Unit 4: Formation of Earth and Geology

Earth/Environmental Science

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 2nd2. Notebook Topic: Kepler’s Laws

Bell Ringer:Explain how both the tilt of the Earth and the occurrence of weather at the equator explain the different seasons in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

EEn.1.1.1I can explain the Earth’s motions through space, including precession, nutation, the barycenter, and its path about the galaxy.

What is Astronomy?

◼ The science that studies

Kepler’s Laws

Purpose:Explain the motion of the Earth and how that affects the creation of the lithosphere in the past and present

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Kepler’s Laws

● Kepler: 1571 – 16301st law: The orbits of the planets are

ellipses, with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse. ✓

Kepler’s Laws

2nd law: A planet moves fastest when it isclosest to the sun and slowestwhen it is furthest from the sun.✓

Kepler’s Laws

3rd law: relationship between the distanceof planets from the Sun, and theirorbital periods.

Kepler’s Laws - Pictures

First Law Second Law Third Law

Study Guide Question

Describe the concept of Kepler’s Laws in terms of Earth’s Motion.

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 3rd2. Notebook Topic: Theories of Earth’s Formation

Bell Ringer:Explain why Kepler’s Laws fit with the theory of the expanding universe and big bang theory.

Formation of the UniverseThe Big Bang Theory

▪ States that the universe started as a tiny point, then began to enlarge rapidly in a hot explosion, and it is still expanding today.

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Nebula Theory

◼ Theory of how the bodies of our solar system evolved from an enormous rotating cloud called the solar nebula.

◼ Made up of Hydrogen and Helium ◼ Theory how the planets were formed

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The Expanding Universe Theory

◼ States that the space between galaxies is expanding, so that they appear to recede from us at velocities that increase with their distance.

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Whiteboard & Discussion1. Read the article given to you - on a

whiteboard make some notes about the theory you read about.

2. Gallery Walk to fill in Map

Study Guide Question

Draw a table that allows you to summarize the theory of Earth’s formation (Big Bang, Expanding Universe Theory and Nebula Theory)

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 4th2. Notebook Topic: Earth’s Motion and Barycenter

DemoBell Ringer:

How does Earth’s rotation affect Earth’s revolution? What would happen if rotation would stop, but revolution kept going?

Types of Galaxies

Spiral Elliptical Irregular

● Disk-shaped with concentration of stars in the center and “arms” extending from the center

● Contain old and young stars

● Ex) Milky Way Galaxy

● Round to oval in shape

● Contain old stars

● Ex) giant diffuse galaxies - largest

● Most galaxies

No definite shapeComposed of young starsEx) Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (closest neighbor galaxies)

Earth’s Motions

◼ Rotation◼ Revolution◼ Precession◼ Nutation◼ Barycenter

Earth’s Motions◼ Precession

▪ Tilt on a plane in am elliptical motion

▪ The North Star is not always the starting point of rotation

Earth’s Motions◼ Nutation

▪ Oscillatory (movement of the axis back and forth) of a rotating body

▪ Observed during precession

▪ Occurs about 18.6 years

Earth’s Motions◼ Barycenter

▪ The center of mass where two or more celestial bodies orbit each other and balance each other out.

▪ Barycenter website with animation

Study Guide Question

What key concepts are important when discussing celestial bodies and a barycenter?(Think you your lab)

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 5th2. Notebook Topic: Rock Cycle FoldableBell Ringer:What happens to a moist air mass as it moves upward in the atmosphere?In which type of front is the flow of air on both sides of the front almost parallel to the line of the front?

EEn.2.1.1I can explain how the rock cycle, plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes impact the lithosphere.

What is a Rock?

◼ Any solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter that occurs naturally as part of our planet

◼ 3 types▪ Igneous▪ Sedimentary▪ Metamorphic

The Rock Cycle

◼ Interactions among Earth’s water, air, land, and living things can cause rocks to change from one type to another

◼ A continuous process◼ Driven by heat and mechanical energy

Define these terms◼ Weathering

◼ Compaction

◼ Melting

◼ Cementation

Rock Cycle

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 6th2. Notebook Topic: Rock Cycle Lab

Bell Ringer:A student reads the following statement.The presence of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere is important to Earth’s ability to support human life. How would Earth be different without greenhouse gases in its atmosphere?

Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 9th2. Notebook Topic: Continental Drift Theory

Bell Ringer:1. How are igneous and metamorphic rocks similar?2. Explain the rock cycle using the terms:

weathering, cementation and magma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8pvgopIPL0

What is Continental Drift◼ Proposed by Alfred Wegener ◼ Stated that the continents

had once been joined to form a single supercontinent

◼ Wegener’s Theory▪ Pangaea broke apart 200 MY▪ Continents “drifted”▪ Continents “broke” through the

oceans

Pangaea

◼ Supercontinent formed 250 million years ago

Evidence of Continental Drift

◼ Shorelines look like they fit together

◼ Fossil organisms found on different landmasses

Matching Mountain Ranges

Glacier Evidence

Continental Drift ActivityPaste activity in your notebook

Color KeyFlora - RedC.Reptile - YellowL. Reptile - OrangeG. Plant - GreenM. Reptile - BlueMountains - Purple

Parts of the Earth

▪ Layers defined by composition

▪ Crust▪ Thin, rocky outer

layer of Earth▪ Either oceanic

crust or continental crust

▪ Oceanic crust is 7 km thick

▪ Mantle ▪ 82% of the Earth’s volume▪ Solid rock at the top, liquid at the bottom

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Layers defined by Physical Properties

▪ Lithosphere▪ The crust and

uppermost mantle▪ Cool, rigid shell▪ 100 km thick

▪ Asthenosphere▪ Soft, comparatively weak

layer▪ Below the lithosphere▪ Rock close to melting

▪ Outer Core▪ Liquid layer 2260 km thick

▪ Metallic iron generates Earth’s magnetic field

▪ Inner Core▪ Solid layer having a radius of 1220 km

▪ High temperatures and high pressure

▪ Nickel mostly

Plate Boundaries and Features

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 10th2. Notebook Topic: Plate Tectonics

Bell Ringer:1. What does the word paleoclimate mean?2. Describe a concept that is not explained by

Wegner’s Theory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PVMs2NSdmc

The Theory of Plate Tectonics

◼ Proposes that Earth’s outer shell consist of individual plates that interact in various ways and thereby produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and the crust itself

Do the plates move?

❑ Do the plates move? If so, why?

Causes of Plate Motion◼ Mantle Convection

▪ Basic driving force for plate movement▪ The unequal distribution of heat within Earth

causes thermal convection the drives plate motion

Plate Boundary Activities◼ Seismic activity –

Earthquakes!◼ Volcanism◼ Mountain Building◼ Sea Floor Spreading

Divergent Boundaries◼ Also called spreading

centers◼ When two plates

move apart◼ Creates new seafloor

(seafloor spreading)◼ Causes ocean ridges

and rift valleys

Convergent Boundaries

Oceanic-Continental boundaries

Continental-Continental Boundaries

Oceanic-Oceanic boundaries

Causes subduction zones, trenches, continental volcanic arcs

Two plates collide - Forms mountains

One oceanic plate goes beneath another oceanic plateCreates volcanic island arcs

• Transform Boundaries– Two plates grind past each

other without production and destruction of lithosphere

– Ex: San Andreas Fault in California

– Plate Boundary Rap

Evidence of Plate Tectonics

◼ Paleomagnetism ◼ Earthquake patterns◼ Ocean Drilling: ◼ Hot Spots: supports that the

plates move over Earth’s surface

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 12th2. Notebook Topic: Plate Tectonics (Day 2)

Bell Ringer:1. What type of landforms are created by the

different boundaries?2. How does density play a part in plate tectonics?

Faults

◼ Faults are formed by fractures in rocks

◼ Parts of a Fault▪ Hanging wall: rock above the fault line

▪ Foot Wall: rock below the fault line

Types of Faults

◼ Normal: Occurs when the hanging wall block moves down relative to the footwall block

◼ Reverse: A fault in which the hanging wall block moves up relative to the footwall block

◼ Thrust: Reverse fault with dips of less than 45 degrees

◼ Strike-Slip: Faults in which the movement is horizontal and parallel to the trend

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 13th2. Notebook Topic: Earthquakes

Bell Ringer:1. What type of plate motion creates earthquakes?2. Why does this plate movement create

earthquakes?

