What Science Is

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I) What Earth Science Is

A) Earth Science is the search for answers about the Earth

1) Exploring the Earth

a) Air (atmosphere)

1) Blanket of air surrounding the Earth (dust, water vapor, etc)

b) Water (hydrosphere)

1) Salt water and fresh water

c) Land (lithosphere)

1) Solid outermost part of Earth (land forms, small part of the Earth’s interior)

2) Earth’s Interior              

3) Outward from Earth

a) Earth is a planet

1) Large body orbiting a star

b) Part of Solar System

1) Sun, eight planets, moons, etc.

c) Solar System part of galaxy

1) Milky Way

B) Some branches of Earth Science

1) Meteorology - weather and climate

2) Geology - rocks and mineral

3) Oceanography - study of oceans

4) Astronomy - space

5) Hydrology - fresh water

6) Paleoanthropolgy - ancient people

7) Paleontology - dinosaurs

8) Biogeography - study of geographic placement on biology

9) Seismology - study of earthquakes

C) Focus of Earth Science

1) Matter

a) Mass and volume

1) Mass – amount of material

2) Volume – amount of space taken up

b) Phases of matter

1) Solid

i) Definite shape/volume

2) Liquid

i) Definite volume/no definite shape

3) Gas

i) No definite volume/shape

2) Energy

a) Acts on matter – ability to do work

3) Interaction of energy and matter

a) Water Cycle

1) Evaporation – liquid to gas

2) Condensation – gas to liquid

D) Why study Earth Science

1) Research

a) Gain knowledge

2) Natural resources

a) Useful material

3) Technology

a) Benefit mankind

b) Pollution

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