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Misunderstanding about Island 'Tipping Over' - Guam Congressional Hearing

In a Congressional hearing, Congressman Hank Johnson expressed concern that Guam would "tip over and capsize" with a military troop buildup. This misunderstanding highlights the need for Earth science education and the scientific method.

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Misunderstanding about Island 'Tipping Over' - Guam Congressional Hearing

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  1. In a Congressional hearing of the U.S. Armed Services Committee In March, 2010, elected Congressman from Georgia Hank Johnson, when asking about the potential of a U.S. military troop buildup on the island of Guam, said “I am afraid that the island will become so populated that it will tip over…and capsize.”

  2. In a Congressional hearing of the U.S. Armed Services Committee In March, 2010, elected Congressman from Georgia Hank Johnson, when asking about the potential of a U.S. military troop buildup on the island of Guam, said “I am afraid that the island will become so populated that it will tip over…and capsize.” Admiral Robert Willard replied: “We don’t anticipate that. The Guam population, I think, is currently about 175,000. And again, with 8000 marines and their families, its an addition of about 25,000.”

  3. In a Congressional hearing of the U.S. Armed Services Committee In March, 2010, elected Congressman from Georgia Hank Johnson, when asking about the potential of a U.S. military troop buildup on the island of Guam, said “I am afraid that the island will become so populated that it will tip over…and capsize.” Admiral Robert Willard replied: “We don’t anticipate that. The Guam population, I think, is currently about 175,000. And again, with 8000 marines and their families, its an addition of about 25,000.” What is wrong with this discussion?!?!?

  4. Is this how islands work?

  5. Mariana Volcanic Arc:

  6. Guam bathymetry:

  7. How much Earth science did you have in high school? • None • Some • About a semester (or less) • About a year (or less) • More than a year • Tweet your answer to: • @wueps201 <answer (a,b,c,d, or e)> 189 • e.g., if your answer is (b): @wueps201 b 189

  8. Big Idea #1: Earth scientists use repeatable observations and testable ideas to understand and explain our planet.

  9. Big Idea #2: Earth is 4.6 billion years old.

  10. Big Idea #3: Earth is a complex system of interacting rock, water, air and life. (A SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS!)

  11. Big Idea #4: Earth continuously changing.

  12. Big Idea #5: Earth is the water planet.

  13. Big Idea #6: Life evolves on a dynamic Earth and continuously modifies Earth.

  14. Big Idea #7: Humans depend on Earth for resources.

  15. Big Idea #8: Natural hazards pose risks to humans.

  16. Big Idea #9: Humans significantly alter the Earth.

  17. The Scientific Method • The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments. • The steps of the scientific method are to: • Ask a Question • Do Background Research • Construct a Hypothesis • Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment • Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion • Communicate Your Results

  18. The Scientific Method • The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments. • The steps of the scientific method are to: • Ask a Question • Do Background Research • Construct a Hypothesis • Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment • Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion • Communicate Your Results

  19. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) For K-12 Science Education Teacher Development Curricula Instructional Materials Instruction Assessment

  20. The NGSS were the result of a “states-led” process States that have already adopted the NGSS: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington State, Washington DC

  21. The 8 Practices of Science and Engineering 1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) 2. Developing and using models 3. Planning and carrying out investigations 4. Analyzing and interpreting data 5. Using mathematics and computational thinking 6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering) 7. Engaging in argument from evidence 8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

  22. Q. What is the Age of Universe?

  23. Q. What is the Age of Universe? A. About 13.7 billion years (Ga)

  24. Q. What is the Age of Universe? A. About 13.7 billion years (Ga) Q. How do we know this?

  25. Q. What is the Age of Universe? A. About 13.7 billion years (Ga) Q. How do we know this? A. Intensity vs. Red shift of galaxies

  26. Q. What is the Age of Universe? A. About 13.7 billion years (Ga) Q. How do we know this? A. Intensity vs. Red shift of galaxies Q. What is the Age of the Solar System?

