while the remaining 3 percent is freshwater contained in glaciers, lakes and rivers, and beneath Earth’s surface as groundwater. • Only a fraction of Earth’s total amount of freshwater is in lakes and rivers.

TEST • What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by water? • A) 20% • B) 50% • C) 70% • D) 90% • Ans: C

TEST • Which of the following is NOT a type of water body in Earth's hydrosphere? • A) Ocean • B) River • C) Lake • D) Glacier • Ans: D

Some basic facts about Earth's hydrosphere • Oceans make up about 97% of the Earth's water, with the remaining 3% found in freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. • The hydrosphere plays a critical role in regulating the Earth's climate, as water absorbs and releases heat much more slowly than air or land. • Water in the hydrosphere is constantly moving and changing state through the water cycle, which includes processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. • The hydrosphere is home to a wide variety of aquatic organisms, ranging from tiny plankton to massive whales. • Human activities such as pollution, overfishing, and climate change are having significant impacts on the health and well-being of the hydrosphere and the organisms that rely on it.

TEST • What is the term used to describe the movement of water between the atmosphere, land, and oceans? • A) Water cycle • B) Hydrothermal circulation • C) Ocean conveyor belt • D) Seafloor spreading • Ans: A

TEST • Which of the following is NOT a function of Earth's hydrosphere? • A) Regulating the temperature of the planet • B) Providing habitats for aquatic life • C) Distributing oxygen for breathing • D) Producing food for human consumption • Ans: C

TEST • What is the largest ocean on Earth? • A) Pacific Ocean • B) Atlantic Ocean • C) Indian Ocean • D) Southern Ocean • Ans: A

Earth and Space Science 1 (Intro E.S) (1)