Earthquakes

Earthquakes

What is an earthquake?

• Vibration of Earth produced by a sudden release of energy

• Movements along the fault line.

Focus, Epicenter and Faults• Focus – point within the

Earth where the Earthquake starts

• Epicenter – location on the surface of Earth directly above the focus

• Fault- associated with earthquake activity where movement has occurred

Earthquake waves

Surface ▪ Seismic waves that

travel along Earth’s outer layer

▪ Most destructive earthquake waves

▪ Last to arrive at the seismograph

Earthquake waves

• P waves • Can travel through solid, liquid, and gas• Fastest waves

•S waves•Can only travel through solids •Slower than P waves but faster than surface waves

Intensity and Magnitude of EarthquakesIntensity - A measure of the amount of earthquake shaking at a given location Magnitudethe amount of energy released at the source of an earthquakeScale 0-10, 2.5 is the weakest damage

Focus and Magnitude of Earthquakes

Higher the Magnitude + Shallow focus = Severe Damage

Lower the Magnitude + Deep focus = Minor Damage

Tsunami

▪ Seismic sea waves▪ Triggered by an

earthquake occurring where a slab of the ocean floor is displaced vertically along a fault

Other Dangers

▪ Landslides▪ Sinking of the

ground triggered by the vibration

▪ Greatest damage to structures

▪ Fires▪ Caused by ruptured

gas lines

Predicting Earthquakes▪ Short range

▪ Methods for short range predictions of earthquakes have not been successful

▪ Long range▪ Based on the idea that

earthquakes are repetitive

▪ Seismic gap: an area along a fault where there has not been any earthquake for a long-period of time

Virtual Earthquake

◼ http://www.sciencecourseware.com/eec/Earthquake/

◼ Main Activities: Time travel Graph▪ Recommended: Tutorials (top right)

▪ Tasks – use different tools to gather and record in journal at bottom of screen

▪ Show teacher after you verify your answers

◼ Main Activities: Epicenter and Magnitude

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 16th2. Notebook Topic: Volcanoes

Bell Ringer:1. Determine two characteristics of each of the

wave types.2. How does the magnitude and focus affect the

amount of damage an earthquake will cause?

Volcanoes

◼ Magma vs. Lava

◼ Magma – molten rock within Earth◼ Lava – molten rock on Earth’s surface

What is a volcano?

◼ A mountain formed of lava and/ or pyroclastic material

Volcanic Materials

◼ Lava Flow ▪ Pahoehoe: lava

flow resembles the twisted braids in ropes

▪ Aa: lava flow that has a surface of rough, jagged blocks with dangerously sharp edges and spiny projections

◼ Gases▪ 70% water vapor▪ 15% carbon dioxide▪ 5% nitrogen▪ 5% sulfur

◼ Pyroclastic material▪ Fragments ejected

during eruptions▪ Varies in size from

very fine and volcanic ash to pieces that weigh several tons

◼ Pyroclastic Flow▪ Consist of hot gases, glowing

ash, and larger rock fragments racing down the steep slope

◼ Lahar▪ Mudflow that occurs when

volcanic debris becomes saturated with water and rapidly moves down steep volcanic slopes

Plate Tectonics and Igneous Activity

• The basic connections between plate tectonics and volcanism is that plate motion provide the mechanisms by which mantle rock melt to generate magma

• Ring of Fire: area around the pacific ocean with extreme volcanic activity

Intraplate Activity

• Occurs within a plate, not plate boundary

• Most intraplate volcanism occurs where a mass of hotter than normal mantle material called mantle plumes rise toward the surface

Hot Spots

◼ Small volcanic region a few hundred kilometers across within a plate

◼ Ex: Hawaiian Island

Welcome!

1. Today’s Date: October 17th2. Notebook Topic: Review of Unit 4

Grab a sheet from the front table and answer the questions.