  27. Q. What is the Age of Universe? A. About 13.7 billion years (Ga) Q. How do we know this? A. Intensity vs. Red shift of galaxies Q. What is the Age of the Solar System? A. 4.57 Ga

  28. Q. What is the Age of Universe? A. About 13.7 billion years (Ga) Q. How do we know this? A. Intensity vs. Red shift of galaxies Q. What is the Age of the Solar System? A. 4.57 Ga Q. How do we know this?

  29. Q. What is the Age of Universe? A. About 13.7 billion years (Ga) Q. How do we know this? A. Intensity vs. Red shift of galaxies Q. What is the Age of the Solar System? A. 4.57 Ga Q. How do we know this? A. Radiometric dating of meteorites

  30. If the Earth were the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the solar system be (in km)? (Radius of Kuiper Belt is ~50 AU) • If the solar system was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy be (in km)? • If the Milky Way was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the observable universe be? • Tweet your 3 answers as: • @wueps201 ? 189 (x,y,z)

  31. Q. How large is the Solar System? If the Earth were the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the solar system be? (Radius of Kuiper Belt is ~50 AU)

  32. Q. How large is the Solar System? If the Earth were the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the solar system be? (Radius of Kuiper Belt is ~50 AU) 22.3 km (14 mi) --- from here to Chesterfield

  33. Q. How large is the Solar System? Diameter = 1.5 x 1010 km = 15 billion km If the Earth were the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the solar system be? (Radius of Kuiper Belt is ~50 AU) 22.3 km (14 mi) --- from here to Chesterfield

  34. Q. How large is the Milky Way galaxy? If the solar system was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy be?

  35. Q. How large is the Milky Way galaxy? If the solar system was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy be? 1400 km --- from here to Pittsburgh

  36. Q. How large is the Milky Way galaxy? D = 1.1 x 1018 km (120,000 light yrs) If the solar system was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy be? 1400 km --- from here to Pittsburgh

  37. Q. How large is the observable Universe? If the Milky Way was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the observable universe be?

  38. Q. How large is the observable Universe? If the Milky Way was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the observable universe be? 15 km --- from here to Lambert Airport

  39. Q. How large is the observable Universe? D = 93 billion light years = ~ 9 x 1023 km = ~ 1 septillion km If the Milky Way was the size of a penny, how large would the diameter of the observable universe be? 15 km --- from here to Lambert Airport

  40. http://htwins.net/scale2/

  41. Geosphere Composition of Crust (%): Weight Moles Volume Oxygen 47.2 61.7 93.8 Silicon 28.2 21.0 0.9 Aluminum 8.2 6.4 0.5 Iron 5.1 1.9 0.4 Composition of Whole Earth (weight %): Iron 35 Oxygen 30 Silicon 15 Magnesium 13 Nickel 2.4

  42. Hydrosphere: 96.5% in Oceans 3.5% in glaciers, groundwater ~0% in streams, lakes, atmosphere, biosphere 71% of Earth’s surface is covered with water. If Earth were a perfect sphere, it would be covered with 2.25 km of water.

  43. Atmosphere: Composition: N2 - 78.1% O2 - 20.9% Ar - 0.93% H2O - 0.1% CO2 - 0.039% (increasing) Ne - 0.0018%

  44. Earth's magnetic field LOOKS LIKE there is a tilted, offset, wandering, bar magnet in its core. (But there isn’t!!) Fluid flow (convection) of liquid iron in Earth’s outer core creates the magnetic field.  Magnetohydrogeodynamo

  45. The magnetosphere protects us from ionized particles of solar wind.

  46. Biosphere: Extends from the seafloor and deep crust, to the tops of mountains and the atmosphere. 3 - 300 million species; ~1.5 million identified VERY significant geological agent (Ex: atmosphere, weathering)

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