Introductory

Notes

Earth Science a
blending of many
different sciences,
including geology,
meteorology,
oceanography, and
astronomy

Geology the
study of the
materials that
make up Earth
- the study of
Rocks

Meteorology
the study of the
air that surrounds
our planet

Oceanography

the study of Earths

oceans

Astronomy
the study of
objects beyond
Earths atmosphere
- the study of
Space

Earths Systems

Lithosphere
rigid outer shell of
the planet, including
the crust and the
uppermost part of the
mantle

Hydrosphe
re all of
Earths
water, 97%
exists as
salt water

Most freshwater is
contained in glaciers,
very little fresh water
exists as liquid on the
Earths surface

Atmosphere
blanket of gases
that surround our
planet
78% Nitrogen,
21% Oxygen,
1% - H2O(v),
argon, CO2, and

Biosphere
all organisms on
Earth and the
environments they
live in, most
organisms live within
a few meters of the

Scientific
Investigations

Scientific Method
organized
approach to solving
a problem

Scientific Method
Observation
Question
Hypothesis
Prediction
Experiment / Test
Analysis
Conclusion

Measurements
scientific experiments
involve making
measurements. The

System International
of Units or SI for
short is the standard
system of units used

Length Meter (m)

Volume Liter (l)
Weight Gram (g)
Temp Degrees
Celsius
o
( C)

Common Prefixes
kilo = 1000 or 10
-2
centi = 1/100 or 10
-3
milli = 1/1000 or 10
3

Scientific
Notation a form
of shorthand to
express very large
and very small
numbers

Number will be
expressed as a value
0 thru 10 multiplied
by a power of 10.

get a negative
power
3.0 x
-3
10 = 0.003
Numbers greater
than 1 get a
positive power
3
3.0 x 10 = 3000

Example 1
90,000,000,000m

Answer 1
9.0 x 10 m
10

Example 2
5,974,200,000,000,
000,000,000kg

Answer 2
5.9742 x 10 kg
21

Example 3
0.000,000,000,021
g

Answer 3
2.1 x 10 g
-11